Rethink Mental Illness Manchester Group

The Mental Health Foundation has been asked to collect the views of people who use social care about how social care workers can help people’s mental health and well-being. If you receive support or help from an organisation that provides social care, or you are a relative or friend of someone who does, we would be very grateful if you could complete a short online survey. It should take no more than 10 minutes of your time. You can get more information and complete the survey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SocialCarePrinciples

Our next meeting is on tomorrow evening, Wednesday 13th February, from 6 – 7.45pm at Manchester Carers Centre . As well as having a cup of tea, bite to eat and a good catch up, Patrick Cahoon who is Head of Patient Experience at Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust, is coming along to give us an update. Also, one of our group members will give a short talk titled ‘A holistic view of wellbeing – Looking at the beneficial effects of various foods, vitamins & minerals. A quick dip into this extensive subject’. If you are travelling by public transport or by foot, a ‘walking bus’ will leave from the taxi rank at Manchester Piccadilly station at 5:30pm. Please call Lindsey Cree on 07757 082976 to let us know you will be coming, so we know to wait for you. If you are travelling by car then free parking is available on Pollard Street after 6pm.

Saturday 2 March 2013, 10:30am to 5:30pm at Breakthrough UK, Aked Close, Ardwick, Manchester M12 4AN (location map here: http://www.breakthrough-uk.co.uk/contact ) This one-day community conference is being organized by disabled people. We take a broad view of what disability means, and we include people with learning disabilities, any type of impairment or with mental health problems. We are providing a chance for disabled people to get together and discuss how we have been affected by the cuts, or how we fear we will be affected. It is also a chance to look at ways for our Movement to go forward. Allies are also welcome but are encouraged to book closer to the date to give disabled people a chance to book tickets first. The day will feature four interactive workshops, and a speaker from Leeds Centre For Disability Studies. Proposals for workshops are being accepted until the 16th of February. Please contact the organisers for more details. Food will be served and

“Taking charge, helping yourself” Come to our NW Conference at the Best Western Hotel in Chester April 17th 10 – 4pm Keynote presenter: Prof Shon Lewis, Professor of adult psychiatry and the Director of the Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health at the University of Manchester Come and find out about welfare reform, policy changes, and how to deal with them. Plus how others have taken charge and helped themselves. And much more! Easy parking and very accessible public transport links. For more info about the conference call 01902 779600 or download the leaflet, plus booking form .

As part of the changes brought about by both the Welfare Reform Act 2012 and the Local Government Finance Act 2012, Council Tax Benefit is being abolished. If after reading the information below you think you are going to be affected and would like more information please get in touch with me by email or phone. Alternatively you can call the Rethink Mental Illness Advice and Information Service on 0300 5000 927. Each local authority has been tasked with devising their own replacement for the benefit which will be known as Council Tax Support. Money will be provided from central Government to run the scheme however it will be 10% less than is currently provided. What could this mean for me? As they are all getting less money than previously, all councils will be trying to save money and so will be looking at different ways they could do this. A number of local authorities have already stated that they will charge everyone of working age some council tax even if under the previo

We've received the following information from Manchester University. Our Chair, Lindsey, is planning to attend. Get in touch with the University (contact details below) if you'd like to go. - Are you a parent with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or psychosis? - Are you are a grandparent or other family member helping to support someone like this? Come & help us to design a new study! Information & Consultation Event; Free Lunch  Thursday 21st February 10.30am–2pm at University of Manchester - Professor Rachel Calam & a team at the University of Manchester are planning a new study to help families where there is a parent with schizophrenia or psychosis. - We want to learn more about what it is like for you and how we can work together to help support families. - Come and hear how research could help support families and their children. Have your say and make sure your ideas and suggestions are heard. We can refund local travel costs for 30 people in receipt