eIn a couple of day’s time the Liverpool Mental Health Consortium will close its doors for good after twenty four years providing a voice for those who have accessed mental health services across the city. I have been involved as a member of the service user group for about nine years, a trustee about seven years and the chair and co-chair for the last six years. I have gained lots of friends and experiences that have helped me on my way to a better understanding of what mental health is all about, many of which have informed these blogs I’ve put together. It is still hard to think about it not being around and a part of my life.
The organisation has gained a very public face of late with its awareness raising events and the knowledge of the loss to the city has not gone without comment from the local media who have promoted our events over the years. One of the Consortiums workers Sarah has gained national media attention with her observations of the state of play for organisations like ours who offer an independent reflection of the services on offer to those with mental health struggles, which you can read here.
We have been struggling to keep funds coming into the organisation since our core funding was withdrawn eighteen months ago. We have managed to keep the wheels on the bus for only so long though and our last event was three weeks ago. In planning it we had some hopes of future moneys but by the time the event arrived all hope had gone and the focus of the event was as a Swan Song, a Wake, a funeral. It had all the qualities of a good funeral though with eulogies, song, raised emotions, laughter as well as tears. The event allowed for those of us close to the organisation to begin to have some closure.
I contributed to the musical offering and afterwards found no shortage of volunteers to continue the celebration/commemoration in a nearby pub that were prepared to tolerate a old fashioned pub sing song. We raised our voices, plucked and strummed our strings and raised a glass or two to the Consortium. Our vibe was strong and we included passing customers in our revelry, leaving the pub for the last train home some five hours later. Some people in the pub visiting the city even brought us musicians drinks’, I reckon our round came to about £50! There seems to be no shortage of money out there if you drop lucky but I guess the Consortiums’ luck ran out for now but with good heart there is always some hope.
I have been lax of late with keeping up with this blog, I intend to be bolder and take inspiration from some of the great folks that I’ve worked with via the Consortium and report more regularly on how I see a continuation of that hearts beat!
The organisation has gained a very public face of late with its awareness raising events and the knowledge of the loss to the city has not gone without comment from the local media who have promoted our events over the years. One of the Consortiums workers Sarah has gained national media attention with her observations of the state of play for organisations like ours who offer an independent reflection of the services on offer to those with mental health struggles, which you can read here.
We have been struggling to keep funds coming into the organisation since our core funding was withdrawn eighteen months ago. We have managed to keep the wheels on the bus for only so long though and our last event was three weeks ago. In planning it we had some hopes of future moneys but by the time the event arrived all hope had gone and the focus of the event was as a Swan Song, a Wake, a funeral. It had all the qualities of a good funeral though with eulogies, song, raised emotions, laughter as well as tears. The event allowed for those of us close to the organisation to begin to have some closure.
I contributed to the musical offering and afterwards found no shortage of volunteers to continue the celebration/commemoration in a nearby pub that were prepared to tolerate a old fashioned pub sing song. We raised our voices, plucked and strummed our strings and raised a glass or two to the Consortium. Our vibe was strong and we included passing customers in our revelry, leaving the pub for the last train home some five hours later. Some people in the pub visiting the city even brought us musicians drinks’, I reckon our round came to about £50! There seems to be no shortage of money out there if you drop lucky but I guess the Consortiums’ luck ran out for now but with good heart there is always some hope.
I have been lax of late with keeping up with this blog, I intend to be bolder and take inspiration from some of the great folks that I’ve worked with via the Consortium and report more regularly on how I see a continuation of that hearts beat!