I have been a very active member of the Gateshead Community Network for almost five years now. I have been involved with the organisation from its inception. Representatives from the Community Network came to MIND in Gateshead to seek our support in setting up the new organisation.
The Network accepted me as an individual from the beginning. Gateshead was the only Network nationally to recognise individual participation right from the outset. Other Community Networks have now thankfully followed suit.
I became a member of the steering group early on in the formation of the organisation. The Network has a strong ethos of including everyone, always practicing an open policy, positively encouraging and supporting members with mental health issues to reach their potential. Training, practical support and advice and guidance are provided as a matter of course by both the supporting staff team and through mutual peer support within the Networks membership.
This has been of special benefit to me as I have suffered severe mental health problems throughout my life. Up until my involvement with the Community Network I have always felt excluded from society but this all changed dramatically at the warm welcome I received as a valued active member of the Network.
To date with the Network I have participated in hundreds of events ranging from management committee meetings, focus groups, consultation events led by the PCT, Gateshead Council events and others, all with the knowledge and support of the Network membership.
This has produced in me greater self-confidence and esteem and increased my establishing the formation of many strong relationships. My life has been utterly transformed in the most positive way through friendships and my experiences, plus through the wide variety of people that I have met. This includes politicians, community volunteers and even high profile artists such as Antony Gormley!
The Network has enabled me to undertake an incredible journey in my life. I am now a confident communicator and am in a position to help others to benefit and to take up the same opportunities and involvement with the Network, as I did.
The development of these new skills has enabled me to undertake voluntary work with many other organisations including the Mental Health Service User Forum in Gateshead, Service Users & Carers Network for Northumberland, Tyne & Wear and the Lifelong Learning Partnership.
©Paul Davidson 2008