PIPS News
PIPS is nominated for a Big Society Award
These awards were set up by the Prime Minister in November 2010, The Big Society Award has been created to recognise individuals, groups or organisations that are demonstrating the Big Society in their work or activities.
The Big Society is about moving power away from central government and giving it to local communities and individuals. It has three main aims:
- Empowering communities – helping and enabling local people to have more of a say in how decisions are made in their area and about the services they receive.
- Changing and opening up public services – encouraging public sector organisations and individuals to demonstrate new and innovative ways of delivering public services and enabling charities, social enterprises, private companies to deliver public services.
- Promoting social action – encouraging people to be more involved in their communities and to volunteer and give money.
Whilst there is no monetary value to this award the winners will receive an invitation to a reception at No.10 Downing Street and get the chance to attend a practical networking and support event earlier in the day. They also receive a plaque and signed certificate from the Prime Minister.
Twelve winners are decided each quarter and then announced once a week throughout the year.
Details of the winning organisation will appear on the No. 10 website, and a press release will be circulated to the winner’s local and regional press.
In recognition of the work undertaken and the achieved to date by members of PIPS the Plymouth Involvement and Participation Service has been put forward for one of these awards and the submission will be evaluated in round 4 which closes on 8th August and a result should be notified by the end of November 2011.
Listening to PIPS members and helping members to develop PIPS service
Over the last few months I have been liaising with Ashley Daw (PIPS Co-ordinator) and members of PIPS and also getting some feedback on unmet needs and how PIPS members want the service to develop.
To respond to this so far we have:
Put together a funding bid to Comic Relief for a 3 year ‘Engagement Worker’ to directly support PIPS members to achieve some of their goals and aspirations. The worker will also try to help secure pots of money for activities that PIPS members would find beneficial. The worker will try to help PIPS widen and expand its membership to under-represented groups of mental health users, develop PIPS web pages, find sustainable funding for a full newsletter, coaching opportunities, task and finish ‘theme groups’ and community events to raise awareness of mental health and to reduce stigma, discrimination and inequality. We will keep you informed.
We have also submitted an ‘Ecominds’ bid to fund a time-limited project focusing on reducing stigma and discrimination and also supporting people to make the most of their local environments and spaces. If we succeed, the job opportunity would be for 9 months and would be earmarked for a ‘mental health’ user, past or present.
I am going to meet with PIPS members soon to listen to what else they may want to work towards so I can help try to access funding for PIPS to drive forward on user led aspects and create new opportunities for people with mental health needs.
Desanne McAllister
General Manager
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January 2012 Newsletter