Submitted by CS, an UP2u Delegate:

I became involved with UP2U because of my interest in the services received while very ill, I am a dual diagnosis service user, this means I had Addiction problems and very poor mental health.

My personal experiences of the help I received are now being heard at the highest level. These experiences have not always been good.  Being an UP2U Delegate allows me to have a voice, not only me but many others also, vulnerable adults with all kinds of backgrounds and issues, disadvantaged communities, people that are seen but rarely heard or taken notice of,  how many times have we come up against a brick wall when it comes to the help we recieve. Or the help received falls short, or in some cases is non existent.

Getting Involved

Getting involved … I can say a lot about getting involved, there is so much to gain and everything to lose, I can only speak for myself, but know my sentiments are shared by many.

On a personal note getting involved has given me many things, this is coming from a person that has not given anything to the community for many years and was costing the Tax paying Public a fortune, I say this because its an important factor in looking at UP2Us role.

I could go into more detail about my personal journey but it does not serve a purpose for this article, I will just say that I was in hospital almost as much as I was out, and accessing tier four Addiction and mental health services.

What’s it given to myself …  self worth, self esteem, direction, confidence, purpose, a future, training.

On the last one training, we are lucky enough to have a great supporter in Sally Foan from People Tree Training, and she has delivered many training days to the people willing to get involved, this included Public Speaking and presentation.

This has enabled many Delegates to sit on forums with the Directors and heads of services to voice mine and theirs concerns and opinions, and I can say we are making quiet a noise, and being listened to.

Many Projects

There are many  projects to get involved in, including Peer Review, where Delegates can really get involved. We have also been approached by a national company that draw up educational boards on mental health issues and addiction problems, to help developed a dual diagnosis teaching and educational tool.

In a time when things are getting tough for many, and many more people will need the right support, its definitely a service that’s got real importance, not only to the people that get involved but also to the community as a whole.

I for one am Grateful to be part of and contributing to something that’s making a difference,

Finally I would like to say that two years ago my life was going nowhere, and if I carried on that path would not have had a future at all, to having the confidence to even go on the radio and talk to thousands, now you tell me if that’s progress, its there to for everyone that wants to but does not know how to move forward from problems in their lives.