PORTSMOUTH SERVICE USER EVENT

On November 19th 2008 over 25 Users of Mental Health Services attended an event at Fratton Community Centre to celebrate the work already accomplished by Portsmouth Service User Involvement.(PSUI) The group were given a detailed description of work successfully undertaken and an explanation of the work that still needs to be done, to ensure that Service Users are involved in all levels of service policy, planning and operations.
 
Danny McDermott and Grahame Milner, spoke eloquently about what being involved with PSUI had meant to them personally in terms of increased confidence and a sense of purpose in life. Phil Ruthen from the South East Service Users Network, talked about the work of this group and the importance of forming links with other Service User Groups, he also congratulated Portsmouth PSUI on their achievements. Phil is also connected to Survivors Poetry which was of interest to some of the group.
 
Portsmouth Mind service user Café provided the buffet and did a first class job, particularly as this was their first commercial venture. At the end of the event service users commented that 'they had got a lot of information from this event' and interested parties were encouraged to commit to supporting the on-going work of PSUI