Our social aims and mission are demonstrated in several ways: 

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• Changing attitudes: By having a visible community presence we are promoting the belief that psychological wellbeing is everybody’s business.  Whilst offering discretion and sensitivity, we will also challenge stigma and feelings of shame around trauma.  Through a strong non-pathologising approach, and the breadth of services ranging from personal development/wellbeing groups, right up to complex trauma programmes we hope to bring people together and dissolve the barriers created by traditional service structures.

 

• Offering affordable therapy options: for people who would otherwise be excluded from independent therapy.

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• Creating employment and inclusion in the workplace: By employing Lived experience practitioners /           Peer mentors we will increase access to paid employment for ex-service users who often struggle to break into the workplace.

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• ​Challenging overmedicalisation of trauma and mental health needs:  Whilst there is no doubt that the gap in  care for people with complex trauma is impacted upon by insufficient funding in the public sector, we also believe this is perpetuated by the use of diagnostic categories to describe complex trauma. Firstly, this group do not fit appropriately into a psychiatric diagnosis; they have emotional and relational needs that are not addressed using diagnosis such as ‘Mixed anxiety and depression’ or /personality disorder– they are therefore excluded.  Secondly, a critical mass of trauma survivors are now speaking out about the toxic effects of medicalised diagnosis and treatment on their sense of self (e.g., having a disordered personality) – often describing significant iatrogenic effects of any diagnostically led commissioning or service structuring.

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• Reducing Social disconnection:  We understand that social disconnection can increase mental health difficulties and perpetuate the effects of trauma. So we will passionately use our position in the community to try to enhance peoples sense of connection and belonging. We see the value of the excellent community projects in our area, but also understand that the nature of complex/relational trauma means that people  can struggle to join mainstream groups.  So we believe  our added value is that we will reach the people who miss out on community connection by creating trauma-sensitive community initiatives – that feel safe enough to engage with,  use as a stepping stone to mainstream community connection, or create their own projects.

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• Empowering people to create their own social change: We want to support communities of people looking for alternatives to traditional mental health systems and psychiatric definitions of distress. An opportunity to make connections with survivors (peer relationships) will support reflection, create a sense of meaning and purpose and create change. Community group activities can include opportunities for vocational activities, initiatives to increase trauma-awareness in our community,  training and consultation to schools & organisations, topical film showings etc. We host a peer-led group called 'Peer Alternatives', which is supporting people to create their own change.

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