Viewpoint User Voice Council

At the heart of the Viewpoint organisation is the Viewpoint User Voice Council (VUVC), an equal partner within the Viewpoint organisation sharing responsibilities and influencing the decision making processes.

Together with the Trustee board and Viewpoint staff groups, the VUVC are steering the day to day activities of the organisation as well as the strategic future direction. Working co-productively on all issues and at all levels, including decision making, the User Voice Council meets from month to month, to discuss the effectiveness of Viewpoint sub groups and specific projects.

The VUVC also considers the views of the wider Viewpoint membership, which are discussed at each meeting. Any topic or issue that our members have, which relates to the operation of the organisation as a whole, is taken into consideration.

However, as a service user led organisation, it is vitally important that our membership are made aware that they have the opportunity to get involved themselves. These privileges have been hard won over years of activism and the efforts of people with mental health issues, who at one time had no voice at all, even with regard to their own treatment.

With that in mind, we'd like to invite YOU to join us!

At present the Viewpoint User Voice Council meets online on Zoom, at roughly eight-weekly intervals on a Monday between 2pm and 4pm. If you would like to attend one of their upcoming meetings, please contact our administrator via [email protected] to get the link. It's important to know that you don't having to be 100% 'well' or 'recovered' to take part in our meetings. All of us on the VUVC meet different daily challenges with our mental & physical health. As peers we support each other to participate.  Please remember you do not even necessarily have to attend our meetings in person or via zoom. If you wish you can send in comments, give your view or add agenda items via phone or mail etc.  If requested you can receive our minutes & meeting agendas etc via email or mail out & then contribute by communicating with us using a method that best suits you.

A major benefit of joining the VUVC is that you will be at the heart and soul of an organisation which seeks to influence service providers to improve the local provision of mental health services and increase the involvement of patients in decisions about their own care and treatment.

Viewpoint works as a partner with the senior members of all the local service providers ensuring our voice is heard where it can be most effective & influence decision making.

Within the VUVC, you can get to see what other opportunities are available to you. Our members say that working in a peer-led way helps to support their own mental health, which benefits their confidence & wellbeing.

Just join us for a taster! At Viewpoint, you decide how much or how little you want to be involved and there is no pressure to take on more than you want to. The welfare of our user voice council members is a standing agenda item which we take seriously.

We hope to see you soon!