Who let the dogs out?

My latest article on the return of the Chatsworth Road Festival, featuring one very special dog show….

What is beauty?

Photo ‘Beauty’ by Vinoth Chandar

What is beauty? A great piece of art?  A winning personality? An attractive woman? That part of Boots with all the make-up?

Find out in my latest post What is beauty? on Poached Creative’s blog.

On the Guardian Society Daily

On the Guardian Society Daily today for my post on Oii My Size for The Social Issue blog.

Looking for inspiration?

Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart via River North Fiction

Beautiful quote about libraries by Caitlin Moran

Via Buzzfeed

5-a-day mental health

5-a-day mental health

Loving this concept of mental wellbeing through five-a-day – what those five things are seems to be up to you! Gorgeous website too.

Avatars ease voices for schizophrenia patients

Really interesting study, using avatars to help service users stand up to their voices.

Avatars ease voices for schizophrenia patients.

Domestic violence services in Hackney

Feeling unsafe at home?
Published in May 2013 in More Hackney, a local newsletter based in Hackney aimed at people with mental health problems. Edited for web. Print version

Experiencing domestic abuse from a partner in any form – physical, emotional, sexual or financial – can have a devastating impact on your life, health and happiness. It can create an overwhelming number of practical and emotional problems, both during the abuse and afterwards. Your mental health may especially suffer.

Escaping and surviving the aftermath of abuse requires tremendous personal strength and support from others. Reaching out to get help can be hard, but can put you on the track to a safer, happier life for you (and your children). Thankfully there is a wide range of support available to women in Hackney who have experienced domestic abuse.

Your GP
A good place to start is your GP. You may already be seeing them for health and mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), all of which are experienced in much higher numbers by people who have experienced domestic abuse. If you are not already getting help and struggling with your moods – for example feeling extremely depressed or anxious – speak to your GP for help.

Try to talk to your GP about the abuse, and how it has affected you, physically and mentally. Everything you say to your GP is strictly confidential, and you have the right to see a different GP if you don’t feel comfortable talking to yours. Many GP practices in Hackney have become more domestic violence aware in recent years, thanks to help from the Iris Project, which educates practice staff to respond better and refer you on to further help.

Local organisations
The Iris Project is part of a larger organisation called the Nia Project, which has several services for women who have experienced domestic abuse. This includes refuges, advocacy services, a rape crisis service, a family support service and special services aimed at women who also have substance misuse problems or who are at risk of violent offending. To get in touch call 0207 683 1270 or email info@niaendingviolence.org.uk.

Hestia is another organisation that operates in Hackney for women who have experienced domestic abuse, offering floating support services, counselling, support groups and refuges, as well as advice on safety, housing, benefits and legal rights. You can contact them on 020 8533 6211 or refer yourself online by emailing info@hestia.org.

Further help
Hackney Council has its own domestic violence support team, who provide a free helpline which offers non-judgemental, confidential advice, and help in languages other than English. They will provide you with a caseworker, who can offer advice on housing, legal issues and benefits. Call the helpline on 0800 056 0905 (9.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) or email dvhct@hackney.gov.uk.

The National Domestic Violence Helpline can be contacted 24/7 for emotional and practical support, on 0808 2000 247. In an emergency always call 999.

If you are living in fear of your partner, or are struggling to come to terms with the abuse, please reach out today. Help is available. You have a right to support and a happy, healthy life without fear of abuse.

speaking your language

“I practiced talking the way they did, for use when necessary. There’s a whole lot of people don’t seem to understand that you have to talk to a man in his own language before he’ll take you seriously. If you talk tough and quote Shelley they think you’re cute, like a performing monkey or something, but they don’t pay any attention to what you say. You have to talk the kind of lingo they’re accustomed to taking seriously. And it works the other way too. Half the political intelligentsia who talk to a working audience don’t get the value of their stuff across — not so much because they’re over their audience’s heads, as because half the chaps are listening to the voice and not to the words, so they knock a big discount off what they do hear because it’s all a bit fancy, and not like ordinary, normal talk.”

John Wyndham, Day of the Triffids

Advocacy services in Hackney

Need someone on your side? 

A new campaign – Advocacy for all Hackney – which launched earlier this year, aims to get Hackney residents to sign up to free advocacy services.  Advocates work with residents on a one-to-one basis to help them access a range of services, and to make sure their voice is heard. The service is independent, free and provided by several organisations in Hackney, tailored to certain groups. You can be referred to the service or you can self-refer, using the contact details at the end of this article.

Why use advocacy?
Everyone can struggle to access the services they need sometimes, but it can be especially difficult when you have problems such as a physical or mental illness, disability, or problems with language and communication. These challenges can make it particularly difficult to access services, and to be able to make sure your voice is heard and taken seriously. Advocacy can give you a helping hand to make this easier.

Advocates represent your interests, and take your side to help you in any problems you may be having with rights and services  Advocacy can help you access health and social care services, get support with an employment, education, housing or leisure issue, or help to support you resolve a dispute with a service provider. Advocacy can also give you information about how to access services in hackney, how to exercise your rights, and about complaints procedures and getting legal support.

The advocacy services the campaign supports is aimed at adults living in the community in Hackney, rather than people living in hospital or sheltered accommodation, who may have their own advocacy service.

Who are the advocates?
The advocate may be a professional or a specially trained volunteer. They can’t offer you emotional support, but they can make sure you are listened to. They are not advisors, so they can’t tell you what to do, but they do have access to specialist knowledge, and can talk your options through with you to help you make a decision. Advocates are independent, so they are not part of the council or government.

There are several organisations providing advocacy for the community in Hackney. The main organisation is Mind, who provide a range of services for people suffering from mental illness. However the campaign provides a single phone number or online referral, who can then refer you on to the most appropriate organisation for your needs.

If you think community advocacy could help you, please contact the ‘Advocacy for all Hackney’ campaign on 020 852 52327 or refer yourself online at www.advocacyforallhackney.org.uk

Published in April 2013 in More Hackney, a local newsletter based in Hackney aimed at people with mental health problems. Edited for web. Print version