Published by Redbridge Concern for Mental Health

Redbridge Council needs to save £70 million - there are no easy decisions left

The Council has launched the Redbridge Conversation and is asking residents and staff for their views on how the Council can save money.

They currently estimate that the Council needs to save £70 million over the next few years due to large cuts in central Government funding. This means major changes to the Council's budget, which will significantly impact how they operate.

The amount of savings needed to be found is much bigger than any the Council have had to face before and will mean they simply cannot continue to provide all the services they currently offer.

This means they have some difficult decisions to make and that's why it's important that they involve as many staff, residents and stakeholders as possible, before they make those decisions.

The Council are asking community groups to take part in the Redbridge Conversation by completing their online budget consultation tool, 'You Choose'. Have your say and help the Council to understand your priorities. 

Find out more and take part in the online budget consultation now.

RUN-UP Newsletter

Read and download the latest RUN-UP newsletter and find out more about the Accessing GP Services event.

Run Up Peer Support Group - First Thursday of every month

Run Up facilitates a Peer Support Group on the first Thursday of every month from 11am to 1pm at 98-100 Ilford Lane, Ilford, IG1 2LD (just turn up, no booking required).

The Peer Support Group is based around hope, support, encouragement and sharing experiences amongst people with lived experience of mental health issues.

Do you need extra help to pay your rent or council tax?

It's normal to feel worried, anxious or down when times are hard. Job insecurity, redundancy, debt and financial problems can all cause emotional distress

Are you receiving Housing Benefit but still struggling to pay your rent in full? Are you finding it hard to pay your Council Tax even though you receive a Council Tax Reduction?

There is extra financial support which may be available to help you

Find out more on how to access Discretionary Housing and Hardship Payments on Redbridge i

Alternatively, email Redbridge Council
or call 020 8708 5690 and we can send you a form

How your experience can help research

How safe is mental health care? Manchester University would like to hear more about your experience of mental health services in order to develop studies of safety that examine in more detail what matters to you.

Whether you are someone who has been in the care of mental health services or a family member or friend, your views of how care can be safer will help us develop new areas of work.

Go to Your Experience to leave your account of mental health care, and suggestions for future work.

Service User Peer Reviewers and Accreditation Committee Representative

An opportunity for any people who have used psychological therapies.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists' Centre for Quality Improvement are recruiting Service User Peer Reviewers for the Accreditation Programme for Psychological Therapies Services (APPTS).

APPTS is a new accreditation programme that works with psychological therapies services in the UK to assure and improve their quality. They are currently looking for service user representatives for the peer review teams and accreditation committee. Applicants may apply to one or both positions using the same application form.

£100 per day and reasonable travel expenses.

Closing date for applications: midday Friday 19th December. Interviews: mid Jan 2015.

Visit the website for more information about APPTS.

If you have any queries, or call Rachel Heggart on

Is someone hurting or upsetting you because of who you are? We're here to help.

Redbridge Concern for Mental Health is a Hate Crime Help and Referral Centre. We offer a safe, confidential environment for anybody who has experienced crime, harassment or abuse because of their: race; religion; sexuality; disability; age; gender identity or mental health condition.

Talk to us and we'll tell you about the wide range of options and support available to you. You can contact us on or email:

For more information about Hate Crime Help and Referral Centres visit Redbridge i

Help available through the Redbridge Emergency Support Scheme

The scheme will provide financial help in two ways, but ONLY where there is no alternative help available:

Firstly, where urgent short term help is needed in exceptional circumstances, for example after an emergency or disaster, or to prevent serious risk to a person's or their immediate family's health or safety.

Secondly, where a person needs help to establish themselves in Redbridge after being in institutional care, as part of a planned resettlement programme, for example after leaving prison or residential care.

Please note: No cash payments will be made unless exceptional circumstances apply.

To find out more about the scheme and how to apply for emergency support click here

Web Site Editor

Jon Abrams
Redbridge Concern for Mental Health
98-100 Ilford Lane
Ilford, Essex IG1 2LD
Web Site: rcmh.org.uk
Email:
Telephone:

Company Limited by Guarantee No.3115971
Registered Charity No. 1065770

A big thanks to our funders: the London Borough of Redbridge and NHS Redbridge

Disclaimer

All links in the Concern for Mental Health's enews bulletin have been selected using a standard links protocol. Links are provided for information and convenience only. Redbridge Concern for Mental Health cannot accept responsibility for the content of sites linked to, and any links do not represent an endorsement by Redbridge Concern for Mental Health. We cannot guarantee that these links will work all of the time and we have no control over the availability of linked pages.