Projects
SWUF currently receives funding to support 3 projects
- User Empowerment
- Person Centered Counselling
- Media Action Project
Empowerment Project
The User Empowerment Project is funded to give a voice to service users and ex-users in service planning and provision through consultation and involvement. We hold monthly meetings to share our views of planned service changes and support user reps attending planning meetings.
We can assist with transport and pay reasonable expenses plus £5.75 an hour for meeting attendance. To find out more about becoming a user rep telephone Graham Lacey on 01926 334257.
Our part-time User Empowerment Support Worker, Sue Oldham is also interested in hearing your views on particular mental health services you may have used and any planned service changes. Sue can be contacted on 07918 704478.
We also organise regular user forum conferences and discussion groups and produce a user-led Newsletter. To be placed on our mailing list phone 01926 408877 or e-mail
Training
We provide mental health system awareness training by users and survivors.
Counselling
If you are experiencing depression, anxiety, distress or if problems just seem to be getting on top of you, it may be helpful to reflect on this with the assistance of a counsellor. Talking to someone who has time, and is trained to listen can help. Individual sessions can help to explore feelings and why you are feeling the way you do.
The counsellor will offer a safe relationship where you will be heard and experience being heard and understood in a non-judgmental way. The aim is to help you to help yourself to the best of your abilities. Counselling is completely confidential with the only exceptions being in the case of the counsellor being told something that puts them in the position of breaking the law or they are made aware that you are contemplating serious harm to yourself or others.
The counsellor will offer a safe relationship where the person will be heard and understood in a non-judgemental way. The aim, is to help the individual help them self to the best of their abilities. All of SWUF's counsellors are members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and some are in the final stages of their training in Person Centred Counselling at Warwick University or Mid-Warwickshire College of Further Education. All receive professional supervision.
How long is it for?
The counselling offered, is generally short to mid term with periodic reviews. Each session lasts for one hour and takes place at 19B High Street, Leamington Spa Monday-Friday between 9.30am and 5pm
How is counselling Accessed?
Clients can self refer by completing and returning a short application form obtainable from 01926 408877.
Media Action Project
This project has it's own page, please click here to read about it.
