HUBB at 'Community Care - Live 2010'

HUBB had a very successful two days exhibiting our training services at the 'CC Live 2010' at the Business Design Centre, Islington on the 18th & 19th May.

Pam Macklin, Jenny Gray and Lynn Burling on the HUBB stand

Demonstrating humour helps wellbeing!

We managed to increase the profile of HUBB, it's advocacy provision and especially our training initiatives. The team of Jenny, Pam, Lynn and Rob provided different areas of expertise which enabled us to create a very positive and professional impression. Primarily our aim was to promote our training, especially the Mental Health First Aid, Recovery Star and 'Recovering Jane' programmes.

There was great interest from many people who spent time at our stand. Rob's involvement as a member of the National Training Team for the new MHFA England programme, 'Youth Mental Health First Aid' also allowed us to test the water to see how this initiative would be received. There is huge interest! We collected details of numerous individuals from a wide range of organisations across the South East in particular, but also further afield who want to be kept informed as YMHFA roll out in the Autumn. If you would like more information on any of our training initiatives we can be contacted through the HUBB website.

HUBB was very pleased to discover how well it's advocacy provision stands up against other service providers across the region. We had questions from all manner of representatives from Social Workers to Directors of different organisations. All were quite startled by our ability to speak to individuals within 24 hours of being contacted. That is great recognition of all HUBB advocates!

HUBB also made contact with some very interesting and useful organisations. Rob managed to see an excellent presentation by Steve Scown (Dimensions) and Helen Sanderson (Helen Sanderson Associates) on Personalisation. They were rightly proud of their achievements in this field but were also humble in recognising the unique difficulties presented by Mental Health in working with personalised budgets and the work that needs to be done.

Rob was particularly pleased to see that Dimensions and Helen Sanderson Associates recognise that 'change management' and 'organisational transition' will be required across the board. There are people who access services who will be able to champion personalisation from their own experiences and senior managers and directors who will positive and creative enough to lead with vision and clarity. But it will not be easy! A mindset will need to be challenged in all areas of personalisation provision. 'Institutionalisation' doesn't just refer to those who have experienced severe mental ill health difficulties. It also refers to any individual who blocks change. 

Steve Scown - Executive Director, Dimensions

HUBB is in an excellent position to provide information and signpost various parties into strong and creative partnerships, with people managing Mental  ill Health issues at the core of the decision making process. Why? HUBB is a Service User led organisation. Our committee comprises of Service Users. Service Users established HUBB as a self advocating organisation 20 years ago. Recovery and Wellbeing is at the core of its role and responsibility. HUBB has been working in a 'Personalised' way for 20 years.