Exactly 10 years ago to the day, I witnessed the aftermath of my 82-year-old dad’s suicide. He didn’t leave a note to explain why (it wasn’t his style), but I believe his decision was based around his physical, then mental decline and an impending diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.
We are excited to announce the relaunch of our collaboration with The Voices of Domestic Workers; Future Voices, developing their own network of confident and skilled migrant domestic workers as public spokespeople.
Sam Southern is a Lead Suicide Prevention and Bereavement Coordinator at Empowerment Charity in Blackpool. As a dedicated mother of five, Sam has faced adversity, including the tragic loss of her husband to suicide in June 2020. This experience has driven her passion and commitment to raise awareness and offer hope to those who may be struggling. In this guest blog Sam reflects on hope, and being chosen to walk with the Baton of Hope in Manchester.
A new report by King’s College London and a group of trafficking-survivor co-researchers found Filipina domestic workers were facing “double trauma”: first at the hands of traffickers, and later through neglect by support services on their return to the Philippines – at times with fatal consequences.
Palma Black is the founder of Soul Purpose 360 CIC, a coaching, mentoring and training social enterprise for Black women; blending community development with personal development. She is a Personal Performance Coach who is passionate about empowering individuals to live fulfilling lives. In this blog, she explores her experience growing up in England faced with racial harassment and looks at what Windrush means 75 years later.
Ellie Hatto is the Founder and CEO of Beside Yourself CIC and Co-founder of Voices – People with Living Experience of Suicide (Hampshire County Council). In this blog she shares her reflections on joining our 2023 Spokesperson Programme and what she learnt from her fellow spokespeople at our residential to help her face her fears.
Beth Thomas, manager at Our Place Mentoring Scheme, discusses why mentoring matters, even more so in an increasingly faster-changing world. Beth is part of our Spokesperson Network 2021 alumni cohort.
Alan Stuart, from the 2022 Spokesperson Network, co-founded the Calzy Foundation with his family after losing his son Cal to suicide in 2021 at just 23 years old. They are calling for a 3-digit mental health emergency helpline in the hope it could save others going through mental health emergencies.
Craig Jones MBE is Executive Chair at Fighting with Pride supporting LGBTQ+ veterans who 20+ years on have felt the lifelong impacts of the military ban on homosexuality. In the week that this community awaits the findings of LGBTQ+ Veterans Independent Review, a new film Forced Out exposes the treatment of LGBT+ military personnel before the ban was lifted and highlights why reparations must be given.
New report out today shines a light on the injustices faced by those who were subject to ‘gay ban’ in the military which existed until 2000. Craig Jones and Fighting with Pride from our Spokesperson Network are calling for justice after the reveal of the lifelong impact and trauma of the ban is revealed.
