Involvement

Our Voice

Our Voice is a service user and carer involvement forum for all adult and older adult mental health services across Oxfordshire. It has been running for over two years.

The forum is always co-chaired by what we call experts by experience, these are fellow service users and carers who are putting there experiences of using services into helping and constructively challenging the way that services are developed and run across Oxfordshire.

We meet monthly, experts by experience from Our Voice have now been actively involved in a number of projects from across Oxfordshire including the development and naming of Keystone Mental Health & Wellbeing Hubs and the suicide prevention strategy.

“Our Voice has given me so much confidence, I thought because of my mental health, other people thought that I was not going to do anything with my life. I was determined, but I just needed a chance to show my determination and skills. Being part of Our Voice has made me realise that having mental health has opened all of these new opportunities for me and I can use my experiences to help others.”
Ruth

“I have been involved in multiple projects, our voice has given her the opportunity to connect with other people with lived experience, boost my skills and feel that the negative experiences from my mental health that I have faced could support and benefit others in future in a way that is positive. I am hugely grateful for the Our Voice opportunity and I have felt it has really benefitted my her own wellbeing.”
Tanveer

Our Voice is chaired by people with lived experience of mental health challenges

“It has been a good journey with Our Voice since I joined the group 8 months ago. I enjoyed attending the meetings every month as they are a great group and there was always something interesting to hear about. I was asked if I might be interested in co- chairing the meetings. I thought it would be a good experience. The staff team trained me up and I’ve co-chaired a couple of meetings now. I really enjoy facilitating the meetings and getting to know everyone more. It has helped build my confidence and to work with different people. “
Katie

How to take part

We meet online each month and usually about 10 to 20 people take part. Anyone who has uses or has used mental health services in Oxfordshire or is a carer of someone who uses our mental health services is welcome to join.

Email getinvolved@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk.

One of our experience and involvement leads, many of whom also have their own lived experience, will contact you.

Together we will work out how you could get involved and support you with this journey.