Making a difference in the community

Viewpoint is a user involvement charity in Hertfordshire for people with mental health or drug and alcohol problems. Viewpoint's philosophy is that it is essential that the people who use or who have used mental health or drug and alcohol services are able to make positive changes. The experience and expertise which can be gained can help commissioners and providers to make the biggest difference in peoples’ lives.

Support

Viewpoint assist in several key ways. These are Service User Representation, Local Forums & Meetings, Specialist Workshops, Surveys & Online Media and Training. Viewpoint provide support to their members to use their experience in the most positive way, drawing on their abilities to ensure they are user led.

Get involved

Go along to one of the meetings and get involved. Viewpoint hold local forums and meetings to take service user views and suggestions to mental health service providers. Meetings take place regularly, in locations across Hertfordshire and give you a chance to meet with other people with similar experiences so that you can discuss your views and ideas about the services you receive. Meetings are supported by a project worker or service user representative and Viewpoint can help with travel costs to enable you to attend.

Useful information

It’s Viewpoint's aim for people to be informed about what support they can get and they strongly advocate the use of peer support in doing this. The views and ideas which you share with Viewpoint are raised at the various meetings and groups that staff and members attend.