TUC supports Mental Health and Wellbeing Charter for Derbyshire

As part of the excellent World Mental Health day event in Derby this week, attendees were invited to sign the Derbyshire NHS Trust inspired Mental Health and Wellbeing Charter. The Charter seeks to tackle mental health discrimination and bring debate on mental health issues on a par with discussions on physical health. The Charter is being promoted by Derbyshire NHS Trust and already has many supporters.

Pictured signing the Charter is Wash, the Chair of our Midlands TUC Pensioners Network, who supported the TUC information stand on the day.

The event was centered around a play - Unsent Letters - a one woman show about a woman whose child has been put up for adoption as she faces a difficult future in a medium secure mental hospital. This play focuses on the experiences of the BME community and the forensic mental health system. The play includes a piece on the experience of the woman as she is placed to work in a supermarket as part of her rehabilitation, raising many issues about mental health issues in the workplace.

Brian Munro - Cancer Fighting Fund: The Snowden Challenge

The Snowden Challenge

On Saturday 12th October the following RMT Staff members will be climbing Snowden to raise money to help save the life of RMT activist Brian Munro

Bob Crow - General Secretary

Nicola Hoarau - Credit Union
Yvonne Sawford - Personnel
Jackie Moritz – Constitution
Gabriel Barton – Research
Maria Santamera – Membership
Dawn Hannon – Birmingham Regional Office

John Dougherty – Union Learning

Ken Usher – Regional Organiser

Terry Hurlock – Personnel

Derek Kotz – Liverpool Regional Office

To sponsor please log on to www.rmtlondoncalling.org.uk/BrianMunroCancerFightingFundhttp://www.rmtlondoncalling.org.uk/BrianMunroCancerFightingFund

Alternatively send cheques payable to ‘Brian Munro Cancer Fighting Fund’ to Yvonne Sawford, RMT Unity House, 39 Chalton Street, London NW1 1JD.

Brian Munro is 44. He lives with his partner Lucy and their two children, Isobel (10) and Brenna (7). Last July Brian was diagnosed with Ocular Melanoma metastasis to his liver.

A cutting edge treatment is available at Christie’s Hospital in Manchester that can prolong Brian Munro’s life. We need your help to do that.

 

TUC at World Mental Health Day event

Pictured, above, are Don Sharpe of the Musicians Union and Ken Wheatley from the ATL, who staffed the TUC stall at Chesterfield's Winding Wheel for the first of two World Mental Health Day events. 

The Midlands TUC Disabled Members Forum is supporting these events for the second year running and talking to participants about the role trade unionists can play in supporting those who may have mental health problems. 
World Mental Health Day falls on 10th October this year and this event, produced by Derbyshire NHS Trust, is one of two the Trust has arranged. The second event is this Thursday at the Riverside Centre in Derby.

All set up for "Unsent Letters" in Chesterfield

Today is the first if two outings this week for our Midlands TUC Disability Forum as we exhibit at the performance of Unsent Letters. This is part if the World Mental Health day which the TUC is very happy to support.
"Unsent Letters" is a one woman play by Polly Wright and is performed by Debbie Tracey.

Teachers march and rally in Birmingham

As part of the rolling regional action by the NUT and NASUWT teaching unions, a march and rally took place in Birmingham on Tuesday 1st October. Here re just a few images from the day.

Chris Keates on the platform

Now we have the last speaker, Nasuwt general secretary Chris Keates, detailing the attacks on teachers conditions of service and the affects of cuts on children's education.

Teachers rally at Birmingham ICC

First speaker on the platform at the ICC, parents should remember that we are here today because Gove will not negotiate.