Selby Mental Health Charity Addresses Parliament on Funding Crisis

Advocates for mental health have brought serious concerns regarding the financial challenges within the sector straight to the attention of Parliament. Representatives and beneficiaries of The Big Communi-Tea, a charity based in Selby, traveled to Westminster to present “hard questions” to Keir Mather, the Labour Member of Parliament for the area. This organization offers mental health services and support to individuals across the York and Selby district. Mr. Mather greeted the visitors, stating: “It is my obligation to work as hard as I can to make sure everyone gets the support they need.” John Venable, the founder of the charity and leader of the delegation, noted that it marked the “first trip to London for some” participants. He commented: “One client had never been on the Underground before.”Nobody had been to Parliament before, so it was a great day – and a chance to put some hard questions to our MP.” Ann Waddington, a client of the charity who participated in the journey to London, shared that mental health challenges have affected her throughout her life. Mrs. Waddington stated: “My dad took his own life when I was 21.”There was no help then for people like me.”So I wanted to ask the MP about companionship.”Seven months after I moved to Selby the lockdown came and I had to isolate.”To be there, on your own, for all that time, was horrible. It was like being under house arrest.”I don’t know how I got through that time. But I do know I’m still feeling the effects of it.” Jackie Carroll, whose husband is living with dementia and receiving treatment for cancer, was also present in Westminster. She remarked: “I had never been to London before.”It was a big thing to go there – it was lovely to walk through those gates into Westminster.”My husband is in a home. I asked the MP about dementia care – there are not enough care assistants – and it’s hard to find a good home.”There needs to be more support, more money.”I looked after him for 12 years with his dementia, then we found out he’s got cancer.”I am coping as best I can.” Mr. Mather commented that hosting The Big Communi-Tea’s visit to the Commons was “incredibly important” to him. He added: “The amazing work they do deserves to be shared at the highest level, and they came well prepared to ask me some really important questions about mental health provision.”It is an incredibly important issue, and that provision has been run down over the last 14 years.”Fundamentally, it is organisations like The Big Communi-Tea which are providing that incredible work right now to give people that crucial support.” Initial measures aimed at reforming mental health services were initiated at the beginning of this month, as the Labour government introduced its Mental Health Bill to Parliament. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care stated: “We will fix the broken system to ensure we give mental health the same attention and focus as physical health.”We will recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers to provide faster treatment and ensure people are appropriately discharged and given the right support.” Further content, including highlights from North Yorkshire, is available on BBC Sounds, and the latest episode of Look North can be accessed, or stories for potential coverage can be submitted. This content is copyrighted by the BBC in 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites and provides information regarding its policy on external linking.