The Big Issue & Lobbying

I have to admit I was a little concerned at some of the health questions I had to answer on the application form such as: Medical Declaration - please tick the appropriate box: “Mental or Psychiatric illness” (that’s me!) Are you on any medication? If so what is it for and what is it? (that’s me – again!). I was up front tho’, but reluctant to feel obliged to admit these things that are simply part of the everyday for me. I’m glad they let me in without further question.

So should you wish to sponsor me, drop me a line…I guess I should really be doing this for rethink - believe me I will, as and when an opportunity arises.

Rethink recently enabled me to meet up with my local MP, Greg Clark, as part of a lobbying campaign. We media volunteers were invited to the rethink offices mid morning, the wind whistling through the room high up in the tower. We introduced the person next to us to the group, then we were lead through how to lobby, and we had a few moments to practice getting our points across with each other. Then we just had time to grab a quick sandwich before hopping into a taxi to the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament).

I was due to meet Greg in the ancient gloom of the huge, medieval Westminster Hall but I had no idea what he looked like. Claire saved the day with a photo from the web. I didn’t know who to expect. When we met he was very friendly and kindly took me through the corridors of power to sit outside on the terrace beside the Thames. I launched into my ten minute pitch on stigma and the importance of supporting the Early Day Motion for the Time to Change campaign.

He understood, he’d had a close relation who’d experience of mental ill health. He raised the issue of local services in Tunbridge Wells and we discussed the effects of cannabis and the lack of local facilities to help people who were plunged into symptoms of schizophrenia. We must have talked for some 20 minutes or more and he was happy to sign up to the rethink campaign and to issue a press release. My thanks go to the entire rethink team for an excellent event!
 
To close I have to say the prospect of nine performances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is beginning to feel a little daunting, to say the least. God how I hope for an audience! And then, will that have been enough, to have had the opportunity to be heard, to have raised my voice, to have been loaned the stage, to have overcome the fear, as if in freefall, waiting for the parachute to open? 
 Visit: http://web.me.com/stevewalter