Mad Campaigns Lab is a monthly online meet-up for NSUN members interested in/working around mental health policy and campaigning.
The emphasis of the space is on skill-sharing and training; helping members to campaign around issues related to mental healthcare, Mad liberation, and Disability justice.
The space is free to join and open to all NSUN members, regardless of policy/campaigning experience. You might be an individual activist, an experienced campaigner, part of a group who would like to get involved in policy/campaigning, or someone who is interested in learning more about key issues in mental health policy.
You might work around mental health specifically, or on wider structural change such as welfare reform, housing, data rights, migrant justice, or other human rights issues with mental health implications.
Who is it led by?
The space is led by Courtney Buckler (she/they), Head of Policy and Campaigns and Kieran Lewis (he/him), Rights and Migration Policy Manager. We will also be joined by other members of the NSUN team to support with tech, moderation, and access.
What to expect
The Lab is relatively unstructured, offering a space for members to connect with one another, share contacts and skills, and discuss actions/strategy/tactics. There will also be space for the NSUN team to share what we are working on and discuss as a group.
We will also be running ad-hoc training and events on issues relating to policy and campaigning. These will be circulated to those on the Lab mailing list first before being opened up to the wider NSUN membership. If there is a particular session/topic you’d like to be covered, or something you can offer to the group, please email Courtney at courtney.buckler@nsun.org.uk.
You’ll need to be an NSUN member before registering (sign up as a member here). NSUN membership is free and open to individuals with lived experience of mental ill-health, distress or trauma, as well as user-led groups.
Upcoming schedule
Lab meetings take place once a month from 4.00-5.30pm UK time (usually Wednesdays). The focus of each session will be produced alongside Lab members (this page will be updated sporadically with confirmed sessions, and all information will be shared via the mailing list). For now, our upcoming meeting dates are:
- 9th July, 4.00-5.30pm: Informal session with Courtney & Kieran, sharing our work and exploring work around hope & activism in current times.
- 6th August, 6.00-8.00pm: Know Your Rights training by Green and Black Cross (registration details released soon).
Click the button below to join the Mad Campaigns Lab mailing list, where you’ll get the Mad Campaigns Lab Zoom link and all the information for upcoming sessions.
Group agreement
By signing up you agree to:
- Follow NSUN’s online event conduct agreement.
- Maintain confidentiality by not sharing information about Lab members, actions, or campaigns beyond the meeting.
- Not share the Zoom link/joining instructions with anybody else. Our sign-up process helps us to track how many people will be joining, and to prevent (as best as possible) the unlikely event of folks joining in bad faith.
- The full group agreement, which was developed with members at our first meeting and will be shared during the sessions and updated as and when the group feels it is necessary.
If you would like the registration form in an alternative format or have any questions about the Lab, please email Courtney at courtney.buckler@nsun.org.uk.