Nicky Judd, our CEO believes there are so many topics we need to ‘respond’ to as the VSCE sector. In her blog, she talks about the recent high profile announcements as well as those which may become ‘lost in the ether’. Regrettably the latter often have a more significant impact on society.
No sooner has one ground shaking change hit the headlines (devolution and local government reorganisation I’m looking at you) than another monumental announcement drops (hello NHS England cuts). And then there’s the announcements that could get buried, that will probably have the most impact on our communities (benefit cuts).
Firstly, devolution..
So, on the creation of a devolved strategic combined authority (Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and IOW joining to become Hampshire and the Solent, headed up by a Mayor who will be elected in May) and local government re-organisation (districts and counties across Hampshire and the Solent, being re organised into a number of unitary authorities)– we’ll be posting a handy explainer on the members’ Basecamp. If you haven’t joined the Basecamp yet please do, it’s a great way to stay in touch with us and each other.
The Hampshire Leadership Forum have met and had an excellent presentation from Martin Tod, Chair of Hampshire Leaders Committee and Leader of Winchester City Council and will continue engaging with Hampshire County Council. We have also been involved in a meeting with the other Local Infrastructure bodies from across Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and IOW, organised by HIVCA. We’ll keep the VCSE sector up to date and let you know as many opportunities as possible to feed in and have your say.
There is a live consultation at the moment: Hampshire and the Solent devolution – GOV.UK
And the proposed benefits cuts
But I really want to focus on the central government proposed cuts to benefits. Mind has made a statement about the reference to ‘overdiagnosis’ of mental health conditions, explaining that language is unhelpful and stigmatising. We want to make sure people living with mental health issues aren’t stigmatised and are instead supported in effective ways.
So I wonder, rather than mental health being over-diagnosed, it is rather being over-medicalised?
Claire Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice (CAB) says, ‘We know that poverty is highly associated with poor mental health and poor physical health. If people lose benefits, then that is very, very likely to result in mental health issues, but also physical health issues because if you’re in poor accommodation, if you’re skipping meals, that has a negative impact on your health.’ *
Do we need to look at and address the root causes of mental health issues, not accepting them as an inevitable part of modern life – but looking at where modern life needs to change. If we are experiencing an epidemic in anxiety and depression, don’t we need to address that as energetically as we did the coronavirus?
I’d be really interested to hear our members’ views on this! Why not attend our members only Breakfast Club and share your thoughts?
Join us on Wednesday 26 March at 9:00 online.
It will be great to get to know our members a little better. Do come along and be part of the first few where we’ll be shaping what they look like.
