Carly

Carly, a Metropolitan Support Trust service user and Regional Service User Group representative, tells us the benefits of service user involvement.

"There are lots of benefits to both the organisation and the service user if service users get involved. We are actively encouraged to get involved. There are groups like the Regional Service User Group set up so that lots of people can get involved and make a difference. The group consists of about 10 service users from all over London of all ages, services and backgrounds. We meet every two months or so in Euston.

As part of the group we can help MST make decisions on any changes that they want to make. This means that we as service users can feel as though we are helping shape the services we receive both now and in the future. We also get invited to go to training courses such as confidence building and how to chair a meeting. This means that we can develop the skills we already have and put them to better use. I feel that by getting involved in a group like this makes us feel empowered and we feel that we are making changes to our service.

Things like this are a really great way of bringing people together and it also helps the staff get a better idea of what we want."

Carly received support from Harrow Young People’s Team.