Meet Jaya, a carer from Lambeth

Tell us how you are trying to improve your local services for carers.

I am involved in a lot of local forums - like the Mental Health Strategic Partnership Board, and a mini carers forum, which discusses important topics on future carers' services and funding. I have been asked to contribute to a Social Inclusion review which the South London and Maudsley Mental Health Trust [SLAM] is organising - the first of its kind. Hopefully this will tackle issues such as education, housing and leisure which make such a difference to carers' lives.

What other wider campaigning experience do you have?

I've been campaigning for carers for years.  On a personal level, when my son first became ill, I wasn't able to see a a social worker and didn't receive any state benefits. I had to fight to get any help and took my case to a tribunal.

More broadly, I set up a support group for South Asian women affected by mental illness - Activities for South Asian Women [AFSAW] which aims to enlighten, empower and encourage Asian women through activities such as trips to the cinema, tourist attractions and teaching them practical skills such as networking and confidence building.  I was delighted that this group received recognition by the National Lottery Millenium Awards.

I took part in a brilliant course on leadership skills organised by the King's Fund, a health charity which encouraged me to volunteer for local forums. It gave me lots of confidence to assert myself.

I've been taking part in a panel of experts for Community Care, [the leading social care journal] and regularly contribute my views on issues such as social workers' training.

I have recently been taking part in a campaign in Lambeth to oppose massive cuts which have been threatened to carers' services. More information about this campaign here...

Have you seen things change as a result of your efforts?

Yes -definitely! I gave a presentation to some senior managers in SLAM, and the Chair told me my talk had been 'enlightening' - this led to my involvement in the Social Inclusion review.

As a result of my training, I feel more confident to challenge things, and  to be assertive - not angry.  When you are angry people don't always listen to you.  I went to one meeting of pyschiatrists, and they said I spoke with such authority they thought I was a doctor! They also reported that my comments about carers made them appreciate that carers are intelligent people - we are the experts. 

Training for carers - make your voice heard!

Would you/your carers group benefit from  training to give you confidence and help you communicate more successfully, like Jaya? Equal Partners offers FREE training to help carers groups get their message across effectively- more...