This strategic plan has been developed following a wide ranging consultation with the directors, Trustees and Volunteers of TalkEasy Trust. We have also strived to make sure that the service user is at the heart of our operation. As you will see later on, we will tell you how we will work in 2014 and how the Trust will continue to work in the face of difficult finances.
We are focussing on four main points:
Increasing support for mental health sufferers
Looking to establish our funding streams
Introducing a mentoring and counselling service in London Boroughs
Reduce the stigma and improve education of Mental health
Over the next year, this strategic plan will be used to make sure that we follow our charitable purposes as set out by our Directors and Board of Trustees. We will go into detail at how our departments will make a difference and contribute to our overall plan for 2014. The plan is being put in place to make sure we can use the money provided to the best possible level. For us, ensuring good services is our most vital part. However, our campaign unit will be a new vital part of what we do. 'Changing views through sensible education'. In 2014, Talk Easy will look to meet with high profile decision makers to change the way mental health is funded.
Chief Executive Summary:
This plan has been put together in order for everyone to make sure that they know the way the Trust is heading over the next year. We will continue to drive and make sure that everyone is aware of the services that we are offering. 2013 was an amazing year, but 2014 has the potential to be even bigger.
OUR VISION
We will keep our action plan and work going until the negative impacts of bullying and mental health issues have gone away from everyday life.
OUR STATEMENT
Bullying has to stop and we will work hard to put an end to bullying at home, school and in the workplace.
We will work hard to put an end to stigma on mental health so everyone can talk openly about there issues.
OUR MISSION
To keep on providing the best level of help and support to victims of bullying and sufferers of mental health issues. To be able to make a difference in the lives of young people.
OUR GOALS
To make it easier to talk about your feelings
To enable everyone a secure place to talk about their issues
To help young people overcome the stigma attached when it comes to mental health
To make more people aware about the impacts of bullying
Strategic priorities
As a charity focussed on services for young people, we have identified four main priorities that we shall look to develop and enhance in the year 2014. We will look to achieve this in the year 2014. We believe these priorities will lead to a more developed mental health support sector in London and the surrounding areas.
Developing a stronger support service for young people
We will develop a stronger support service through our Talk Easy mentoring program. This will be done through attending meetings with Headteachers and other local schools to make them aware of our services and the benefit that they can bring should the school decide to go ahead with our program. These mentoring programs will allow for young people to have support through their peers and friends at school. The great thing, this will be available in all schools.
Through us working with Roger and Petra, we are looking to develop a counselling service known as Speaking Easy which will allow for a borough to have high quality counselling when they need it. This is being used to make sure that we can aid other mental health services in the borough. We are at the moment looking to make sure that Sutton has first priority, this is due to the fact that this is the borough where we operate most of our services at present.
Through education, we believe that we will be able to make sure that all young people are aware of the issues that others face, this will allow for increased understanding and tolerance levels. Through this, a reduced rate of stigma will increase support services as an ear will always be available.
Develop our campaigning side to achieve increased education on mental health
Through our main petition on change.org, we are calling on the DoE to bring in mental health lessons on the national curriculum. This can be done through PSHE or science lessons. This again will allow for us to get our message across that suffering from a mental issue is okay and that it is okay to talk and that it is only right that you can talk over your issues.
Through the start up of our annual mental health conference, we will lead the change bringing all mental health charities together alongside key decisions makers to lead a change in attitudes and make everyone understand that we will not stop until young people have a greater understanding of mental health. At our conference, we will show our ground-breaking research which will highlight the need for greater cohesion between groups and charities.
Through our anti stigma workshops, we will look to lead and drive in social action which will be designed to increase the rate of young people talking about mental health issues.
Develop a stronger Anti Bullying Wing
Here lie our plans for Connect Bullying in 2014.
Connect Bullying plans for 2014 are to progress into a more known community based project under the name ‘Talk Easy’ provide assemblies on effects bullying can have on people but also to get the event planning for end of may/june to make people aware of what bullying can do to you. This will be done through our funding money which was given to us by VInspired.
Connect Bullying will look to become a vital part in our community as bullying and mental health issues are much more bigger than they have ever been. We will continue to reduce the stigma in which students face through being unable to speak out and talk about how they are feeling.
Increasing our funding
Our funding plan will include fundraising drives alongside bidding for contracts and grants.
We will always look to make sure that our work is attractive to potential funders and supporters from businesses and the general public.
