Meetings

Monthly Meetings
Suresearch is a UK network of Service Users, Academics and their allies. It was formed in 2000 and is now into its eighth year. Members of this network have had good and bad experiences of using services and often share these views with the group. People can come to as many meetings as they wish, we are always open to new members, we pay travel expenses and provide refreshments. Our meetings alternate between the first Wednesday or Thursday of the month. Dates for 2008/09 meetings are:

2008
Thursday 4 September 2008
Wednesday 2 October 2008
Thursday 6 November 2008
Wednesday 3 December 2008

2009
Thursday 8 January 2009
Wednesday 4 February 2009
Thursday 5 March 2009
Wednesday 1 April 2009
Thursday 7 May 2009
Wednesday 3 June 2009 (Review Day)
Thursday 2 July 2009
Wednesday 5 August 2009
Thursday 3 September 2009
Wednesday 7 October 2009
Thursday 5 November 2009
Wednesday 2 December 2009

We meet in the Centre of Excellence in Interdisciplinary Mental Health, basement of the Watson Building on the Edgbaston Campus of the University of Birmingham. Follow the link for a map of the campus the Watson Building is building number 33 on the map. All monthly meetings start at 10.30 a.m., tea, coffee and a warm welcome is available from 10.00 a.m.

Our meetings are open, friendly, informal and relaxed. Everyone present has the chance to sit and listen or contribute to the discussions, raise topics and distribute information.

News of local and national developments is shared along with up to date information on current research and teaching projects as well as discussions on new and forthcoming projects. Members can volunteer to become involved in a variety of ways including:

attending conferences, promoting Suresearch at conferences by talking to other delegates or being part of a group presentation at a conference or attending to find out and share any information gathered at the next Suresearch meeting.
working in small groups commenting on course content, working alongside academics on interview panels and providing feedback on practical assignments
getting involved in research work by helping Suresearch members put together research bid documents, design the content and layout of questionnaires and taking part in the reseach project. Taking part could include interviewing service users on their experiences, interviewing academics, students or professionals on their roles and thoughts or working in a small group to help collate the findings and put together a report.
taking part in training sessions to train students, academics and professionals around mental health service user and carer involvement.

The key for us is to ensure that members can get involved in as little or as much activity as they like - it is all about your level of comfort.