Volition | Links

Links

Here are some links to relevant local and national organisations, government departments and projects.

Go to the members section for links to our members' websites.

Information for Mental Health

For further information and links, we recommend the Information for Mental Health website, which is a comprehensive directory of mental health services in Leeds and beyond, covering the voluntary, community and statutory sectors. It includes a searchable database, with contact details and links for a huge range of organisations, campaigning groups, service providers, publications and websites.

The site has a series of video clips of information about mental health in British Sign Language.

LeedsDirectory

The Leeds Directory produced by Keeping House offers information on services across Leeds that can promote independence and help to support people and their carers in their daily lives.

infostore

The infostore is a website of information for older people in Leeds. It aims to provide accurate, up-to-date information for older people, their carers, friends, family and relevant professionals. It is one of the key ways of delivering the information aspiration of Older Better, a strategy to promote a healthy and active life for older people in Leeds 2006-2011.

The infostore is a partnership between Leeds City Council, Leeds Older People’s Forum and NHS Leeds (previously Leeds Primary Care Trust). It has been funded by LinkAge Plus.

Leeds voluntary sector: general

Voluntary Action-Leeds (VA-L) is the local council for voluntary service and represent the sector. They provide direct support, services and specialist advice to hundreds of voluntary and community groups, enabling them to carry out their work across Leeds. Their website has lots of useful information for the voluntary sector, including links to funding bodies.
You can find out about volunteering at Leeds Volunteer Centre.

Compact for Leeds

The Compact for Leeds is an agreement between the partners in Leeds Initiative and the voluntary sector which sets out principles for working together.

Voluntary sector forums and networks

Volition works closely with the other voluntary sector health and social care forums in the city:

Volition is an active member of Third Sector Leeds (TSL). TSL is an alliance of voluntary and community organisations, charities, faith groups, and social enterprises working in Leeds.

TSL aims to be the point for engagement with the third sector in Leeds; working together to:

Develop third sector policies regarding key strategic issues;
Engage with and influence the decision making processes of all its key stakeholders, especially the Leeds Initiative and its partners including Leeds City Council and NHS Leeds; and
Co-ordinate representation of the third sector on statutory partnerships and boards.

Leaflet about Third Sector Leeds (pdf 670 KB).

Volition is one of a number of "infrastructure organisations" in the city, providing support to voluntary sector services. We come together as
Leeds Infrastructure Consortium, a network which is coordinated by
Voluntary Action-Leeds.

Volition is a member of Leeds LINk, the local involvement network. LINk brings together people and organisations who want to improve health and social care services.

Leeds statutory sector

Leeds City Council

Includes sections on health and social care, community and living, advice and benefits, and housing.

Leeds Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust

Previously Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust. Provides mental health and learning disability services throughout Leeds.

NHS Leeds

Previously known as Leeds Primary Care Trust. Works to make sure the people of Leeds have access to the health services they need. NHS Leeds Community Healthcare, the provider arm of NHS Leeds, delivers a range of community-based health services.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Hospital services in Leeds.

Leeds Safeguarding Adults Partnership

The Partnership works with a range of organisations across Leeds to prevent the abuse of vulnerable people and ensure that those who have been abused receive the right help and support. It is based in Merrion House, Leeds and provides advice to the public and professionals.

National & regional mental health voluntary sector

Mental Health Providers' Forum

The national Mental Health Providers Forum brings together voluntary sector service providers to improve services for people with mental health needs. They aim to influence national and regional mental health strategies and share information and experience among their member organisations.

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

A professional body for counselling and psychotherapy, the website has information on training and events for therapists, a members' area, plus a site where you can find a therapist in your area.

Mental Health North East (MHNE)

A coalition of third sector and voluntary organisations that provide mental health services in the North East of England. MHNE uses its combined voice to represent the sector at all levels of government, commissioning and strategic, health and social arenas.

National voluntary sector

National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)

The largest umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector in England.

Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO)

The professional body for the third sector's chief executives. A voice in the sector prompting both good practice and campaigning for change.

Regional and national statutory sector

Department of Health

Provides health and social care policy, guidance and publications.

The website has a section on mental health. This contains information on the government's Mental Health Strategy; mental health law (including the Mental Health Act 2007); and a range of publications.

The Yorkshire and Humber Improvement Partnership: YHIP

YHIP works with health and social care organisations, including the Strategic Health Authority, local government, public, voluntary and private sectors to improve services and outcomes for the health and wellbeing of people in our region. The website tells you more about their work and how they are organised.

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT)

A national programme to increase provision of talking therapies. The website tells you more about national and regional developments in this programme of work.

NHS

The gateway to National Health Services in England. The website includes a directory, information on health and links to different parts of the NHS.

Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority

The regional headquarters for the NHS. They provide strategic leadership for the NHS, rather than providing services or managing organisations.

Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator of health and social care in England, as of 1 April 2009. This commission combines the responsibilities and powers of the three previous commissions: the Healthcare Commission, the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and the Mental Health Act Commission (MHAC). The commission aims to make sure better care is provided for everyone, whether in hospital, in care homes, in people’s own homes, or elsewhere. The CQC regulates health and adult social care services, whether provided by the NHS, local authorities, private companies or voluntary organisations. And, it protects the rights of people detained under the Mental Health Act.

Key publications from the previous commissions are still available in the CQC library.

Supporting People

Supporting People is a government programme to enable vulnerable people to live more independently and maintain their housing tenancies. It is delivered through partnership with local government, people who use services and support agencies, including voluntary sector organisations. The website includes a directory of Supporting People services available in England.

Department for Work and Pensions

This website has information on services and benefits for people who are looking for work, as well as areas for advisers and employers.

Equality and Human Rights Commission

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) came into being on 1 October 2007. This independent body combines the responsibilities and powers of the three previous equality commissions: the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) and the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) and also takes on responsibility for the other aspects of equality: age, sexual orientation and religion or belief, as well as human rights. The EHRC is working to eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, protect human rights and to build good relations, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to participate in society.

National mental health promotion sites

Time to Change

Time to Change is England’s most ambitious programme to end the discrimination faced by people who experience mental health problems, as well as improve the nation’s wellbeing. Time to Change was initially known as Moving People, and is a partnership between Mental Health Media, Mind, and Rethink, funded by the Big Lottery Fund and Comic Relief.

Shift

Shift is part of the National Mental Health Development Unit (NMHDU) and aims to tackle stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health issues in England.

National research and development organisations

Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)

An independent charity, funded by the Department of Health, SCIE identifies and disseminates the knowledge base for good practice in all aspects of social care throughout the UK. SCIE publish a wide range of resources which are all available on their website.

Includes Social Care Online, the UK's most extensive free database of social care information and research.

Also includes the Dementia Gateway, a website hosting a range of dementia resources.

The voice of Leeds mental health voluntary sector