Tag Archives: Community Engagement

Lewisham, Southwark & Lambeth Mental Health carer forum – June 2025 update

About the Forum:
The Lewisham, Lambeth & Southwark Carers Forum is a collaborative online space that brings together unpaid carers, carer leads, mental health professionals, and support organizations to share experiences, raise concerns, and influence change. Focused primarily on mental health caregiving, the forum serves as a platform for peer support, policy updates, training insights, and service development. Led by carer advocate Matthew McKenzie, the group fosters empowerment through regular discussions, creative expression, and co-produced solutions, ensuring carers’ voices are heard across local systems and beyond.

Carers Week Collaboration Discussion

The meeting began with introductions from Matthew McKenzie, who leads a merged online carers group, and other participants including Yvonne, a carers navigator at Southwark Carers, and Margaret, a carer representative with the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The group discussed Carers Week activities and their various roles in supporting carers across different organizations. Karen Hooper, connected with the Lambeth Living Well Collaborative, while Lee Roach, the carers lead for South London & Maudsley in Lambeth, shared his involvement with the Trustwide Family and Carers Committee.

Continue reading →

West London NHS Carers Event at the Irish Cultural Centre — A Community United

Written by: Matthew McKenzie – WLHT co-facilitator of ethnic carer group and Triangle of Care Community Chair

The Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith was filled with warmth and purpose on June 12th, as carers, professionals, and community leaders came together for the West London NHS Trust’s Carers Event in support of Carers Week 2025.

As Chair of the Triangle of Care Community and an involved carer for West London NHS Trust, I was interested in the carers conversations, and sense of solidarity among all those present.

Continue reading →

Cygnet’s Co-Production in Commissioning Conference 2025

On May 1st, 2025, Cygnet Health Care hosted its landmark Co-Production in Commissioning Conference at the iconic Villa Park, Birmingham. More than just a professional gathering, the event was a manifesto for a more inclusive, compassionate, and equitable model of care, driven by people with lived experience, carers, clinicians, and commissioners alike.

Packed with powerful keynotes, practical models, and heartfelt stories, the day was as emotionally resonant as it was strategically focused.

Continue reading →

How Empathy Can Help Reduce Racism: Understanding Its Impact and Role

Understanding the Role of Empathy in Reducing Racism

Welcome to about blog and video lecture from carer advocate Matthew McKenzie. This time I want to promote the importance of how empathy serves as a powerful tool in addressing and reducing racism within society. To watch my video lecture on reducing racism, see the video below.

When it comes to reducing Racism, it requires individuals to step into another person’s shoes, acknowledging their lived experiences and how the impact of racial discrimination affects them.

Continue reading →

LARCH Annual Conference 2025: Advancing Anti-Racism in Health & Care

On March 7, 2025, The Foundry in London became the epicenter of a powerful movement towards racial equity in healthcare.

The London Anti-Racism Collaboration for Health (LARCH), Health Innovation Network and Race Equality Foundation hosted their Annual Conference and Learning Event, bringing together thought leaders, policymakers, and community advocates dedicated to dismantling systemic racism in health and social care.

Setting the Stage: A Call for Change

The event was chaired by Dame Marie Gabriel, a pioneering advocate for equity in the NHS. Kicking off with opening remarks from Dr. Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Deputy Mayor for Communities & Social Justice, the conference established a clear message: structural racism in healthcare is a pressing issue that demands systemic solutions.

Continue reading →

Social workers & Managers Away Day event – Unpaid carers in Southwark

On February 25th, 2025, carers, professionals, and support organizations gathered at Tooley Street for a Carers event provided by Southwark Council. The event was developed by Sarah Bullman, Senior Policy and Strategy Lead for Adult Social Care over in Southwark. The event, hosted by Simon Rayner, provided an opportunity to connect, share updates, and explore ways to support carers in the community.

Key Highlights from the Event:

🔹 Carefree – Presented by Salil Meech Mazumdar, Carefree shared their work in providing much-needed short breaks and respite opportunities for unpaid carers, ensuring they have time to rest and recharge.

🔹 Southwark Carers – Sarah Bullman introduced Southwark Carers including Verinder CEO of Southwark Carers, an essential organization offering tailored advice, practical support, and advocacy for carers in the borough of Southwark.

🔹 Mobilise – A digital-first platform supporting carers, Mobilise was discussed in depth, highlighting how online peer support and coaching can help carers navigate their roles more effectively.

🔹 Imago – Known for their work in youth and adult carer services, Imago shared updates on their projects that focus on young carers, connecting them with resources and professional guidance.

🔹 Carers Hub/Centre – Southwark council focus on a new Carers Hub set for next year, where updates on focus groups and workshops on how the carers centre will be used for supporting unpaid carers.

The last section of the event was below

🔹 Voice of the Carer & Carer Empowerment – Chloe Harvey and Sarah Bullman provided updates on Southwark’s Carers Strategy, reinforcing the importance of carer voices in shaping policy.

Plus Matthew McKenzie, a well-known carer advocate, spoke passionately about listening to carers, empowering them, and ensuring co-production in decision-making. He also read moving excerpts from his book, The Poetry of Mental Health Caring, which resonated deeply with attendees.

The event concluded with a networking lunch, allowing attendees to connect, share experiences, and strengthen their collective efforts in supporting carers.

This forum was a powerful reminder that carers should never feel alone—there is a strong and growing community dedicated to uplifting and advocating for them. 💙