Weymouth Community Action Group

Creating a community voice for people who use, or may wish to use mental health services and who experience mental health problems. The group meets monthly at Weymouth Library.

Aims and Objectives of the Group

To ensure that people who use, or who may want to use, mental health services have a say in what type of services are being provided
To work closely with all mental health service users and people with mental health difficulties in the Weymouth and Portland area to collect and represent their views about the types of mental health services that are wanted
To work in partnership with the people who design and provide our mental health services
To enable the service user's voice to be heard and to maintain good two-way communication with local mental health service providers
To provide information and help to people where possible, regarding what kind of support, services and activities are available in the area
To challenge any stigma and discrimination about mental health issues
To promote the rights and equality of people with mental health problems
To meet other people with mental health issues
To reach out to other people with mental health issues and to establish a network and sense of community
To respect our differences
To make a difference for everyone and to have some fun while doing it!

Project History

The Community Action Group for Mental Health (CAG) was previously called the Weymouth Service User Advisory Group and was established in January 2006, when significant changes were made to the mental health day service provision in the Weymouth and Portland area.

The group was very well attended as people wanted to express their views about services and be involved in consultation in an informal and safe way. A survey of over eighty service users was carried out, which helped shape the services provided by the Community Resource Team and across the locality. The group carried on meeting and was attended by a core number of people, interested in communicating about services and exchanging views.

In January 2008 the group began to meet in the community and broadened its purpose with a view to collecting views and involving a broader range of people with mental health problems in the area - whether or not they currently access mental health services.

Contacting the Weymouth Community Action Group

For further information regarding the Weymouth CAG, please contact:

Becky Aldridge, Dorset Mental Health Forum
Tel: 01305 257172
Mobile: 07742 021423

Sharon Cunningham, Community Resource Team
Tel: 01305 766237

Alternatively you can email any general enquiries.