The Rt Hon John Bercow MP was the guest speaker at Buckinghamshire Mind’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 25th November.
The member of Parliament for Buckingham and Speaker of the House of Commons told the audience of Bucks Mind service users, supporters and partners that the challenge to mental health services is greater than ever and that public expenditure would never meet demand. Therefore, charitable institutions were essential in helping meet the needs of people with mental health problems.
Andrea McCubbin, Chief Executive for Buckinghamshire Mind, spoke to those attending the AGM about how far the charity has come in the last year and what the aims and objectives are for the future.
“Our vision is crystal clear,” said Andrea. “We won’t give up until everyone in the county with a mental health problem gets both support and respect. To achieve this, we aim to deliver quality community based services at scale that promote good mental health. We believe in supporting people in their communities to live the lives they want, as fully as possible.”
Andrea also spoke about the value of working in partnership and how bringing together different perspectives can help identify solutions to complex problems. “We bring focussed mental health expertise to our partnerships and the services we provide,” explained Andrea.
Andrea joined Dave Pugh, Chair of the Board of Trustees for Buckinghamshire Mind, in thanking the charity’s volunteers, fundraisers and supporters for all their hard work and commitment.
“We are extremely grateful to our volunteers, without whom we would not be able to operate, and to many others who help through fundraising, donations and other kinds of support,” said Dave Pugh. “Their hard work and commitment has helped our dedicated staff to make the past year one of progress and growth.”
Following the speeches and official business, AGM attendees enjoyed delicious homemade cakes and sandwiches.
Attendees were able to provide feedback to Buckinghamshire Mind through consultation boards, which asked for responses to six key questions:
- What makes Buckinghmashire Mind special?
- What 3 ideas do you have for what new services Buckinghmashire Mind could offer in the future?
- What one thing could Buckinghamshire Mind do now that would improve your experience of our charity and services?
- Is there anything Buckinghamshire Mind should stop doing or do differently?
- What words/phrases best describe your experience of Buckinghamshire Mind?
- Is there anything else you would like to tell us about Buckinghamshire Mind?
The event came to a close with a raffle prize draw, with an Older Adults’ service user winning the first prize of a Christmas hamper.
For more information about the AGM or to request a copy of our Annual Review, please contact Kaya Mallinder on 07930 729606 or email [email protected]