What a privilege it was to know and work alongside Dominic. The first time we met his energy and light permeated a dingey corridor, in a dull building, on a miserably grey day in Walthamstow. His energy and light continued to be a constant support in my work for over 20 years.
Dominic Makuvachuma-Walker, a Zimbabwean mental health survivor, had a longstanding relationship with the National Survivor User Network (NSUN). For over 15 years he was respectively an advocate, an advisor, and a Trustee (2009-2019).
From his early days of mental health activism in Waltham Forest he stood up and spoke out against injustice and discrimination within our institutions and communities. He used his personal experience and intense passion to support the mental health survivor movement at a local, regional, national, and international level.
Dominic left an indelible mark and a lasting legacy on the people and organisations he supported and worked for; as a founding member of Psychiatric System Survivors Together (PSST), as project development manager of the Catch-A-Fiya Network, as the people participation lead for City & Hackney, East London Mental Health Foundation Trust, as national programme lead with the Afiya Trust and the Social Perspectives Network (SPN), and his roles with Together – Working for Wellbeing and National Mind.
Dominic navigated the tricky ground between independent activism and professional representation, involvement and influencing. He contributed to and led ground breaking initiatives and projects like Catch-A-Fiya, Fan the Flames, Dancing to Our Own Tunes and Reigniting the Space.
Dominic was ridiculously generous, and his enthusiasm was beautifully infectious. He rallied, he inspired, he shared and supported. But Dominic also challenged and never shied away from speaking truth to power, or friends, or colleagues.
Dominic was also an actor, a DJ, a father and so much more. As often happens, uniqueness sharpens when lost. Dominic was unique and he was special, I knew that, but I realise and feel it more now that he is gone. Dominic’s life and legacy will quite rightly be remembered and celebrated by many.
– Sarah Yiannoullou, NSUN’s Managing Director from 2009-2020
A collection of tributes and information on Dom’s work is currently being gathered by friends and colleagues of Dom’s, and will be published on this page soon. If you want to offer your own tribute to be added, please get in touch with us at info@nsun.org.uk. An event to celebrate his life is being held on Friday 11th October 2024, 3.30pm-9pm, at The Parcel Yard, King’s Cross Station, London, N1C 4AH. If you would like to attend, please email Sarah at sarahyiannoullou@gmail.com.