Mad Campaigns Lab is a monthly online meet-up for NSUN members interested in/working around mental health policy and campaigning.
The emphasis of the space is on skill-sharing and training; helping members to campaign around issues related to mental healthcare, Mad liberation, and Disability justice.
The space is free to join and open to all NSUN members, regardless of policy/campaigning experience. You might be an individual activist, an experienced campaigner, part of a group who would like to get involved in policy/campaigning, or someone who is interested in learning more about key issues in mental health policy.
You might work around mental health specifically, or on wider structural change such as welfare reform, housing, data rights, migrant justice, or other human rights issues with mental health implications.
Who is it led by?
The space is led by Courtney Buckler (she/they), Senior Policy and Campaigns Manager and Kieran Lewis (he/him), Rights and Migration Policy Manager. We will also be joined by other members of the NSUN team to support with tech, moderation, and access.
What to expect
The Lab is relatively unstructured, offering a space for members to connect with one another, share contacts and skills, and discuss actions/strategy/tactics. There will also be space for the NSUN team to share what we are working on and discuss as a group.
We will also be running ad-hoc training and events on issues relating to policy and campaigning. These will be circulated to those on the Lab mailing list first before being opened up to the wider NSUN membership.
If there is a particular session/topic you’d like to be covered, or something you can offer to the group, please email Courtney at courtney.buckler@nsun.org.uk.
Upcoming schedule
Lab meetings will take place on Wednesdays from 4.00-5.30pm (UK time). The focus of each session will be produced alongside Lab members (this page will be updated sporadically with confirmed sessions and their details). For now, our upcoming meeting date & focus are:
- 9th April, 4.00-5.30pm: Mad Campaigns Lab launch! Introducing ourselves and developing our group agreement
- 14th May, 4.00-5.30pm
- 11th June, 4.00-5.30pm
- 9th July, 4.00-5.30pm
Group agreement
The full group agreement will be developed with members at our first meeting and updated as and when the group feels it is necessary. Once this has been established, this section of the page will be updated with the final group agreement. For now, by signing up you agree to:
- Follow NSUN’s online event conduct agreement.
- Maintain confidentiality by not sharing information about Lab members, actions, or campaigns beyond the meeting.
- Not share the Zoom link/joining instructions with anybody else. Our sign-up process helps us to track how many people will be joining, and to prevent (as best as possible) the unlikely event of folks joining in bad faith.
If you would like the registration form in an alternative format or have any questions about the Lab, please email Courtney at courtney.buckler@nsun.org.uk.