Hi everyone

An abridged version of a recent email to the London Comm Psych Network - I thought people on this list might be interested in the Psychologists Against Austerity campaign update and the workshop event connected to the campaign. I'm afraid the format doesn't come out well here but hopefully it's easy enough to read! Thanks.

Hello London Community Psychology Network!

Please get involved in any ways you can - attend events, suggest events, post events, network, post discussions etc on our national interactive website: http://communitypsychologyuk.ning.com/ and follow the very active twitter account @CommPsychUK

Below are details of a training Event, Two Updates, a Call to Action and an Opportunity....


Update 1: Psychologists Against Austerity Campaign

Huge progress has been made with this campaign. Now is the time to help us take action. We want to mobilise Psychologists and psychological knowledge to influence the debate on austerity policies in the run up to the General Election. 

Our progress...

1) there is a campaign website to explain everything          https://psychagainstausterity.wordpress.com/

2) we are already making waves and becoming recognised nationally as a campaign     http://www.neweconomics.org/blog/entry/fighting-for-social-justice-in-times-of-austerity1

3) there is a House of Lords launch event planned with various speakers and politicians on 4th March 2015, so look out in the media

4) there will soon be a 38 degrees petition for you to send out and sign - details to come 

5) there is an evidence-based briefing paper on 'The Psychological Impact of Austerity' - nearly written and ready to go, it will be available soon

6) there is a workshop event planned - see below

7) there is a week of action planned in April - in the week beginning the 20th April 2015, as we lead up to the General Election, watch this space and get involved!

Details of our campaign meetings are on the http://communitypsychologyuk.ning.com/ events pages and the Psychologists Against Austerity group pages. http://communitypsychologyuk.ning.com/group/psychologists-against-austerity

Please get involved and come to meetings if you can - we need you - there is lots to do! Email me or use the email on the website for further info.


Campaign Call to Action: What you can do right NOW

https://psychagainstausterity.wordpress.com/everyday-austerity/

The campaign website is collecting our stories of the impact of austerity on our services, on people and on us. Inspired by the everyday sexism campaign, we want to show how public services, professionals and people are being affected.

So please anonymously (or not) post your personal 'everyday austerity' stories. 

We need everyone to contribute their stories - else the message doesn't get across. It will take 2 mins! 

And, of course, Spread the word. Thank you!


An Event: 'Economic Justice Workshop for Psychologists' 

Mon 2nd March 6-8.30pm, London, venue TBC will depend on numbers, please register by Fri 20th Feb 

https://eventbrite.co.uk/event/15769245237/


The Psychologists Against Austerity campaign have partnered with the Economic Justice Project to provide training to Psychologists about the UK economic context. In this workshop we'll be exploring these questions: 

Is austerity really necessary? What is the deficit and how did it happen? What is the evidence for austerity? And what are the alternatives to austerity policies and cutting public services? What are our visions for public service reform? 

All are welcome and you don't have to be a Psychologist or involved in the campaign to attend. However, we need you to register so we have an idea of numbers. We may need to limit numbers in which case it will be a first come first served approach.

It is a free workshop thanks to the Economic Justice Project, however, depending on numbers we may ask for a donation towards venue costs. 
Please register to attend the workshop by Friday 20th February so we know numbers to book a suitable venue. 

https://eventbrite.co.uk/event/15769245237/


Update Two: Festival of Community Psychology - reflections

Thank you so much to everyone who came to the Festival at the end of November 2014. 

The participation was really special. The organising members from the BPS Community Psychology Section Committee and our incredible volunteers - Miltos and Meera - were buzzing at the end of it (though that may have just been our general relief!) 

We hope you were buzzing too! We think we succeeded in offering an accessible, informative and fun alternative to a conference.

If you attended, please feel free to send me feedback - the good and the bad. It will help us make the next one even better!

There are photos of the Festival now up on the Community Psychology interactive community website. http://communitypsychologyuk.ning.com/


I hope everyone is well and happy.

Best wishes

Sally 

(London CP Network Co-ordinator)

___________________________________
The list is jointly managed by David Fryer [log in to unmask] and Grant Jeffrey [log in to unmask], either of whom are able to deal with queries.
To unsubscribe or to change your details on this COMMUNITYPSYCHUK list, visit the website:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=COMMUNITYPSYCHUK