Real About The World I Live In.

Metro Centre - Support and information for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. Mental health services including a drop-in (ring for details) and long-term and short-term counselling. Sexual health outreach services providing information, supplies of condoms (including by post), lube, etc. Youth services include one to one support on suicide, self harm, drug and alcohol issues. Also offers family and therapy support. Training and support for organisations on issues that effect lesbians, gay men and bisexual people. Offers volunteering opportunities: www.themetro.dircon.co.uk

Survivors Poetry - is a national organisation promoting poetry by survivors of mental distress, through workshops, performances, readings and publications. Supports around 30 affiliated writing and poetry groups across the country, including training for workshop facilitators. Free quarterly newsletter: www.survivorspoetry.com

Children with AIDS Charity (CWAC) www.cwac.org - was conceived in 1992 within the paediatric department of St Mary Hospital, Paddington. The founders were a small group of heathcare professionals and parents who became increasingly aware of the acute shortage of services for children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS. CWAC aims to help the youngest of those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS to lead as near normal a life as possible by providing the following services:

• The Hardship & Respite Breaks Project to help provide basic items such as clothing, bedding and household items and grants towards individual family breaks within the UK.
• The Bonnie Camps Project to subsidize days out, and respite trips for children and families.
• Transport services to help children keep hospital and/or support group appointments or to transport families to them when they are on the wards.
• Education to promote awareness amongst children of all ages about the facts and fallacies surrounding HIV and AIDS issues, and to combat fear and predjudice.
• Events to raise funds and give paediatric HIV and AIDS a more prominent media profile.

Yesterday, my line manager (when asked) told me that I can attend the forthcoming Quaker Dialogue 3, Spirituality, Creativity and Mental Illness, by Susan Mitchell and Isabel Clarke. chair: David Saunders on Saturday 27th September, 2pm - 5pm, at Friends House, 173 Euston Road, NW1 2BJ. http://www.londonquakers.org.uk/

It is a public event, and the admission is a £6.00 payment at the door. It's publicity reads as follows:

Mental Illness lies behind much poverty, inequality and crime. Why do we not grant adequate resources to meet the need? Within every extended family there is someone who is mentally ill. How do we overcome fear, ignorance and lack of public sympathy? Creative expression is now seen as a royal road to mental health. What is the evidence that the spiritual has a role in healing, too? A lively afternoon of presentations, dialogue and questions will explore these important issues and look at new developments.

Dr Susan Mitchell, formerly Medical Director and Consultant Psychiatrist, at The Retreat, York, continues to be involved there in The Retreat's Spiritual Working Group. She is a fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrist and member of its Faculty of Rehabilitation and Social Psychiatry.

Isabel Clarke is an NHS consultant clinical psychologist at the psychiatric inpatient hospital Woodhaven, West Southampton and New Forest, leading in psychological therapies. She researches, organises conferences and writes, recently editing Psychosis and Spirituality: exploring the new frontier (2001)