I have been fortunate to be invited to speak at several conferences and below are some photographs and comments.
Pluss - September 2008
James has an association with Pluss in several roles and we have successfully worked with him in the following areas:
James has delivered training to a significant number of Pluss Employees who are engaged in supporting people with disabilities and long term health issues to gain and sustain work. The training designed to give experienced advisors a greater understanding of the lived experience of people with complex mental health issues and how diagnoses can impact upon their lives. A key issue being that people with such experience can and do make a valuable economic contribution and can enrich the work place through their experience. We consider James to be a highly effective trainer with the ability to use his skills to meet the needs of those being trained.
James is engaged with the Open Up campaign, a project which is funded by the Big Lottery and seek to address stigma and discrimination around mental health especially in employment and the provision of services. James kindly asked Pluss to speak at a conference in Devon on Employment and Mental Health. It was against this back ground we invited James to speak at the Pluss Annual Employment Services Conference.
James subsequently spoke at our Conference in September 2008. He spoke with great clarity about the impact of experience of mental distress on people’s lives, the importance of adopting recovery oriented principles in supporting people and the importance of challenging stigma and discrimination in employment. James is a charismatic speaker and our post conference feedback reflected this with extremely high ratings for both the content and the delivery of his speech. One person said “James was amazing” and a significant number have asked for James to speak again.
Pluss has no hesitation in recommending James as both a trainer and a speaker. His messages are powerful.
Dublin, April 2008
'A Recovery Approach Within The Irish Mental Health Services - Translating Principles into Practice'
Dr Glenn Roberts and the 'have you checked your flies?' moment.
Being introduced by Mr Edmond O'Dea, Chairman of The Irish Mental Health Commission
In full flow...
Feedback from the Dublin Recovery Conference included:
'James, your individual contribution towards the success of the day is greatly appreciated and valued. The feedback received to date from delegates has been very positive...the presentations were spot on.' Brid Clarke, CEO Irish Mental Health Commission
And from some of the delegates:
‘Hearing James Wooldridge tell his story and Dr Glenn Roberts explaining Mental Health in such an easy manner has given me hope as a mother and carer for the future, Thank You’
‘James Wooldridge’s reminder of the spiritual, that faith and hope are vital’
‘Both Ms McH and James Wooldridge put a human face on the reality of living with an illness and managing to have a productive participation in life, all other speakers were very interesting however these two speakers gave experiences from a careers perspective and a consumers view - excellent’
‘Mr Wooldridge’s talk was inspiring particularly for its humour and acceptance of his unique journey, humour is often missing in our working day as often sadness dominates. Hope was very much a part of my experience today; perhaps my “professional burnout” recovery is starting from now’
‘Hearing personal stories about recovery was very valuable and also hearing about specific ways of ‘living’ through recovery, whether it is a service user, provider or carer is valuable. Generally I’ve been given hope to continue working with others towards recovery’
‘Although heart wrenching at times it was valuable to hear from people who have experienced Mental Health difficulties in one form or another. It highlighted what is currently effective in practice and where there is room for improvement, it brought things down to a much applied and very ordinary level which seems relevant to the everyday provision of health services’
Stockport, Manchester, May 2008 'Recovery and Beyond'
Talking about personal recovery and partnership working at Stockport
'Just to say a huge thanks to you (Glenn Roberts, Laurie Davidson and me), your contribution was in my view a key positive - lots of good feedback. Nick Dixon, Conference Organiser
'James Wooldridge was inspirational' Anonymous delegates feedback
I was also invited to speak at a Sainsbury Centre workshop held in Exeter during June 2008 when I was a commentator working alongside Dr Rachel Perkins.
'James, thanks again for your brilliant contribution. I was sitting next to Geoff S and Lisa B, who were really enthusing about your input. I think it is that you come over as so much yourself, without any pretentions. I think that is a gift that few people have and I think that the less preparation you have, the more your natural ability to ad lib comes over.'
These kind words are from Laurie Davidson who helped organise the workshop and who, together with Dr Glenn Roberts, I have been very privileged to work alongside.