About Us

iBUG is a group of people who use or have used mental health services in the past and have come together to monitor the provision of services in Islington. ​We give a professional voice to people in Islington who have mental health problems to improve the services they use. 

We are currently funded by Islington Council to provide the Mental Health Experts by Experience service in Islington. 

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What we do

• We give a professional voice to people in Islington who have mental health problems to improve the services they use.
• We promote social contact and support for mental health service users to enable them to take control over their own lives.
• We inform mental health service users of planned changes in mental health services to influence such changes through iBUG involvement.
• We promote service user participation in the commissioning, development, policy and practice of mental health services.
• We advocate for and promote self advocacy for the rights of people with experience of mental ill health.
• We actively seek the views of mental health service users about the services they use to identify gaps in the range and quality of such services to represent those views to service providers.

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Involvement and membership

All Islington residents who self-identify as living with mental health problems can become iBUG members. Service users can choose their own level of involvement and commitment.

Members who are interested in developing their skills will be supported with a personal development plan and thorough training and support from the iBUG team and other more experienced members. Participants can join us to volunteer on a regular basis or occasionally contribute or seek advice: we welcome any level of engagement. We do have monthly Members Meetings which all service users are welcome to attend.

To become a member, please contact us.


Volunteering and sessional employment

iBUG has volunteers and sessional employees who greatly contribute to the success of the organisation. iBUG values its people: we provide a safe environment where you can gain work experience, develop skills and knowledge. We provide in-house training but as part of individual development programmes: we also fund placements on courses. 

We are currently recruiting new volunteers and sessional employees for various roles. To find out how to volunteer, please contact us.

This is what one of iBUG's volunteers has said about his involvement with iBUG:

"I am very happy that my efforts have been appreciated, I can now accept commitment and responsibility without fear and much of my self-worth has been re-established through making a worthwhile contribution to society. I shall no doubt continue to make further progress as I have all the help and encouragement I could wish for from the directors and team mates." (PF)

 
Management

All iBUG Directors have their own personal experiences of living with long-term mental health problems, and they have all used mental health services.