Issue 6: The Cram Packed Full Issue

It’s fair to say that we had enough material for this issue within a few days of the last one being distributed. We long for the day when we have the funds to make Reflections a bi-monthly magazine instead of a quarterly one.

Thankfully in the meantime, we now have a fully functioning website (which is updated on a weekly basis) www.breakthroughmhart.com Which provides us an additional capability to showcase people’s creative talents, which has, and always will be our main priority, closely followed by our campaign to provide more resources for mental health generally, and more resources for the arts in mental health specifically, and to this end we have launched an on line petition at No 10 

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Artworks/

We strongly urge you to spend a few minutes registering your support for this cause which you can do by going to the above link, and completing the details asked for, and then returning the email you will be sent asking if you confirm your support. It really will only take you a couple of minutes.

This is really important because a lack of names on this petition will of course have the reverse effect, and will tell the Government there is no strong demand for this. At the moment, whilst we are disappointed that at the time of writing we only have a few hundred signatories, we are very impressed by the amount of well known and respected figures in the field who are supporting the campaign.

Generally speaking, politicians do not impress me, and I have met many over the past fifteen years. In my humble opinion Alan Milburn was by far the best Secretary of State for Health that this country has ever had, but Angie and I recently had the pleasure of meeting Ed Vaizey, and like Alan, this is a man with presence who we believe will have a major positive impact in the future. We had not intended to feature an interview in this issue, but we believe that Ed Vaizey is a man worth listening to, and if his party wins the election, we have no doubt that Ed will be a great Champion for Art in Health.

Sorry to repeat myself but remember, there will be a general election in the coming months, this is the time that MP’s are more likely to listen so please write to yours, and ACTIVELY SUPPORT OUR CAMPAIGN. Remember apathy is the big threat to our services, and we must not sit back while cuts are made.

The ARTS AID RECOVERY and ENHANCE OUR WELLBEING – make sure that the decision makers understand this...

Take care Tony Russell - Editor