How the Alliance works

The Mental Health Alliance operates by using the time of its representatives from member organisations. This work is co-ordinated by a volunteer part-time member of staff. The Mental Health Alliance Co-ordinator is currently based at the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health.

The Mental Health Alliance makes decisions based on the recommendations of its members via the following committee structure:

The Steering Group makes the majority of strategic decisions concerning the over all direction the Mental Health Alliance should take. The Group is chaired by Andy Bell (Chair of the Alliance). Meetings are held roughly six times a year and attendees are senior representatives of core member organisations.

The Chief Executives Group is called upon to make overarching campaigning decisions, pool information and make budgetary decisions. The group is also chaired by Andy Bell and meets four times a year. Meetings are attended by the Chief Executives of our member organisations or their representatives.

The Policy Group devises the Mental Health Alliance's policy across all areas of the Mental Health Bill. It is chaired by Tim Spencer-Lane (Law Society) and Alison Cobb (Mind). Meetings of the group are attended by policy leads from member organisations. The more detailed work is carried out by special interest groups constituted of policy officers from the most relevant organisations.

The Campaigns Group co-ordinates the parliamentary, campaigns and events work of the Alliance. Meetings are held six times a year and attendees include parliamentary officers, campaigns and press staff from member organisations.

The Media Group is an email-based team of press officers. The Group enables the Alliance to respond rapidly to events as well as working pro-actively to promote Alliance concerns in the national and local media.

Regional work is very important to the Alliance. This work includes organising events around England and Wales to increase awareness of the Mental Health Bill, disseminate information and increase our list of supporters.