This week provides us with an opportunity to stop and reflect on the achievements of volunteers across Wales and beyond and celebrating it couldn’t be more timely. As Wales and the world is brought to its knees by the coronavirus pandemic it feels that the display of humanity is more important than ever. And that’s exactly how I see each and every one of Time to Change Wales Champions, as agents of humanity. Telling others about mental health as it is without the bells and whistles. Real experiences told and heard by real people. The sheer breadth and diversity of our Champion body is a constant reminder that mental health issues really can affect anyone anywhere. Each time a Champion shares their experience at the very least, someone listening is moved by it. Countless times you have told us that after a talk or conversation that audience members have quietly approached you and said “I am going through the same thing” or that you have inspired them to take the first step towards getting the help they need. It’s not an underestimation to say that Time to Change Wales champions really do change lives.
Time to Change Wales isn’t a programme that works with volunteers, the campaign is our volunteers. Without our Champions including Employee champions there is no movement for change. Over the years you have been our voice, our critical friend and navigator guiding us to where we are today making us strive to become always bolder and better at what we do.
Since the lockdown restrictions came into force on the 23rd of March like for everyone it presented Time to Change Wales with new challenges of how to approach our work and keep pushing the anti-stigma agenda forward. Whilst it felt that on the outside everything changed suddenly and overnight, within Time to Change Wales nothing really changed at all. Your work as Champions has continued seamlessly and steadfastly by adapting your approaches of challenging stigma, and in doing so embracing new models and technologies. The team has been overwhelmed by the creativity and enthusiasm shown by Champions to date on how we continue to challenge stigma through virtual means. It does feel like the work of Time to Change Wales has reached new heights thanks to Champions in making what we thought was previously difficult, possible.
Whilst my hope is that society will emerge from this period of pandemic as a more empathetic, more understanding and respectful society, we are not hedging our bets on it. Our work in tackling stigma is by no means done and there is likely to be even greater need for our work and for our voice to be heard even stronger. When we eventually do come out on the other side, we will no doubt be better equipped for it.
At the end of this year we will be measuring public attitudes surveys to see what has changed since the third phase of our work which started in early 2018. What we hope to see is a positive shift in attitudes in Wales and that the time to Change Wales Champions’ work alongside other agencies in tackling stigma is paying dividends across society. And we’ll not be able to take the credit for this. All of this due to the stalwart work of our Champions both old and new who are selflessly committed to the cause.
So, on behalf of everyone at Time to Change Wales a heartfelt thank you to all of our volunteers past and present for creating and shaping a campaign that we can all be proud of.
