Committee and organisation

Friends of Antara UK is an entirely voluntary run organisation and we rely on the initiative and energy of committee members from a diverse range of backgrounds. We warmly welcome anyone wishing to contribute time or skills to our general or local commitees.

General Committee

Our general commitee coordinates our activities nationally. There are many ways to be involved as a coordinator, trustee or member. Find out more here.

University and Local Committees

Friends of Antara UK works largely through the activities of local groups. If you are interested in setting up or getting involved in a local group read on.

Fundraising

Developing mental healthcare and relieving poverty associated with mental illness are our twin aims for financial support. We appreciate that not every supporter is able to make a personal donation but you can help by fundraising or giving your time in other ways.

Fundraising ideas

This page provides ideas for raising funds and links to resources to get you started. Find out more about:

• Sponsored challenges
• Events
• Selling Antara products
• Fundraising with a local group.

Other ways to contribute

Do you have skills to offer or know of useful organisations and events which may help us with fundraising? Find out more here.

Awareness

We work to raise awareness of Antara's work and the reality of mental healthcare in resource-poor settings.

Raising Awareness

The Friends of Antara UK commitee welcomes requests to speak in schools, universities and community venues.

You can also help to raise awareness by organising a stall, event or presentation of your own.

Sounding Board

This part of our website is devoted to the thoughts, writing and input of those affected by mental illness either directly or as carers.

We feel it is important that the voices of those affected by mental distress are heard. If you know of a suitable forum for publishing or showing work by Antara's patients please let us know.

Direct Support

An important part of our support is the simple human expression of solidarity and friendship with those affected by mental illness or working in mental healthcare.

You can help in two ways.

Volunteering

We place between 10 -15 volunteers to live and work with Antara each year.

Whilst we will consider any applicant (18 yrs+) most volunteers are students of psychology, healthcare or social work or those already working in these areas. (see also research and cooperation)

Find out what is involved and how to apply in this section.

Letter Exchange

Patients at Antara greatly value this opportunity to correspond by letters with participants in the UK; writing provides a means to voice what they otherwise feel unable to express and for both participants creates windows into different worlds and in some cases enduring friendships.

Could you write every two months to relieve the isolation that can accompany mental illness? Find out more.

 

Research and Cooperation

To date, this is our least developed area of support but we feel one of the most valuable contributions we can make to mental healthcare in resource-poor settings is to support research and the exchange of knowledge and skills with the UK.

Research

There is a paucity of research into mental health in resource-settings, especially at local levels. Students or qualified individuals with the skills and time to organise research projects are warmly welcomed.

Friends of Antara UK also seeks funding or cooperation with academic centres in the UK to enable research by local health professionals.

Cooperation

Besides formal research, Friends of Antara UK has also sought to build connections with mental health organisations or health-professionals working in the UK. If you or the organisation you are working for can assist read on.