Participant Call out - Oral history project from Heads On / Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust

You are invited to take part in Living Histories, an oral history project capturing the experiences of those who have used or worked in NHS mental health services in Sussex. Led by Heads On, the charity for Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project will explore the journey from the closure of asylums to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Seeking participants who:

• Have personal experience with Sussex NHS mental health services, whether as a service user, carer, or staff member.

• Have stories spanning from the late 1980s to the present day.

What participation involves:

• A recorded oral history interview (60–120 minutes) conducted by trained volunteers.

• Your story may be used in exhibitions, podcasts, or preserved in archives, with the option for anonymity.

• Interviews will be scheduled between October 2024 and May 2025.

• Recording venues across Sussex.

Why your story matters: Your experiences will help document and preserve the history of mental health care in Sussex, offering valuable insights for future generations.

How to get involved: Please email project manager Nicola Benge at LivingHistories@spft.nhs.uk with your name, a brief outline of your experience, and your availability between October 2024 and May 2025. We will be in touch to discuss the next steps.

See attached for further project information and how you could get involved.

Travel expenses can be reimbursed for current SPFT service users within Sussex.