About us
The Positive Choices Project is led by Mind Cymru, working in partnership with three Regional Centres, Vale of Clwyd Mind, Mind Aberystwyth and Torfaen Mind, and with Public Health Wales.
Mind Cymru
Mind Cymru is Mind's force for change in Wales. Informed in everything we do by people with direct experience of emotional distress we campaign vigorously to create a society that promotes good mental heath and that challenges mental health stigma. Mind Cymru don't provide any direct mental health services to the public. These are provided by over 20 local Mind associations in Wales which provide services to people experiencing all forms of mental distress. Mind Cymru supports local Mind associations with their day to day running including issues of funding, quality standards, good practice and organisational effectiveness. We work closely with the Welsh Assembly Government, the National Assembly for Wales and other voluntary and statutory agencies to develop mental health, community care and related policy in Wales so that policy meets the needs of the people of Wales.
Project Staff
Alan Briscoe is Positive Choices Project Manager and is based in Machynlleth. Alan was appointed by Mind Cymru in November 2007 as the Project Manager for the implementation of the ASIST pilot project. This Welsh Assembly Government funded project led to the successful bid to the Big Lottery fund for the five year Positive Choices project. Alan represented Mind Cymru on the National Oversight Group throughout the development and consultation states of the National Suicide and Self Harm Reduction Action Plan. Alan was one of the first ASIST trainers in Wales, and is now a LivingWorks registered Consulting Trainer.
Alan is passionate about suicide prevention. He has worked for statutory and voluntary services in the fields of youth justice and substance misuse and has witnessed the impact of suicide on both individuals and the community on many occasions.
Nicole Burchett is Project Officer and is based at Mind Cymru in Cardiff.
Ceri Taylor is Regional Administrator for Southeast Wales and is based at Torfaen Mind.
Julie Pierce is Regional Administrator for North Wales and is based at Vale of Clwyd Mind.
Maggie Cooper is Regional Administrator for Mid and Southwest Wales and is based at Mind Aberystwyth.
Regional Centres
Three Local Mind Associations, Vale of Clwyd Mind, Torfaen Mind and Mind Aberystwyth, are our partners in this project and act as Regional Centres for the dissemination of the training and outreach programmes.
Trainers
The Positive Choices Project incorporates a network of highly skilled trainers from a variety of backgrounds within the voluntary and statutory sectors, including criminal justice, youth work, housing, nursing, mental health and counselling.
