Meet the Mind campaigns team

Alison Cobb, Senior Policy and Campaigns Officer

I work in the Mental Health Services team and my main role at the moment is to lead our crisis care campaign – working for excellent crisis care, based on humanity and respect and available to everyone who needs it. I’m old enough to remember the so-called back wards of the large hospitals and was very attracted to work for an organisation that believed in strengthening people’s rights and empowering people through information. And I’m lucky to work in a field where you meet so many inspiring people.

Amy Whitelock, Policy and Campaigns Manager

I love telling people that I work for Mind – I’m passionate about mental health and tackling inequality, and I’m so proud of the work Mind does. I’ve worked here since 2009 and currently oversee our campaigning to achieve more and better mental health services available everywhere, for everyone. I came to Mind because I was shocked at how close family and friends often struggled to get the help they needed and I want to be part of Mind’s ambition to make sure anyone with a mental health problem has somewhere to turn for advice and support. In my spare time I’m a bit of a music geek – I play the oboe in amateur orchestras in London – and I dabble in a spot of running, when I can muster the energy.

Emma Mamo, Policy and Campaigns Manager

I oversee Mind’s policy and campaigning work to uphold the rights of everyone with a mental health problem to ensure people get the respect and support they deserve. This includes changing the benefits system, making workplaces more mentally healthy and raising awareness of the injustices that many people with mental health problems experience. I have worked for Mind for over 7 years because we all have mental health, the same as we have physical health, but it is not acknowledged in the same way at all so I want to be a part of changing people’s attitudes.

Hannah Gousy, Policy and Campaigns Assistant

I have worked at Mind since April 2012. I work across the Social Inclusion and Rights and the Parliamentary Teams, supporting our campaigns on welfare and employment. If you want to get in touch with us about any of our campaigns then I’m your first point of contact. I work for Mind because I believe that it is important that everyone gets accesses to the support services that they need, and are able to live their lives free from stigma and discrimination.

Helen Undy, Senior Policy and Campaigns Officer

I lead Mind’s policy and campaigns work on social care and public health. At the moment I’m looking at how we can promote wellbeing and resilience in communities and campaigning to improve social care for people with mental health problems. I’m passionate about campaigning with (and on behalf of) people whose voices aren’t often heard, and have previously worked for Crisis and Action for Children. When I’m not bothering my MP I can generally be found bothering my neighbours by playing the drums (badly).

Louise Kirsh, Parliamentary Manager

I manage Mind’s parliamentary team. We work with MPs and Peers from all parties, to help them understand what it’s like to live with a mental health problem, and to ensure that mental health remains high on the parliamentary agenda. Much of our work focuses on improving or changing legislation and government policy. I wanted to work for Mind because my immediate family has been affected by bipolar and suicide, and I know how hard it is to talk about these issues. I’m really proud to work at an organisation that is breaking down the taboo and helping people get the support they need.

Nat Miles, Policy and Campaigns Officer

I work in the Social Inclusion and Rights team and I lead on human rights and equality policy, and also on employment – including Mind’s Taking Care of Business campaign which promotes good mental health at work. Mental health is a subject that’s very close to my heart and I believe in Mind’s vision of a world where everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets both support and respect.

Paul Spencer, Parliamentary Officer

I support Mind’s work in Parliament - holding face to face meetings, briefing politicians and providing the Secretariat for the All Party Parliamentary Group on Mental Health. I also support Mind’s campaigning on legislation. I have personal experience of mental health problems and have always been fortunate enough to receive great help and support. I work for Mind to give a little something back and make sure more people get the support they need to get well and stay well. I also support Spurs and strongly dislike Arsenal – two things that help to boost my wellbeing.

Rezina Hakim, Policy and Campaigns Officer

I work in our mental health services team which means I focus on improving aspects of the NHS system, such as making sure everyone gets access to psychological therapies and that changes to the NHS don’t make things worse for mental health services. Everyone has mental health, and sometimes this can mean being in a good space or a not so nice place. But it’s 2013, and it’s not right that mental health is still so stigmatised and people are not getting the treatment and respect they deserve. Working for Mind means I can help change this. My guilty pleasure – apart from cake – is following celebrity gossip.

Tom Pollard, Senior Policy and Campaigns Officer

I have worked in the Social Inclusion and Rights team since 2010. At the moment, my work is focussed on making the welfare and benefits system fairer for people with mental health problems, and making workplaces more mentally healthy. Having experienced mental health problems myself, I know how important it is to be supported, respected and understood. I wanted to work for Mind to try to make sure that anyone experiencing a mental health problem, regardless of their circumstances or background, gets this support, respect and understanding.

Vicki Ensor, Policy and Campaigns Assistant

I have worked for Mind since 2007. I spent two years working for Mind Link, Mind’s former network for people with mental health problems, and have been part of the mental health services team since 2010. My work currently focuses on campaigning for excellent crisis care to be available for everyone, and I’m also leading work to make sure people with mental health problems can get equal access personal health budgets. I work for Mind because when I first had mental health problems, I didn’t know what was wrong with me and where to get help, and I don’t want others to be in the same situation. Campaigning for change is part of what keeps me well. As well as being Mind’s current paper aeroplane champion, I am an enthusiastic participant in fancy dress and am waiting for a chance to dig out my Darth Vader costume.

Vicki Nash, Head of Policy and Campaigns

I ensure the rights, needs and priorities of people with mental health problems are heard by government, the NHS and other organisations. I’m passionate about making a difference to people’s lives and tackling prejudice. I think Martin Luther King was pretty spot on when he said “the time is always right to do the right thing.” Aside from this, I’m finally coming to terms with the fact that I won’t make it onto the West End stage.

To get involved in Mind's policy and campaigns work, why not become a Mind campaigner?