About NSF Scotland

Management
The National Schizophrenia Fellowship (Scotland) is a registered charity, led by its members. Its constitution provides for a Management Board of up to 16 elected members. A majority of the elected members must be close relatives of people with schizophrenia or other serious mental illness. The Board meets at least six times per year.

We have a number of Professional Advisers who can attend Board meetings and meetings of our Public Affairs Committee, and are available to give information/guidance to National Office staff and Board members. Representations to politicians, the Mental Welfare Commission and the Executive are initiated at the Public Affairs Committee which meets bimonthly. The other standing committees of the Board - the Finance Committee and Operations Committee - meet according to a pre-agreed timetable and report regularly to the Board.

Staff
The National Office in Edinburgh has a staff of a Chief Executive, an Operations Manager, an Information Officer, two Administrative Staff, a Fundraiser and in the Finance Department, a Finance Manager, a Finance Officer, and an Accountant as consultant.

Activities
Support and Information Groups
There are several groups throughout Scotland, from Wick to Stranraer, where members (and others) provide support and information in a variety of ways, with some carrying out local campaigning and fund-raising. Some groups operate on a mutual support basis, and others arrange talks or presentations from invited speakers on a range of issues related to mental illness.

Information, advice and support
National Office provides these services, answering written, telephone and e-mail enquiries, arranging one-to-one advice meetings and informing enquirers about local contacts and local groups. The National Information Service also includes our Newsletter and website.

A range of leaflets and booklets are available, many of which have been produced in-house.

The Fife Hearing Voices Network provides support and information to voice hearers and their relatives and friends, and an information/education resource to professionals.

Drop-in/Resource Centres
These provide a friendly and understanding setting for activities, making friends, cheap and nutritious food, and for obtaining advice and support. Most are open 5 days a week with some also providing additional weekend and evening sessions.
The Centres are Companas Cottage (Alness), Glengarry Centre (Fort William), Cairdeas Cottage (Inverness), The Cottage (Cupar), Stafford Centre (Edinburgh), Charlie Reid Centre (Glasgow), Kaleidoscope (Dumfries), Phoenix Club (Stranraer), and smaller centres in Castle Douglas, Annan, Newton Stewart, and Golspie. The caf� in the Charlie Reid Centre is open to the public.
Please click here to access more information of centres In Your Area.


Outreach
Outreach/ Domiciliary Workers reach out to users in Ross & Cromarty, Stewartry, Wigtownshire, Dumfries, Annan and Stranraer.

Young Adult Workers are attached to Kaleidoscope (Dumfries).

Employment and Training
Some projects offer training placements to service users under the Benefit Agency�s Permitted Work Scheme.

Vocational Support Workers in Edinburgh and Dumfries and Galloway give support and advice to people in work and training.

The Genesis project in Dumfries provides computer training for users, and the CU Thru� project in Dumfries provides vocational support for young people with mental health issues.

Carers Support
There are Carers Officers in Tayside, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dumfries & Galloway, the Highlands and Fife. Informal support to carers is also provided through several of the drop-in centres.

Funding
The core costs of projects in the regions are mostly funded by local authorities, NHS Health Boards or Joint Commissioning Teams. Other sources of funding, including charitable grants, can be used to fund particular activities within projects.

National Office is funded by a grant from the Scottish Executive, infrastructure fees from the regional projects, and fund-raising.