Shot on the grounds of what was once a hospital, built in 1916 to treat injured servicemen, this short film aims to challenge the stigma and discrimination held towards those of us who live with the challenges of a mental health diagnosis. The film is inspired by the possibility that, despite our many differences, our personal struggles could be what unites us rather than separates us. A powerful idea at a time of social and political uncertainty, particularly within the United Kingdom.
Project Embrace's journey began in 2012 when its first initiative The Pocket Advocate was awarded an innovation and development grant of £80K from the London Borough of Camden, which was match funded by Project Embrace with a further investment of £130K.
In partnership with The James Wigg Practice and The Kentish Town Improvement Fund, The Pocket Advocate was successfully piloted within Camden & Islington’s NHS Foundation Trust.
The Pocket Advocate has since been used by a variety of local and national organisations, including Rethink Mental Illness and Wish, to raise awareness and provide support for people in a range of environments including education, healthcare, probation, employment, and the workplace.
Following our work with The Pocket Advocate Project Embrace collaborated with award winning Director Tatiane Feres, to produce the short film 'One and Other'. The film challenges discrimination
associated with mental health, and has recently been selected for the Canberra Mental Health Film Festival 2019, FICSAM Festival 2019 and the Global Health Film Festival 2019.
In 2016 The Pocket Advocate was awarded a £10K scholarship from The School of Social Entrepreneurs and offered 12 months of expert support from RSA, Big Issue Invest and Barclays.
In the same year Project Embrace began its work with the University of the Arts London to translate and pilot The Pocket Advocate for students and staff.
In 2017 Featurist funded the technical development and delivery of The Pocket Advocate's online service.
The work that has been achieved would not have been possible without the generous donations from members of the public, who it is an honour and privilege to serve. Equally, the selfless contributions of so many volunteers continue to drive and inspire this work forward. Special thanks to: Josh Chisolm, Max Gooding, Matthew Peltier, Arati Thapa, Moira Dennison, Peter & Frances Kandler, James Ware, Silvia Baumgart, Gee Lam, Danielle Singer Moore, Jane Banks, Paras Sood, Moira Matthews, Hari Sewell, Joel Karamath, Kate Wood and Johanna Dench.
To learn more about the work we do email danielle@project-embrace.com
Articles & Reports
"Today, over 5,000 people have engaged with Project Embrace through a wide range of solutions and initiatives that include online downloads, workshops, training, talks and campaigns to raise awareness. Project Embrace’s growing network of ambassadors and dedicated team of experts and volunteers are now preparing for the launch of The Pocket Advocate’s digital service in 2018."- "A green paper published in early December sets out proposals incentivising every school and college in England to have a senior lead for mental health, creating new mental health support teams to liaise between schools and the NHS, and piloting a maximum four-week waiting time for CAMHS in some areas. Children and young people in England will be able to access mental health support in their school or college under Government plans to transform the treatment of mental illness in young people. The Pocket Advocate goes a considerable way in addressing these issues."
- "Without the right intervention people become trapped in the devastating cycle of crisis and relapse, unable to fulfil their potential and live the life they truly deserve. The Pocket Advocate shows clearly that mental distress is manageable, and that with the right intervention the cycles of crisis and relapse can be prevented."
- "Every aspect of the language and design [of The Pocket Advocate] aims to inspire ownership and a sense of authority in regard to a person’s experience. The work is coming from them."
- "On reflection it seems clear to me that the problems relating to my original distress were never really addressed. The additional trauma of being hospitalised, diagnosed, medicated and stigmatised covered up the underlying issues that I faced as a young adult."
- "The feedback we have had to date confirms that of those who have participated in the pilot, none have been readmitted to hospital. One individual experienced crisis, but was able to manage it and avoid hospital, much to the welcome surprise of her care co ordinator."
- "The Pocket Advocate confidently and clearly addresses the widening gap
between the individual, their community and the local services available to them. Through a creative, as opposed to a clinical approach, the format and aim of the Pocket Advocate is to inspire a sense of pride and achievement rather than being an impersonal document that gets lost and forgotten about"
Project Embrace is a Community Interest Company registered in England and Wales. Company number 09525655.