VITAL is an independent, user led, mental health advocacy charity (formally BAMHAG). The organisation helps people to say what they want, secure their rights, represent their interests, and obtain the services they need at a time when they are vulnerable. Every professional advocate in the service can offer empathetic support having been in a similar position to the beneficiaries they are working with.
VITAL, then known as Bradford and Airedale Mental Health Advocacy Group, was set up in 1989 by a group of patients from Lynfield Mount Psychiatric Hospital in Bradford, who did not feel that their voices were being heard. At this time, professional advocacy was in its infancy, and VITAL, was responsible for bringing it to the region. Over time we have worked closely with the Government and had input into the Parliamentary briefing prior to the introduction of Statutory Advocacy.
The vision of the organisation is to have a society without judgement, isolation and discrimination.
In 2018 a new chapter began for VITAL (formerly known as BAMHAG).
The catalyst for this change was captured in an interview VITAL did on
The Charity Business show on BBC Radio 4 in 2018.
Click here to hear the full interview.