An update from Any Freeman, Director & Founder of Space to Breathe
“One of the highlights of our work at Space to Breathe is our involvement in the Synergy Sheffield Mental Health Alliance” writes Andy Freeman.
“We have been involved in the formation and building of the Alliance, from first conversations about how to voluntary sector can work together, to it’s formation and now position as an alliance seeking to strengthen and amplify the voice of the VCSE in Sheffield.
I’ve been delighted to be a member of the Partnership Board since 2023.
One of the main architects of the development of Synergy has been Sarah Batty who has done an incredible job holding the Alliance together and facilitating meetings, planning and projects in her role with Rethink Mental Illness who act as Lead Accountable Body.
Sarah is now moving onto a new role and we wish her every success. .
To support continuity across the Synergy Alliance during a transition period, and while a short-term review of roles and responsibilities is undertaken (for a period of up to 12 months), I’ve been asked to provide interim consultancy support to the Alliance to cover their Partnerships Manager function. Given our commitment to the VCSE and to partnerships this felt something I should clearly say yes to.
The good news is this work will be alongside everything I do with Space to Breathe. All off our services and support will carry on as normal.
For Synergy, this arrangement has been put in place to maintain momentum and stability across our partnership development, collaborative funding, and system leadership work while longer-term plans are clarified, rather than initiating a formal recruitment process at this stage.
It’s worth saying that Space to Breathe benefits from and partners with Synergy in a number of projects including our Peer Support Work and the Wellbeing Community. In order to ensure maximum transparency, this appointment has been formally declared and appropriate governance steps are in place. Where any actual or potential conflicts arise — particularly in relation to funding or commissioning matters involving Space to Breathe — I will step back from those discussions. The intention of this plan is simply to help sustain progress and continuity for the Alliance during this interim period.
I am excited to be supporting Synergy during this transition period and look forward to working with the VCSE in Sheffield to build the sector and support individuals mental health and wellbeing in the city.
If anyone has any questions, please drop me a line using the link below and I’m happy to answer them.”
