Bury Involvement Group (BIG in Mental Health)

Who we are

Bury Involvement Group (BIG in Mental Health) is an independent charity run by, and for, people with personal experience of mental distress. BIG's Mission is to empower adults experiencing mental and emotional distress towards their recovery and improved quality of life by providing mutual support and hope.

BIG's Purpose is to build a healing and compassionate community for those seeking sanctuary and support, to help gather people with shared experiences together to help each other to understand the ways we can learn and grow together. 

Our History

BIG has a short but proud history. Established in 2007 by mental health service users BIG functioned as an independent ear, sounding board and voice for local people who use mental health services. We connected people together to feed back their experiences to commissioners. When it comes to what does and doesn’t work on the ground, understanding people’s experiences is vital to improving the service offered to the people of Bury. In 2012 BIG secured funding which enabled us to expand our service to provide a range of free and accessible peer support groups, which provide people with safe, welcoming spaces focused on recovery. The support we offer is, predominately, provided by volunteers with lived experience of a mental health condition.

In April 2021 BIG launched the Bury Peer Led Crisis Service. This provides an alternative to attending A & E when experiencing mental health crisis. The service has expanded year on year and supports residents of Bury aged 18+ with a safe space to come and work through their crisis. 

Our culture and values

BIG's Vision is to ensure we are able to provide high quality peer support to any adult in Bury, reducing isolation, providing support in times of crisis, and providing hope to those experiencing significant mental and emotional distress.

BIG's Core Values, which undeerpin the work we do:

Led by Lived Experience: We value and listen to each person’s unique lived experience to deliver support grounded in our philosophy whilst ensuring our Charity remains focused on growing to meet the needs of the people who join our community.

Involve to Empower: We involve people with lived experience at all levels of the Organisation to empower them to use their experience in new and meaningful ways to move towards the lives they want to live.

Collaboration: We work with external partners to ensure the voice of people with lived experience is at the heart of the all conversations in the mental health and social care economies across Bury and Greater Manchester.

Safety, Mutuality & Choice: We provide spaces which are safe and allow people to connect and build relationships based on mutuality, respect, trust, and hope, whilst supporting people’s right to have choice and control in their own lives.

Trustworthiness & Transparency: We aim to be clear and straightforward, open and transparent in everything we do.