The only OCD magazine, Compulsive Reading - 2012 OCD-UK Annual Review Special Compulsive Reading Annual Review A Compulsive Reading Special Compulsive Reading Welcome to the 2012 OCD-UK Annual Review Chair’s Report by Kylie Cloke, chair of OCD-UK 2012 Annual Review elcome to the 2012 OCD-UK Annual Review. that attended (and those that watched on the internet) This is our opportunity to tell you all about our information, guidance, advice and inspiration that OCD workW during 2012. is an unnecessary illness that, with the correct treatment and support, can be overcome. At our AGM, following OCD-UK remained extremely busy during 2012. As the conference, we were delighted to inform our members in previous years, we continued with our core aims of of our new honorary president, Steve Sharpe, and our providing support, guidance and advice to those affected new overseas ambassador, Adam Radomsky. Following by OCD. Our forums, telephone line, email support on from their unwavering support in recent years, we and support groups continued to be utilised on an were delighted that they accepted our offer of joining the extremely frequent basis by many different people. We OCD-UK team and we look forward to continuing to corresponded with sufferers, carers, family and friends, work closely with them in the future. and health professionals on a daily basis, tailoring our services dependant on the needs of those seeking help. For me personally, 2012 saw a return of my own OCD. Furthermore, we continued with our aim of campaigning Having been free from it for 6 years, it slowly crept back for improved access to high quality treatment by working in after an extremely stressful year of juggling full time directly with some IAPT services and offering training work, three children and a full time university degree. workshops to trainees specifically aimed at improving For the first time in many years, I went back to my GP knowledge and understanding of OCD. We also posed and asked for a referral for CBT. After jumping through serious questions to an NHS Trust after announcements many hoops, I was finally offered a course of 12 sessions of that they were scaling down their specialist OCD clinic. CBT through my local IAPT service. I am still currently undergoing treatment, and hope to offer a positive Raising awareness of OCD amongst the general public, result in next year’s annual report! However, I wanted to policymakers and health professionals continued in highlight my own personal battle with OCD within this 2012. In October we launched the 2nd OCD Awareness annual report. As a charity that is independent, we have Week, in conjunction with global OCD organisations, always been proud that we are managed only by people and we produced some amazing posters and postcards with direct experiences of OCD. This has continued to that were distributed across the UK in an attempt to get remain the same during 2012, and by highlighting my the nation talking. We were extremely appreciative that own experiences, I hope that our members are secure our OCD Awareness Week was supported by the cast of in the knowledge that I truly understand what they are Coronation Street, and we were sent numerous photos experiencing! I don’t pretend to understand or sympathise, of the different cast members posing with our placards I actually do understand and I can empathise with each pledging their support to our cause. Facebook and Twitter and every one as I, myself, am slogging my way through were, once again, turned into a sea of orange with many, days of intrusive thoughts, complicated rituals and never- many people offering their support during Awareness ending anxiety. However, on a more positive note, I have Week. Furthermore, to raise more awareness during 2012, overcome OCD in the past, and I fully intend on doing we held talks with MP Charles Walker to discuss the it again – but, there is nothing wrong with seeking the problems faced by people with OCD. correct support and treatment when struggling ;) Fundraising continued to develop in 2012, with cycle I must end my annual report with some heartfelt thanks. riding becoming a popular event for our fundraisers. Our Firstly, I must thank our CEO, Ashley Fulwood. As very own CEO, Ashley, undertook a London to Paris bike always, he has worked tirelessly to ensure that those ride – no mean feat for the not most athletic of people – affected by OCD have access to support, information and and Jo (pictured on the front cover), both raising valuable guidance during their times of struggle and continues to funds for OCD-UK and raising awareness of OCD by strive to change some of the misguided public perceptions proudly displaying the OCD-UK logo on their cycle jersey of OCD. I must thank my band of trustees, without your during the ride. Whether our members cycled hundreds support and help in 2012, OCD-UK would not have been of miles, ran a marathon or held a coffee morning at their able to function as effectively as it did. To Steve Sharpe, workplace, the valuable funds they raise every year allow us our honorary president, thank you for your continued to continue with our key aims and missions. Without their financial support. In times of an economic downfall, your generosity, OCD-UK would not survive. support is needed and very much appreciated. To our A notable achievement for 2012 was the live streaming of members, whether you donate £2, £5, £10 or £20 a month, our annual conference. As in previous years, we changed I do hope you really understand how each individual location of our conference to ensure that we maintain donation makes such a difference to our survival each year. our aim of reaching as many people affected by OCD I thank you for your continued support to our charity. as possible, and we held our 2012 conference in Cardiff. I look forward to 2013 and hope we can be as successful Through the allocation of a charitable grant, we were as 2012. able to ensure that those that could not attend in person, were given the opportunities to watch our conference through live streaming on the internet. Knowledgeable professionals and inspiring individuals spoke at length about the signs and symptoms of OCD, treatment options and first hand battles with OCD, and provided those Compulsive Reading from OCD-UK | 3 Our Vision Is of a world where the devastating impact of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is reduced through effective and safe treatment that is free for everyone, or ultimately through the discovery of a cure. Our Mission OCD-UK Is to make a positive and meaningful ■ Is the independent voice of difference in the everyday lives of people with Obsessive- children and adults affected by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in the UK. Compulsive Disorder. ■ Is the service user led charity We will do this by providing accessible for people with OCD, run by and effective support services and by sufferers, for sufferers. campaigning for improved access to quality treatment for people with OCD. We ■ Raises awareness among want to ensure that every person affected healthcare professionals, health services and politicians about by OCD receives the quality of treatment the seriousness of OCD, to and care that they deserve and that they change opinion and influence can proceed, unhindered by OCD, to live healthcare policy change for their life to the full, free of the impact of treating OCD. OCD. ■ Receives no external support for core costs and remains Our Values – OCD-UK are OCD funded and completely reliant Open – with ourselves and those we on voluntary donations. support, their family, friends and carers Caring – providing emotional and ■ Remains the source of practical support in a non-judgmental way independent advice and information on Obsessive- Dynamic – in all our efforts to raise Compulsive Disorder and awareness and promote positive change. treatments. 4 | Compulsive Reading from OCD-UK Working towards positive change Our Strategy have positioned ourselves to be the leading and largest member charity that is solely dedicated OCD-UK remains positive in its approach to to supporting children and adults affected by tackling OCD and the charity is determined that Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder here in the we will beat Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder UK. This gives us the opportunity, as well as through improved treatment or, ultimately, the responsibility, and most importantly, as a through the discovery of a cure. service-user led charity, the understanding The OCD-UK management team has listened to lead the way in the challenge to deliver a carefully to the needs of our service-users, comprehensive support service for both children those affected by OCD and their families, and and adults affected by Obsessive-Compulsive has created a working strategy to guide the Disorder. charity towards its vision. The strategy that we have adopted also serves As a result, we are confident that the objectives to guide the work of the charity’s management that underpin our working strategy, although trustees, staff and volunteers, and measure the challenging, are grounded in reality and address success of their work against the charity’s short the fundamental needs we have highlighted and long-term objectives. through talking to our service-users. We remain committed to addressing these The strategy has four primary long-term objectives, either through working alone or objectives which we believe will, one day, see creating working partnerships to achieve these us achieve our vision of a world where the aims. devastating impact of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is no more. Through the tireless hard work of all our trustees and volunteers since our conception in 2003, we These long term objectives are: ■ Objective 1 – Support those affected by OCD ■ Objective 2 – Improve understanding of OCD ■ Objective 3 – Improve access to quality treatment ■ Objective 4 – Promote OCD research Compulsive Reading from OCD-UK | 5 Compulsive Reading Thank You By Ashley Fulwood Chief Executive of OCD-UK A word from Ashley, Chief Executive that recovery is absolutely possible for many people.