My journey from being actively involved in, and influencing, the work around the initial Scottish Voices conferences, in Glasgow and Perth, has been a journey of discovery; I have discovered that the process gave me as an individual a level of recovery. I have been able to bring ME, all of my experience, knowledge, and skills to work along side others like me. In an atmosphere of mutual respect and value, where, we felt we could share our aspirations, and our concerns. It allowed me to feel that I could reclaim my own power; it showed me that others valued me, as I valued them. I began to see that for me the control of my various medical conditions, was strengthened by a real sense of, I have recovered me.

This journey has been up, and it has been down, we have been tired, and we have felt reenergized, often all at the same time. I have learnt that there is no right way, there is no definite profile which says "yes you are what we need in the group" simply because we celebrate our differences, we draw on our individual strengths and passion, we help each other. Whether we're from Stirling, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Fife or where ever, WE have recognised that we need to support each other. We have celebrated the differences between users and carers, between us as service specialists or our partners as the professionals who share our journey as experts through employment. We each now see an exciting, challenging, demanding road ahead, a road that may see some of us taking time out, a journey of opportunity to use our individual strengths, and skills to ensure that we all remain part of our collective journey.

Our journey, will allow us all to bring value and worth to the process of real involvement and influence in the design, delivery, teaching, and evaluation of social services that meet everyone's needs and aspirations.

I have since, being elected as chairperson of the Scottish Voices Board, had people say to me "well done you will do a good job" "I knew you could do the job of chairperson" and other kind wishes. But I would like to share with others something I said at the first meeting of our Board, "the title is only a requirement of our constitution, everyone of our board members share equal power, none of us has any more power than others, we share our skills and strengths" and yes it is nice to be recognised as the Chairperson, but I will be relying on each of us to continue to support each other.
I look forward to the year ahead, and look with confidence to the support I know we each will share. Together both with and for the wider network of service users and carers we will work towards and maintain real change, and real influence.

John Dow,
Chairperson Scottish Voices Board, 210207