Information

NOTICES

It is intended to hold next year’s AGM in July or August, either in the Midlands or in the North.

MEMBERS’ COMMENTS

Thank you so much for your help.

My thanks, as always, for the good work you and the others at Headquarters do on our behalf.

I’ve been depressed for a long time so your newsletter Depression Issues help me a lot.

Thank you all so much for the membership which has been very good for me over several years.

Since joining I have made many friends through the pen pal scheme. I have found their support a tremendous help. I look forward to the post every morning. Being able to compare feelings and emotions with people of all ages that are experiencing depression makes you feel human again. Keep up the good work. You are very much appreciated.

I found the magazine helpful and cheering, and I sympathised so much with the sufferers from this dread complaint, having seen its effects first hand... Thank you for the sterling work done by you and all who organise the Fellowship (Depression UK was previously called The Fellowship of Depressives Anonymous). It was always a comfort to know that one was not alone with the problems of the big D. (a relative)

I love your magazine and have an old copy which I want to pin u on as notice board in my ward. I’ve also shown it to my psychiatrist.

Over the years FDA (The Fellowship of Depressives Anonymous) has been a great help to me, and I wish all concerned the very best for the future. My thanks once again.

Thanks for the Newsletter, which I found VERY interesting. I’d no idea others had the same problems as I have. I admit I cried as I read the Newsletter. I’ve had it stored up for days, but couldn’t get relief, but today I had a good cry and felt better after, but I’m still low.

I wish to thank you for your prompt service over many years. I wish you continued success with your excellent publications.

I look forward to the Newsletter so much, I read it from cover to cover and as I suffer from severe depression I find it helps me a lot.

I would like to thank you for sending me the Newsletter. I have especially enjoyed the jokes.

I am writing to thank you and all the contributors for the Newsletter 139. As I’m going through a bad patch just now, it really encouraged me.

I have enjoyed reading the Newsletter and gained some useful information from it.

I found a good friend by replying to a member’s letter I read in the newsletter.

Many thanks for all the friendship of the newsletters.

The newsletter itself gives me some comfort to know that on ‘Black Days’, as I call them, reading it makes me realise there are others in the same position. Sadly, close family members do not understand our illness.

Having suffered from depression some years ago ‒ hopefully now feeling much better ‒ I do appreciate your regular magazine and the interesting articles included.

Just to say I have benefited from your newsletter very much. It’s a line to other people with Depression.

I am getting better. Keep up the good work. With best wishes to all.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The History of Depression UK

People, who had an interest in depression as either sufferers or carers, attended a lecture given by Philip Toynbee, circa 1970, on a subject related to the illness. He said that depressives would be helped if they shared their problems with others, which prompted some of the attendees to form a local group and meet up thereafter on a regular basis.

This local group proved to be so successful that soon other local groups were formed. These, eventually, formed an Association, mainly for exchanging information. Unfortunately, this Association then duly split into two separate Associations because of differences in policy. In due course, one of these became “Depression Alliance” and the other “The Fellowship of Depressives Anonymous”, our own organisation.

The Fellowship began in 1973 at the suggestion of Nemone Lethbridge and held its first AGM in March 1979. By that time, thirteen issues of its Newsletter had been published. (Up to the end of 2008, a total of 151 issues have been produced since the publication began.)

It became a charity in 1979, and changed its name to Depression UK in September 2007.

Please contact us if you can add to or correct this history account.

The Organisation of Depression UK

The volunteers include key officers of Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Website officer, Newsletter Editor and Pen/Phone Friend organiser as well as others who contribute. Many of these, including the Trustees, are members of a Management Committee that meets six times a year, usually in London or Birmingham or York.

The Trustees are members (including some officers) who ensure that D-UK is run in accordance with its Constitution and Standing Orders, and meets the requirements of the Charities Commission.

Key decisions about D-UK are taken at the Annual General Meeting, open to all members.

Volunteers receive no pay, but their out of pocket expenses (such as paper, stamps and fares to meetings) are refunded by D-UK.

Five members of the committee have kindly volunteered their services through the auspices of the REACH organisation.

(Page updated: 2 January 2009)