The Mental Health and Substance Use Team at DVVA work to bridge the gap between strategic decision makers and the voices of lived experience.
Ben Lawrie is joined by Michael Richardson, Mental Health Engagement Worker at DVVA, to discuss what good engagement work looks like. He also chats about his own experiences of mental health problems, and the film everyone who works in mental health should see.
Ben joins Michael on the streets of Dundee as he prepares to meet with some local community groups before settling in to the studio chat.
Written and presented by Ben Lawrie. Filmed and edited by Ross Bull. Produced by Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action.
https://dvva.scot/our-work/#mental-health-substance-use
19 Aug 2026
Guen Rota - Home Is Where The Art Is
Art Angel isn't simply a place to paint, draw, or sculpt. It's a place where people get to make meaningful choices again, where they decide how to spend their day and reclaim a sense of control over their recovery.
Ben Lawrie is joined by Guen Rota, Manager of Art Angel, to discuss the charity's founding principles, seeing the whole person, and how to use creative arts alongside quantitative data to capture the full picture of a charity's success.
Ben and Guen take a tour of Art Angel's studio before settling in to the studio chat.
Written and presented by Ben Lawrie. Filmed and edited by Ross Bull. Produced by Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action.
https://artangeldundee.org.uk/
12 Aug 2026
Rachel Duke - More Than Meets The Senses
Hearing Voices Network Dundee, commonly known as Haven, run a drop-in centre and cafe in Dundee's Hilltown for voice-hearers, their friends, and families.
Ben Lawrie is joined by Rachel Duke, Development Officer with Hearing Voices Network Dundee, to discuss how the service began, connecting with people who have very different lived experiences, and the stigma surrounding people who hear voices.
Ben and Rachel take a tour of Haven, the Hearing Voices Network drop-in centre, before settling in to the studio chat.
Written and presented by Ben Lawrie. Filmed and edited by Ross Bull. Produced by Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action.
https://hearingvoicesnetwork.co.uk/
10 Aug 2026
Gill Thomson - The Full Array Of Shapes
Having a son with complex needs opened Gill Thomson's eyes to the lack of an inclusive play service in Dundee, but rather than wait for someone else to take action she rolled up her sleeves and created the service herself.
Ben Lawrie is joined by Gill Thomson to discuss how her early experiences running an after school club led her to Edinburgh-based charity The Yard and, in 2015, establishing a branch in Dundee.
Ben and Gill take a tour of The Yard's fantastic play space, trying out some of the state-of-the-art equipment, before settling in to the studio chat.
Written and presented by Ben Lawrie. Filmed and edited by Ross Bull. Produced by Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action.
https://theyardscotland.org.uk/get-support/our-centres/dundee/
29 Jul 2026
Darren Sayer - Build It And They Will Come
Launched in July 2023, Hope Point is a 24/7 Community Wellbeing Centre in the heart of Dundee city centre offering free and confidential support over the phone, by text, or face to face at their drop-in on South Ward Road.
Ben Lawrie is joined by Darren Sayer, Operations Manager at Hope Point, to discuss how frontline support delivered by peer practitioners works in practice, the challenges of working nightshift while being present for people in distress, and just who Dave The Coo really is.
Ben and Darren take a tour of Hope Point before settling in to the studio chat.
Written and presented by Ben Lawrie. Filmed and edited by Ross Bull. Produced by Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action.
https://penumbra.org.uk/services/hope-point-dundee-wellbeing-support/
21 Jul 2026
Lizzie Palmer - A Dress Rehearsal for the Performance of Life
For over 30 years Dundee Rep have been at the forefront of a very special form of psychotherapy that uses creative approaches borrowed from the theatre to help people with their mental health.
Ben Lawrie is joined by Lizzie Palmer from Dundee Rep's Dramatherapy service to discuss how dramatherapy can work for some people where other approaches haven't. Lizzie also talks about common misconceptions and the challenges of delivering dramatherapy for people in prison.
Ben and Lizzie take a tour of the Dramatherapy space at Dundee Rep before settling in to the studio chat.
Written and presented by Ben Lawrie. Filmed and edited by Ross Bull. Produced by Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action.
www.dundeerep.co.uk
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