Tony Russell
Tony is a published author, with his first book Commons People having been published in 2013, and is at present working on his second book, Football People. He also writes for specialist magazine Mental Health Today, and is a mental health campaigner, and long distance charity walker.
He is the Chair and a Trustee of Reflections Art in Health Charity. As a sufferer of depression, stress and anxiety who uses photography as a coping strategy, he understands the tremendous value that the creative arts have in enhancing the healing environment and aiding recovery.
Tony is a Co-Director of Breakthrough, a mental health service user-led consultancy. Tony’s achievements include: being a member of the External Reference Group which formulated the National Service Framework for Mental Health,a member of the Workforce Action Team, and the Mental Health Care group Workforce Team, which led to the development of his innovative idea for the Support, Time Recovery Worker (STR) – now part of government policy. Tony was appointed to the Mental Health Taskforce and was part of the team which developed the National Institute For Mental Health In England (NIMHE). He is the Chair and Founder of the National Positive Practice Awards, and has been a Senior Advisor on the issue of football and mental health.
Tony has since worked to establish the website www.positivepracticeinmh.com and is working on ‘A Patient Journey’ – a comprehensive guide to all that is positive in mental health services along all possible aspects of the journey a patient may take.
Commons People (Non-Fiction/Politics)
Commons People – Your Life in Their Hands has been revised and updated for a timely release before the General Election. Commons People is a must read before anyone casts their vote.
This book take a look at the day to day lives of our MPs, examining what motivates and inspires them, what keep them awake at night, and their hopes and aspirations for the future.
Commons People also features some more searching questions such as ‘Should a Government honour its’ Manifesto?’, ‘Should voting be compulsory?’, ‘Should politics be on the National Curriculum, and what can be done to encourage more people to vote?’
Commons People asks the featured MPs for their views on UKIP, whether politics is open and transparent, and what they think about devolution of power?
This book demonstrates that MPs share the same hopes and dreams as the rest of us, it finds out how they feel about ordinary everyday issues, allowing us to be able to relate to them more, in a manner which allows their humour, commitment and sheer passion to shine through.
“Tony has gathered together the experiences, hopes, fears and everyday lives of a wide range of current MPs. These are not just the usual voices, but people who can give a real insight into being an MP. Tony’s warm and insightful commentary gives perspective to their words and challenges those outside politics to play their part in ensuring our MPs are the best they can be.” – Jacqui Smith, MP
“Finished your fab “Commons People”. Recommend for political journalists, hopeful MPs & Whips!
Nicky Morgan MP