Last week, we marked 30 years of Hearing Voices, a pioneering service that has supported people who hear voices or experience sensory disturbances with compassion, community and care. 

The event was held at Fife Voluntary Action in Kirkcaldy, bringing together people who have been part of the service’s journey since its inception, local partners and members of the community. 

Local MSP for Kirkcaldy, David Torrance, recognised the service’s impact with a parliamentary motion and delivered a speech alongside our CEO, Nick Ward, our frontline staff, and the people we support and those who have been supported by the service in the last three decades. 

The Hearing Voices service began in 1995 in Fife, built from the determination of a grassroots peer group to do things differently. At a time when speaking openly about hearing voices was discouraged, the group offered a safe and non-judgmental space where people could share experiences, learn from each other and feel less alone. 

Jean, one of the original members of that group and a long-serving staff member, is still involved as a group participant. Reflecting on the journey, she said: 

“When we started, there was nowhere to talk about experiences of voice hearers, so I thought that there must be a better way of supporting people. In the groups, people share and you learn from them. You start to think that you can make this work. It’s the people that make Hearing Voices service, the people that come to the groups. 

“I’m glad this place survived. This organisation survived. We’ve been very fortunate.” 

Since those early days, the service has become a trusted and essential lifeline in Fife. Hearing Voices offers peer support groups and one-to-one outreach for people living with conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar and psychosis, using a trauma-informed, person-centred approach. It helps people manage their mental health, rebuild confidence and feel empowered to advocate for themselves in a system that often misunderstands them. 

Nick Ward, Change Mental Health’s CEO, expressed during the event:

“This is a service that was started 30 years ago, in 1995, and it came from people themselves, people who heard voices, who came together thinking that there had to be a better way of doing this. That there had to be a way of supporting people in a manner that didn‘t stigmatise them. 

“They gave people the confidence and the security to talk about their experiences, and to help each other to improve each other’s lives. 

“It’s a really difficult time for mental health services. So many health boards now are cutting back on those really vital services that we offer. This event today shows our determination for Hearing Voices, and other services like it, to continue for another 30 years and beyond.” 

In recent years, support has evolved into Tayside, so more people can benefit from the same approach. Other critical services are delivered in the region, including Resilience, which supports people with their mental health challenges, and a Carer Support service for unpaid carers. 

The Hearing Voices event featured an inspiring creative showcase by people supported through the service and a moving presentation exploring the lived experience of voice hearing and sensory disturbance. This included unveiling a zine, created by people supported by our Hearing Voices services in collaboration with WEA.

One person supported by the service shared: 

“The Hearing Voices group has given me confidence. Although I hear voices, I now know I’m not alone. I feel able to speak about it openly, without the fear of being involuntarily hospitalised. 

“This service helps us show that people who hear voices can lead meaningful and productive lives.” 

Lynne Penman, one of our Outreach Workers in Fife, spoke about the ongoing need to challenge misunderstanding and help people give their lives meaning: 

“Many of the people who access support from our service are very isolated. Many have experienced trauma in childhood and/or adulthood. Much of their past experiences of relationships have been negative. We are here to ensure that we can show how important building good relationships can be and the positive impact that they can have on someone’s mental health.”