Our organisation is being reborn with a new name!

Over the next few days we’re becoming FirstSigns and our website and publications will be rebranded with our new logo. All of our services and information can be accessed from www.FirstSigns.org.uk from this day forth.

Wedge has been raising awareness since 2000, and was the Creator and Founding Director of the LifeSIGNS Voluntary Organisation in 2002, and the Founding Trustee of the LifeSIGNS Charity in 2006. Launching FirstSigns with Jules and the supportive members of the voluntary organisation is the culmination of over seven years work.

Wedge says:

“As a team, we’ve worked ceaselessly to get self-injury talked about in this country and beyond. Over the years I’ve worked alongside doctors, politicians, journalists, celebrities, charities and students in order to bring this difficult subject into the light, but I’m most proud to have worked with some incredibly inspiring volunteers who offer their insight and experience so that others may have hope. It is to the brave members of FirstSigns that I dedicate our next seven years of awareness work.”

FirstSigns will also focus on ‘self-harm’ – an umbrella term for a variety of behaviours and coping-mechanisms, including self-injury.

Jules explains:

“We’ve been talking about the specifics of self-injury for years now, and along the way our members have told us about other behaviours that go beyond the immediate actions of self-injury. It’s time we expanded our view of behavioural functions to include self-harm, so that we can help family, friends and professionals understand how people behave and the differences between SI and SH.”

Jules and Wedge left the LifeSIGNS charity in 2007 after it became impossible to work with Mary and Sarah once they decided to write a book without approval or knowledge from the Management Committee (the book would have only been available in print, not free as a download, so that’s against our ethics of ‘free information’). Negotiations regarding web addresses and such never got started as Mary and Sarah chose not to enter into any form of communication with Wedge, even after a couple of signed letters were sent to them. Instead Wedge and Jules have launched FirstSigns and, on advice, have relinquished any lasting rights to the web address for the LifeSIGNS charity.

Wedge says:

“This is a continuation of our work and also a fresh start. Working with Mary made me miserable, the harassment and abuse was too much for me, and so I left LifeSIGNS.

“Now, I understand that I made a mistake, in 2002 when I set-up a democratic voluntary organisation: by installing a democratic committee back in 2002 (3 years before I invited Mary to join LifeSIGNS) I signed away some rights to some of my work, and it is that mistake, 6 years ago, that means that Sarah and Mary take over the LifeSIGNS web address. Let me make this clear, Mary’s working habits made me miserable for years, and I’m glad to be able to turn my back on her. We move forward from today, and I’m grateful for the support of our understanding members who just want the best information and the most reliable support services we can offer. We endeavour to meet the needs of our members, for free, 24/7.”

• While legal advice was sought, no legal proceedings have taken place.

• Wedge created the name ‘LifeSIGNS’ and the acronym ‘Self-Injury Guidance & Network Support” in 2002.

• Wedge started raising awareness in 2001 and conceived and founded the LifeSIGNS Voluntary Organisation in 2002, and was a Founding Trustee when it transformed into a Charity in 2006.

You can find Wedge, Jules and FirstSigns at www.FirstSigns.org.uk and you may be interested to note the following specific addresses:

http://training.FirstSigns.org.uk
http://professionals.FirstSigns.org.uk
http://parents.FirstSigns.org.uk
http://men.FirstSigns.org.uk
http://shines.FirstSigns.org.uk

The Lifesigns charity, dominated by Mary, may not have a website, or offer any services at this time, who can say? Try finding them here: http://tinyurl.com/48bpcg

Comments

“I didn’t expect this to happen, when I joined LifeSIGNS in 2003 I didn’t consider myself an ‘owner’ of it, I worked for it. I’m shocked to find that it’s no longer in Wedge’s capable hands.”
Dr. Danny, MBBS – director of LifeSIGNS (2003 – 2005)

“I’m appalled and upset to find that after six years Wedge, who created LifeSIGNS, has had to resign and walk away from all his work – I supported him at the very start and it’s awful to find that the name LifeSIGNS, which he has made famous, is no longer a name I can trust.”
Sara, PO – founding director of LifeSIGNS (2002)

“We set up a democratic organisation in good faith. I always expected Wedge to hold the organisation together, and I’m disappointed to find that our naivety has led to Wedge losing his work on a technicality of ownership.”
Kate, BA – founding director of LifeSIGNS (2002)

“I have advised Wedge to choose his colleagues with more care and it would be a shame if past experience made him cynical and stopped him from offering such a valuable resource to those in need of assistance. I’m very pleased that he and Jules have chosen to move forward and establish FirstSigns, and I’m sure they will reach more people in need than ever before. I look forward to continue working with them and supporting their endeavours.”
Dr. Neil, MB ChB, Psychiatrist, Associate Clinical Teacher

“I had no idea Wedge would relinquish the web address and give up so much of the work I started with him; I expected everything to turn out brilliantly, just as it always does for Wedge’s projects – actually, it has turned out brilliantly, and everything will be better than ever in a few short months I’m sure!”
Laura, HR – founding director of LifeSIGNS and the Newsletter (2002)

“Organisations merger and splits, particularly in the charitable world where passions and a belief in the ‘purpose’ dominate discussion. With the case of FirstSigns I am delighted to hear of the news of the split and the disassociation with previous directors Mary & Sarah. This will let FirstSigns concentrate on being a force for good, while letting Mary and Sarah focus on commercial options available to manipulate and take advantage of vulnerable people coping with self harm affliction. My best wishes, hope and aspirations go out to Wedge & Jules. I am confident that your good work will continue and will improve the lives of others.”
Martin, founding director of LifeSIGNS (2002)

“The difference between Mary and Wedge is that while Mary will be reading this announcement and then lamenting Wedge’s evilness and making sexually abusive comments* within her private message board forum, Wedge will not be reading anything from Mary, and will not be writing anything further about her.”
Chris

*Yes, Mary has done this.