Michael Arhin-Acquaah

Re-elected for a second term December 2024

Ex-service user, neurodivergent Psychology graduate, determined to amplify the voices of those impacted by such a crucial and important trust.

Our lives are drastically impacted by the accessibility of, and standard of care provided by, NHS services.

The son of immigrants, sibling to people impacted by the justice system, and a young carer, I grew up surrounded by neurodivergent black and minority ethnic (BAME) individuals who have been continuously failed by the systems surrounding them.

I am interested in autism acceptance, inclusivity, intersectionality, and coproduction and I am eager for more voices than my own to be heard. I’ve worked as a playworker for young people with SEND, a 1-1 teaching assistant for autistic pupils in mainstream education, and have been involved in Autism and Race Equality boards in Camden.

The best way to represent service users and amplify their voices is to give them the platform, rather than providing a messenger. In 2019, I independently conducted and presented findings on a survey of BAME individuals who accessed CAMHS services at a Tavistock BLM away day.

My lived experience of children’s and adults’ services within this trust inspired me to obtain a BSc in Psychology. I currently work within the NHS as an assistant clinical psychologist, and I believe this role could assist me in developing a holistic understanding of the structure of NHS Trusts.
I intend on bringing the perspectives and context of a young person who truly understands how important this trust is to those using its services.

Declarations of Interest

Political Party: None
Financial or other interest in the Trust: None