Six questions with... Simon Blake
Simon is the chief executive of Mental Health First Aid England. Prior to this, Simon was the chief executive of the National Union of Students, and Brook, the young people’s sexual health charity.
Simon is committed to achieving equality for LGBT people at all stages of life. He has chaired Diversity Role Models, written about sex and relationship education for LGBT young people, and been a long-time campaigner for the rights of LGBT young people.
What’s your favourite way to greet people?
I am a big hugger. And I do like a good firm handshake. Any way suits me fine as long it isn’t awkward. I have done some funny lift your elbow during Coronavirus times. It is awkward.
What conversation makes you happy?
I love talking to children when they are excited about something they have done, or something they have learned. Their energy is infectious. I also love talking to older people. Mrs O’Brien used to live down the road when I was growing up. She was in her 80s, I was 10 when we first became friends. We were an unlikely pair, but I could listen to her stories forever. She first taught me about feminism. I can talk about horses and dogs all day and night.
What conversation topic makes you nervous?
Me. I wither inside if the focus is on me. Give me stigmatised issues like sex, bereavement and mental health over me any and every day.
What makes you laugh?
Almost everything. Dogs. My mum’s increasingly blissful denial of social etiquette and inability to whisper is comedy magic. Children exposing adult foibles always makes me proper belly laugh. We were on holiday a few years ago and a family we had seen around and said hello to in the hotel were at the bowling alley. They suddenly left without saying goodbye. The next morning at breakfast one of the children said ‘sorry we didn’t say goodbye last night, Daddy farted and it really stank.’ His Dad’s face was a picture. Still makes me smile now.
If you could ask someone, dead or alive, anything - who and what would you ask them?
I would love supper with some of our social justice greats Marsha P. Johnson, Rosa Parks, Harvey Milk, Nelson Mandela and Emily Pankhurst. Can you imagine a supper for 6 talking about the fire in their belly, about courage and about standing up for human rights.
What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
Stand up for what I believe is right. Learn to accept I am good enough and believe that what other people think of me is truly none of my concern. That is of course an ongoing project, but I believe with all my heart that the bravest thing any of us can do is love ourselves. When we are compassionate and love ourselves then we can be truly compassionate and love others too. Alternative answer: carry on horse-riding even though it hurts to fall off as I am getting older.