About us
PAR was originally formed as the public aspect of the psilocybin rescheduling project run by the Centre for Evidence Based Drug Policy and now exists as an aligned but separate volunteer group focused on reducing barriers to safe public access to psilocybin, and driving public awareness of the benefits of psychedelic medicines.​
Since our formal conception in 2022, we have:
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Run a government petition signed by more than 11,000 people
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Run the UK's first psychedelic advertising campaign
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Run an art auction hosted by Deborah Frances-White
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Run speaker events with Professor David Nutt, Paul Stamets, the Scottish Psychedelic Research Group and CEO of Americans for Ibogaine, Bryan Hubbard
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Been discussed in Parliament, during a backbench business debate led by Charlotte Nichols MP.
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Delivered more than 89,000 leaflets to citizens and more than 3,000 letters to MPs,
Over the years, we have gained support from folk that we respect...
All Videos
Paul Stamets
Dr Anne Schlag -Drug Science
Dr Rayyan Zafar - Imperial College
Leonie Schneider -PsyPAN
SOME OF OUR FRIENDS & COLLABORATORS
Meet the Policy team
Tara Austin
Campaign Director
Tara, a psychedelic medicine advocate since 2015, co-founded PAR in 2022 to improve therapy access. In her dayjob she's a behavioural science consultant and works with clients across the public and private sectors and has been a many-time host of Nudgestock, the world's biggest festival of behavioural science and creativity.
Timmy Davis
Policy Director
Timmy is the Psilocybin Rescheduling Project manager at the Centre for Evidence Based Drug Policy, founder of The Experience Clinic and a trainee at the Site for Contemporary Psychoanalysis.
Basak Kotler
Treasurer
Quitting a long career in finance and getting involved in charitable work with disadvantaged young people, Basak had firsthand experience of a system that denies underprivileged families access to much needed mental health services. Basak lends her support to PAR.Global to raise and manage funds that will future-proof the campaign.
Joe Vaughan
Joe is bridging the gap between the corporate, advertising world of media and brands with the new research into traumatic brain injury, addiction and the myriad of mental health challenges we face. He is the co-founder of our partner organisation Athletes Journey Home and a senior level communication and consulting professional having worked at WPP and Accenture.
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Yuli Gates
Design Director
A self-taught artist with roots from the USSR to Berlin, now flourishing in the UK. At PAR, Yuli merges a passion for psychedelics with design, aiming to reshape perceptions amidst a global mental health crisis. Volunteering at PsyCare UK and infusing art with psychedelic themes, Yuli believes in art's power to instigate positive change.
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Sarah Claassen
Festival and Merchandising Coordinator
Founder of Bittersweet Remedies, a small business handcrafting medicinal mushroom tinctures, Sarah is a long-time activist whose deepening concern for environmental and social justice led her to explore the healing potential of mushrooms. She now advocates for psilocybin access so patients and researchers can benefit from its therapeutic promise.
Yannis Takousis
Joseph Aquilina
Jonah Weisz
IT and Analytics Manager
Having found healing through psilocybin Yannis joined PAR to help others find access to these life changing medicines. He is also the founder of psychedelicsociety.gr and volunteers for Psycare UK.
Content Creator
With a background in art and music, Joseph is an advocate for the therapeutic use of psilocybin. He has an understanding of the current science and champions harm reduction in support of his creative and neurodivergent peers who navigate mental health challenges.
Campaigns and Policy Support
Jonah uses his experience working in corporate public affairs to support PAR’s political and campaigns activities. His work with PAR complements his Long Covid advocacy with the #ThereForME campaign, and his role on the Liberal Democrat Disability Association committee. Jonah believes passionately that psychoactives must be rescheduled to enable access to better healthcare treatments for disabled people (alongside, and including, mental health patients and others in need).
Legend
The unsung hero at PAR. With a nose for detail and ears that miss nothing, he ensures every plan is sniffed out to perfection. Don't be fooled by his small stature; he's a powerhouse when it comes to morale. If you find a drool mark on your documents, know it has the Reggie seal of approval.
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Can you tell our website isn't written by AI?There are real humans who make the campaign possible - join us!
Josh Dugdale
Custodian of. Wasing Estate and co-founder of Medicine Festival. Josh has been a linchpin of PAR as connector, instigator and an pioneering member of the team since day 1.
Pirate Extraordinaire
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Batuhan Bintas
Reggie the Frenchie
