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.
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Our current aim is the movement of psilocybin from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. We are calling on the government to reschedule psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in "magic mushrooms", to make it accessible for medical and scientific research, and for doctors to prescribe to patients who may benefit. This could lead to the development of new therapies, reducing the suffering of many people with conditions that currently have limited and inadequate treatment options.
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The evidence emerging in favour of the use of psilocybin in medicine and psychotherapy represents hope for millions suffering from conditions as varied as depression, addiction, anorexia and even the pain of cluster headaches. We want scientific investigation to be able to continue, in hope, unhindered by the outdated stigmas that surround psychedelic medicines and sadly dictate our drug laws today; in regard to psychedelics our laws are based on nothing more than a quirk of history.
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Since our formal conception in 2022, we have run a government petition, ad campaign and art auction and we have delivered more than 20,000 leaflets to citizens and more than 1,000 signed postcards to MPs.
We are, in essence, an activist group that not only aims to spread hope about the potential benefits of psilocybin for those that are suffering, but believes that access to this medicine should be considered a civil rights issue.​
Our team of volunteers is committed to addressing all barriers in the way of what we believe is the publics' right to safe access to psilocybin. If you too believe that scientists should be allowed to follow the science and that people in the UK should have legal pathways to access psilocybin, please join us!
Meet the team
Tara Austin
Campaign Director
Tara, a psychedelic medicine advocate since 2015, co-founded PAR in 2022 to improve therapy access. As a Partner at Ogilvy Behavioural Science Practice, she works with clients across the public and private sectors and is a 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.
Angus Champion de Crespigny
Strategy Director
Angus is a consultant with 15 years experience advising multinational businesses, regulators, and policymakers. He has also previously served as the CTO of CT Group, a leading campaigns, intelligence and advisory organisation. Having directly experienced the effectiveness of psilocybin in treating his depression, he is an advocate for evidence based reform.
Harry Lancaster
Operations Manager
Harry is a lawyer who, after a sojourn in startups and teaching, came back to the profession because of his interest in psychedelics for mental health and a desire to help remove legal barriers to researching them.
Yannis Takousis
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.
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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Rosie Connors
Events Manager
With a background in health and social care, Rosie was disheartened by the overprescription of antidepressants without addressing depression's root causes. She joined PAR to champion better treatment options, educate the public on psilocybin's therapeutic benefits, and align public perception with up-to-date scientific evidence. Rosie is currently on maternity leave
Reggie the Frenchie
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.
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.
Joseph Aquilina
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.
Josh Dugdale
Knower of people
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Amy Martin
Communications Lead
Amy brings over eight years of experience working with brands, government agencies and charities. Amy joined PAR with a mission to raise public awareness for the potential psilocybin has to help tackle the UK's mental health and wellbeing crisis.
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.
Batuhan Bintas
Pirate Extraordinaire
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Himesh Mehta
Volunteer
Himesh is a PhD researcher at the University of Warwick studying the history of psychedelic drugs in Britain.
Jonah Weisz
Campaigns/Policy Volunteer
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).
