This publication is intended to offer practical assistance to mental health service managers who want to initiate or develop user involvement. Its aims are: to draw on the experiences of managers, staff and users; to identify problems and offer solutions and ideas based on those experiences; and to identify ways of promoting and supporting good practice with both staff and users. It also describes a King's Fund Centre project in five localities named `Better futures' which aimed to improve opportunities and services for people with serious and long-term mental health problems. The localities were: Clwyd, Leeds, Salford, Swindon and Tower Hamlets.