October 2015 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| 5
RECOVERY FILM
FESTIVAL DRAWS
TO A CLOSE
THE RECOVERY STREET FILM FESTIVAL
ended
its nationwide tour in Sheffield on 26
September, after showcasing short films
made by people in recovery to audiences
across the UK to raise awareness of drug and
alcohol problems.
The pop-up cinema event – organised by
Addaction, Action on Addiction, Blenheim,
Northumberland Recovery Partnership,
Phoenix Futures and Turning Point – toured
across Durham, Blyth, Manchester, Glasgow,
London and Sheffield over two weeks during
recovery month.
The aim of the festival was to reduce stigma
surrounding drug and alcohol problems by
showing the public three-minute films of
personal accounts of addiction and how
people’s lives have changed. The top ten films
entered into a competition run earlier this year
were chosen by a panel of judges, with the top
three entries winning £1,000 worth of prizes.
‘The Recovery Street Film Festival has been
a huge success and we received a great
response from members of the public and
people in recovery who volunteered to help
run the individual events,’ said Bob Campbell,
Recovery Street Film Festival organiser. ‘We
hope the festival has challenged the public’s
views about people who have overcome
addiction, and given hope to people who are
currently being affected by problems with
drugs and alcohol that there is possibility of a
better future.’
PRIMARY SCHOOLS
ASKED TO THINK AGAIN
ABOUT ALCOHOL
DRUG AND ALCOHOL CHARITY SWANSWELL
is
asking primary schools to re-evaluate their
relationship with alcohol at events such as
school fetes and sports days.
Research by the charity suggests that
around one in three primary schools in
England are serving alcohol to adults at events
aimed at children. Swanswell is calling for a
change to licensing laws, so that any
application from a primary school to serve
alcohol at events aimed at children is refused.
It is also asking schools to think again before
gifting alcohol in raffles or allowing children to
take in alcoholic end of year gifts for teachers.
DUCHESS OF
CAMBRIDGE VISITS
TREATMENT
PROGRAMME
THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE
visited HMP
Send this month to see a RAPt addiction
service in action.
The programme, based in a standalone
women-only unit, is an intensive 12-step drug
and alcohol programme. The Duchess heard
personal stories from some of the women
about their experiences with addiction and
crime, and how the programme was helping
them to overcome their addiction.
‘I was reminded today how addictions lie
at the heart of so many social issues and how
substance misuse can play such a destructive
role in vulnerable people's
lives,’ she said.
‘I saw again
today that a
failure to
intervene early
in life to tackle
mental health
problems and
other
challenges can
have profound
consequences
for people
throughout
their lives.’
TRURO FESTIVAL
CELEBRATES RECOVERY
A ‘FESTIVAL OF
HOPE’
was held
this month at
Boscawen Park in
Truro to celebrate
the recovery
successes of
people in
Cornwall.
The day,
organised by
Addaction
volunteers and
staff, was opened by Truro’s mayor Cllr Lorrie
Eathorne-Gibbons. To keep the crowds
entertained, there was live music, good food
and local stalls – as well as the opportunity to
hear from people who shared their own stories
of recovery and volunteering.
The event raised more than £1,000 for
Addaction’s Cornwall recovery cafés. One
volunteer, Mat Wilkin, raised £500 himself by
having his head shaved on the day.
SERVICE
USERS
OFFERED
SUPPORT
TO QUIT
SMOKING
LOCAL PEOPLE IN RECOVERY
in Doncaster are being offered support to help them quit smoking.
Staff from Doncaster Drug and Alcohol Service (DDAS), run by
Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust
(RDaSH), have been trained to give stop smoking advice and are
working with individuals to try to reduce their risk of premature
death.
A number of service users have already quit since the start of
2015, and DDAS is encouraging those who use its services to take
part in the ‘Stoptober ‘challenge. DDAS will be offering support, as
well as nicotine replacement, across all its Doncaster premises.
Gary Barker
(left) and Mark
Blandford (right)
launch the
stoptober
challenge across
Doncaster drug
and alcohol
services.
The event
raised
more than
£1,000 for
Addaction’s
Cornwall
recovery
cafés.
‘Failure to
intervene
early in life to
tackle mental
health
problems
and other
challenges can
have profound
consequences
for people
throughout
their lives’
DuChEss OF
CAMBRiDGE
