GMW
SERVICE
USERS WIN
VOLUNTEER
AWARDS
FORMER SERVICE USERS
Craig
Gorton and Martin Smyth have won
the volunteer of the year and runner-up awards, respectively, at
the first regional Adult Learners’Week awards.
The two had been nominated by Greater Manchester West
Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMW) staff. They were
volunteers at the trust’s inpatient detox, the Chapman-Barker
Unit (CBU), where they helped support adults with alcohol and
drug problems.
‘We are really keen to help former substance misuse service
users make the transition into employment. As volunteers,
former service users can tap into their experiences of dealing
with addiction to help others,’ said Dr Sheila Wilson, substance
misuse specialist and training coordinator for GMW.
July/August 2015 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| 5
ART EXHIBIT EXPLORES
ADDICTION
TWELVE
, a new video installation, looks at the
personal stories of people affected by
addiction and recovery.
Visual artist Melanie Manchot worked with
12 people in recovery in Liverpool, Oxford and
London, and created the installation based on
their written and oral testimonies.
Twelve was commissioned by Mark Prest of
Portraits of Recovery, and supported by Action
on Addiction, the Ley Community and the
psychosocial research unit at the University of
Central Lancashire.
For more information and exhibition dates,
visit
NEW YOUNG PERSON’S
OUTREACH SERVICE
LAUNCHED
AN ‘OUTREACH BUS’
is offering young people
in west Wales a new way to learn about
substance misuse and harm reduction.
Drugaid’s harm reduction project for young
people, Choices West, launched the bus at the
Haverfordwest Skate Park event in June. The
bus provides video games, three large flat
screens, a workshop room and chill-out space
to help the project engage with young people.
Choices West will use the bus to target
secondary schools, young people’s projects,
colleges and community events across
Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and
Pembrokeshire. The bus will also be used to link
the project to other support services in the area.
EVENT CELEBRATES
HARD WORK OF
SERVICE USERS
THE HARD WORK OF STUDENTS
from the
Spitalfields Crypt Trust was recognised this
month with the unveiling of the ‘Bard’s Yard’.
The garden was transformed over the past
year from a former concrete space in
Shoreditch by gardening students at the New
Hanbury Project.
Actor Timothy West cut the ribbon to open
the celebrations, followed by a garden party
attended by current and former staff,
volunteers, residents and trainees – as well as
special guests including Prunella Scales and
Molly Meacher, Baroness of Spitalfields.
RECOVERY GAMES
SCHEDULED FOR
AUGUST
THE 2015 RECOVERY GAMES
will be
taking place on 21 August at
Hatfield Activity Centre.
Backed by Doncaster Drug and
Alcohol Services and Rotherham
Doncaster and South Humber NHS
Foundation Trust, the games will
build on the success of the 2013
competition with events and team
building activities. Health
professionals providing advice,
presentations from motivational
speakers and fun activities will also be on offer.
Email
to register
your interest
SOUTHWALES STUDENTS
LEARN ABOUT
SUBSTANCE MISUSE
CARDIFF-BASED ASHCROFT HOUSE
has been
supporting local South Wales schools with
free educational workshops about substance
misuse.
Counsellors from the centre gave students
information and advice during the workshops,
which were followed by music therapy in the
form of drumming sessions.
Ashcroft House hopes to continue the
programme throughout 2015 and 2016, and to
develop additional educational and learning
sessions for teachers.
FESTIVAL-GOERS OFFERED
HARM REDUCTION ADVICE
SWANSWELL TEAM MEMBERS
were on hand to provide drug and
alcohol advice at the Download Festival in Leicestershire last month.
Working with North West Leicestershire District Council’s
community safety team, the Swanswell staff offered harm
reduction information and were available to answer questions
about drug and alcohol use to anyone who dropped in.
This was the fourth year that the recovery charity had attended
the festival to provide advice and support.
staff were
available to
answer
questions
about drug
and alcohol
use to
anyone who
dropped in.
local News
‘As volunteers,
former service
users can tap into
their experiences
of dealing with
addiction to
help others...’
Dr sHEilA WilsoN
the event is
backed by
Doncaster Drug
and Alcohol
services and
rotherham
Doncaster
and south
Humber NHs
Foundation
trust
