September 2015 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| 5
SPECTRUM EARNS
PURPLE STAR FOR
LEARNING SUPPORT
SPECTRUM, A DRUG AND ALCOHOL SERVICE
run
by CRI in Hatfield, has been awarded a ‘purple
star’ in recognition of its communication with
people with learning disabilities.
The purple star scheme aims to improve
relationships between health and social care
services and adults with learning disabilities
by ensuring all organisations taking part
undergo training and service checks to ensure
that standards are met.
Spectrum staff took part in specialist
training, including how to make their
buildings more accessible.
Steve Smith, Spectrum county services
manager, said, ‘We are proud of our
commitment to support everyone who seeks
help to improve their health, or that of a loved
one. The purple star award is the result of a
proactive effort to make sure all our services
are as accessible as possible.’
NALOXONE CAMPAIGN
LAUNCHED IN NORTH
SOMERSET
A ‘KEEP CALM AND CARRY NALOXONE’
campaign has been launched to help save
lives in North Somerset.
Addaction staff in Weston have been
offering training on how to administer the
life-saving drug, as well as sending
participants home with naloxone kits.
The campaign was launched in support of
international overdose awareness day on 1
September. ‘Lives will be saved due to this
training. Taking heroin is a high-risk activity and
our service works hard to show people another
lifestyle,’ said service team leader James Brazier.
‘But, while the risk is still happening, users
and their significant others should make sure
they have a naloxone kit.’
OLDHAM PROJECT
INSTALLS LIFE-SAVING
DEFIBRILLATOR
ACORN RECOVERY PROJECTS
have installed a
defibrillator at their Brunswick House Oldham
centre that will be available to both staff and
members of the public.
The ‘defib’ could potentially save the lives
of clients, staff and casualties in the wider
community, and although no formal training
is required to operate it, safety manager Tom
Berry delivered training to four Acorn staff at
the Acorn Recovery Projects centre.
EDGY PRODUCTION
IN EAST LONDON
A NEW PRODUCTION
from Outside Edge
theatre company uses personal testimonies
and live cabaret to explore the ‘splintered,
chaotic and at times absurdly comic’ world of
people affected by addiction’.
Rockston Stories
can be seen at Hoxton Hall, east London, from
29 September until 17 October.
The cast have a ‘dynamic creative energy,
cutting humour, and an infectious desire to
share the truth about addiction,’ said director
Susie Miller.
PHOENIX RESIDENTS
CAN BRING CANINE
CHUMS TO REHAB
A BLOCK OF KENNELS
has been opened at
Phoenix Future’s Wirral residential service,
Upton Road, to allow service users to bring
their dogs along with them to rehab.
The kennels were opened after an
increasing number of people with drug and
alcohol problems raised concerns that they
could not access help as it would mean they
would have to give up their pets.
‘Many people in active addiction build
strong ties with their dogs. Their dogs keep
them warm and safe during periods of
homelessness, give them unconditional love
through the worst points
in their lives and a reason
to keep going when all
other relationships
appear irrevocably
damaged,’ says Karen
Biggs, Phoenix Futures’
chief executive.
The dogs will be
cared for by their
owners, trained
professionals and others
at the service, and the
kennels will enable
people to live with
their dogs while
receiving treatment.
CORNWALL SERVICE USERS
CELEBRATE LIFE SKILLS
SERVICE USERS IN
CORNWALL
have
successfully
completed a new
accredited course,
‘life skills in action’.
The course,
designed by
Cornwall Life
Skills, offers skills
coaching in
education,
training,
voluntary work and employment – such as
developing self-confidence and improving
interpersonal skills. Course completion leads
to a level 1 AptEd award in progression
qualification, which is nationally recognised.
A celebration event was held to award
certificates to the ten graduates who
completed the course, where they were able
to share their progress since finishing it.
Other attendees were also given the
opportunity to enrol with the service.
BEE-KEEPING
PROMOTES
RECOVERY
A NEW BEE-KEEPING PROJECT
has
been launched to promote skills
development in Calderdale.
Calderdale in Recovery has received a grant from the Kathleen Mary Denham Fund to
purchase hives, safety equipment and the first colony of bees for the project, after the local
recovery community was consulted on what kind of project they would like to become
involved with.
The aim of the project is to help those taking part develop husbandry skills, with a view to
producing ‘recovery honey’ that can be sold to fund local community-led initiatives.
aCORn staff with health
and safety manager,
Tom Berry (centre)
Course
completion
leads to a level
1 apted award
in progression
qualification,
which is
nationally
recognised.
‘Many people
in active
addiction build
strong ties
with their
dogs...
Their dogs
give them
unconditional
love through
the worst
points in their
lives.’
KaRen Biggs
