Bull At A gAte
The ‘raging bull’ cover (March issue
and Colin Miller-Hoare’s letter,
April, page 12) was exactly what
was needed to express the current
state of the sector – a perfect
expression of the passion and
dedication that is evident, and
indeed needed, to maintain our
position in the current arena.
Personally I’m ‘disgusted and
appalled’ at the politically endorsed
daylight robbery that is occurring
in the sector; the tender war that
has resulted in so much valuable
time being transferred from
positive interactions with clients
towards survival to provide any
service at all! It’s a sad race to the
bottom, with the service users
caught in the crossfire.
Provision has become an assault
course for the most dedicated
workers and they are being diverted
from their primary purpose,
adhering to unfit policies against
most of their wishes – which strips
them of pride of purpose.
Also, let’s look at the comment
from someone who is an expert on
recovery: it was an attack on a team
that has a long, successful history
in representing the most complex
of issues in the sector, relentlessly
keeping a balance that is an
accomplishment all in its own right.
It was judgmental, and based on a
picture that is open to perception.
Colin, there is no evidence to
support the reasoning that has
brought you to the end result of
having an opinion that is neither
founded in truth, nor relevant to
the providers of this wonderful
magazine or John Bird himself.
I am actually shocked that this
kind of retort could come from an
individual who obviously doesn’t
understand that recovery has a
basic principle not to have an
opinion on outside issues. You have
shown contempt prior to
investigation and it has not served
you well. John was raised in an
orphanage, spent much of his
youth homeless and in and out of
prison, where he got minimal
education but expanded on that on
release to set up a little printer
shop.
In 1995 he launched the
Big
Issue,
which a number of street
homeless rely on for finances to
secure food and a bed for the night.
He decided to forego running for
mayor of London to launch a
campaign that focused on social
justice to promote inclusion of the
homeless and other vulnerable
individuals and help build a bridge
to normal living, enhancing their
recovery on many levels.
Had this been a ‘raging bull’
portrayed on the cover, my view is
that it would have been more than
justified and aimed at the real
perpetrators who pose a threat to
recovery, and I’m as sure everyone
in the room would have been on
the same page. It was a passionate,
dedicated, well-placed call to arms
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| May 2016
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that incited an equally passionate,
dedicated and well-placed response
in unity.
So I see a deserving portrait of a
very productive conference, aimed at
inclusion and challenging society’s
views to forge a sustainable
pathway through the quagmire of
stigma and discrimination, and,
share every emotion evident on
John’s face, as did everyone there. I
feel that the educational need does
not lie at this end.
PS: I am honoured to have made
your step one and look forward to
your amends – failing which I feel
you need to revise your programme,
as you have not fully grasped step
one. Much respect, Colin.
Kevin Jaffray, Futuremoves peer
advocacy and training
All the rAge
I disagree with the negative
comments about the cover of your
magazine featuring John Bird. I think
it represents his own struggle to
survive against the odds and to
provide a service for homeless
people.
His speech was described as
rousing, and his essential message
seemed positive – everyone has skills
and their life experiences can be
used in a constructive way.
Mark Reid, the peer worker
present, stated in his article: ‘he
showed how he can apply his
philosophy to all people in recovery’
(
DDN
, March, page 11).
In my experience, service users
have to be passionate and
determined to help set up services.
When we had our 20th anniversary
at FIRM (Fun in Recovery
Management) he was one of the
speakers we wanted to have as an
example of someone who could use
his negative life experiences to help
promote a dignified service for
homeless people.
John Gordon-Smith, Chair, FIRM
Committee
Further disgust
I’d just like to profess myself
disgusted and appalled by the fact
that Colin Miller-Hoare was
disgusted and appalled by the sight
of John Bird shouting on the cover of
your March issue.
His absurd statement that ‘there
is no room for aggression in
recovery’ not only infantilises people
but makes the ludicrous assumption
that anyone who’s experienced
homelessness and addiction could
possibly be traumatised by a picture
of a shouty man.
His views are depressingly
symptomatic of the current
censorious drift towards the
ideological policing of debate, with
its attendant ‘trigger warnings’ and
‘safe spaces’ and other such
puritanical, adolescent nonsense. He
thinks you should ‘educate your
editorial staff’. I think he should
grow up.
Molly Cochrane, by email
DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS
ISSN1755-6236
MARCH2016
Joinusandhaveyoursay:www.drinkanddrugsnews.com
THE 9TH DDN SERVICE
USER CONFERENCE
BIG ISSUE FOUNDER JOHN BIRD TELLS IT LIKE IT IS
IT’SYOUR
SHOUT!
‘The “raging bull” cover was exactly
what was needed to express the
current state of the sector – a
perfect expression of the passion
and dedication that is evident, and
indeed needed, to maintain our
position in the current arena.’
