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drinkanddrugsnews
| March 2013
Be the change |
Service user conference 2013
www.drinkanddrugsnews.com
‘T
hings are changing, and everything is going to be local,’ said FDAP chief
executive Carole Sharma, introducing the afternoon’s interactive
session. ‘Essentially, this government is resigning from governing, and
wants things to be decided locally.’ This meant it would no longer be
possible to say to providers and commissioners, ‘You have to do it this way,’ she
stressed. ‘So you’ll need to influence anyone you can get on your side.’
The best means of doing this was through a powerful, collective voice, and the
session heard a range of service user representatives from around the country
describe how they were supporting their peers and getting their messages across.
‘We set up because there was a lack of provision for recovery in our local area,’
said Steve from Changes UK. ‘If you’ve got a dream and a vision that you can make a
difference in your community, then you should do it.’ Engaging with the Changes UK
community meant that when people did get a job and their own accommodation
they were genuinely ready for it, he said. ‘We’ve got an 88 per cent success rate of
people maintaining recovery.’
The group had also set up a homeless outreach service, and was now expanding
The afternoon’s interactive session
heard some inspiring accounts of
what service users were doing to
make their voices heard.
Additional photography by Nigel Brunsdon
FRONTLINE
‘If you’ve got a dream and a vision
that you can make a difference in
your community, then you should do
it... We’ve got an 88 per cent success
rate of people maintaining recovery.’
STEVE, CHANGES UK