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November 2014 | Issue 011 |KEEP http://aямГLEARNING nitymagazine.wordpress.com TAKE NOTICE GIVE
AFFINITY Magazine
CONNECTING RECOVERY ACROSS LANCASHIRE Inspire, belong, support, achieve...
| November 2014 1
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CONTENTS
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LUF Boat - p4 p14
North - p5 Central - p9 East - p28
BRiC UPDATES East - p18 North - p20 Fingerprints - p22 A Time to Wake Up - p23 Affinity Recovery Month- p24 Paul Becouarn- p26
Gateways Project - p8
- p10
‘One’ poem - p11 Prison Bridging co-ordinator
- p12
- p27
Events - p16 Salus - p30 Photo Competition- p31
p13
Photo © Dawn Ashcroft 2014
- p32
Want to send a story into our next edition or know of any great events coming up? Send them in to: affinitymagazine@yahoo.co.uk by January 16th 2015 Like what you’ve read? Give us a like on
2 November 2014 |
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WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?
The 11th issue of our Affinity magazine. That’s a lot of recovery out there - stories, events, actions, people. That’s a community of recovery, our community of recovery. Our Affinity magazine has tried to amplify the voice of that community, to build the affinity of all those within it and to reach out and touch those who want something more than they have. we have looked to do this by focussing on the 5 ways to wellbeing - being active, being connected, taking notice, giving and learning. It all started with people talking in a room and then following up on an idea. Good things can always happen when people work together and follow their hopes. The Affinity Magazine is still evolving, trying to get better and to draw in new people. This Affinity edition is our first printed one, helped by a bit of funding and a lot of hard work by the team. Whilst we are funded we are still independent and led by those in recovery. Our Affinity magazine describes a loving, supportive, ambitious, inclusive and dynamic community. A recovery community striving to be more. The Affinity magazine is not a service provided to people, it is the story of people working together to build a better life for each other. One of our aims is to show the depth of our community, not only to those within it but to those who may be searching. “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” Antoine de Saint Exupéry Help us to get your news out to people. Get involved in our work and actively promote and support it because good things grow when they are fed, nurtured, loved and celebrated. AFFINITY Maga zine
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LUF BOAT The Chrysalis Project About three years ago an idea was born at the Lancashire User Forum to utilise the canal network to have a floating resource for training, volunteering and connecting within the recovery community. Funding was gained through the Police, Probation, Public Health and Private Industry to fund a canal barge which needed renovating and affectionately has become known as the LUF boat. The boats actual name is Chrysalis which is an apt name for the vision it is going to realise of changing lives. A small team of volunteers and the project lead Kirk Ryder have put thousands of hours of love, sweat and tears into getting the boat ready to accept its first ‘passengers’ and early next month the first training courses are due to get underway. A number of volunteers have now qualified as Skippers for the boat, so the LUF boat now has a fully qualified crew!! The LUF boat will be able to access any area of Lancashire on the waterway network. The official launch for the boat was on the 29th September 2014 and was attended by the Mayor of Burnley along with members of the recovery community and representatives of the private companies who have made contributions to the refurbishments. The event was a great success and following this the BBC radio Lancashire show hosted by Sally Naden was also aired lived from the boat. A full programme of training including Passport to Housing and Recovery Coaching starts in early November.
If anyone would like more information of the training or would just like to get involved with the boat contact Kirk Ryder: 07927960332 or email: kirk@redroserecovery.org.uk
4 November 2014 |
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NORTH
LOCALIT Y WORKER
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Ste Watson
This is a joint Red Rose Recovery and Inspire project that is aimed at giving our veterans somewhere to fish in a quiet ,tranquil location in St Anne’s. Jed, pictured far left is a veteran himself and loves to give back to his local community. The volunteers have been dredging the lodge ready for next year. Jed has also offered to put on carpet fitting classes for the volunteers to help them skill. Red Rose Recovery and Inspire volunteers making the most of their BRIC funding they got to help make their plot at Westview Community Allotment, Fleetwood, a sustainable project.
Having set up their own steering committee the volunteers and service users of the North hope to be visiting the allotment for years to come. Special thanks to Eamon and Christine from Westview for all their help.
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RISEN Risen visit UKRF conference in Leicester Risen is a dance group staffed entirely by addicts in recovery. They have outreach projects that take dance into rehabs, prisons and homeless shelters, and here is there experience of UKRF conference in Leicester:
“
On the coach, all the rowdy lot are sitting at the back, well actually the rowdy lot fill the bus! We keep ourselves entertained laughing, joking and chatting. Andy has brought some snacks of lettuce, seeds and soda bread, I can’t get the image out of my head of him shoving lettuce into his mouth, he passes them around and it prompts a discussion about healthy eating and juicing, it seems Andy has been inspired to take up healthily ever since coming into contact with the Risen crew! We arrive in Leicester on Queens street and we make our way to the Athena which is an art deco styled theatre hall, and this is where the UK Recovery Federation conference is being held We register inside, get a drink have a look around while Paul gets together with the tech man. We head upstairs for a rehearsal, today Paul will be dancing with Risen as Lindsey has a fractured toe and can’t be with us. Backstage ten minutes before we are due to perform, I’m shaking, doing ‘fizzy’ which is an exercise we normally do at warm up, one of my favourites and I literally give myself a good shake up, then together for a group hug and say the serenity prayer, then we are on!
Photo © Lexi West 2014
”
6 November 2014 |
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Photo © Bad Karma 2014
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Andy:
“
The Risen Group today cinematically casts it artistic director and choreographer, Paul Bayes Kitcher as the Angel. This Angel is stranded upstage, riveted in time, and wracked with the effort and struggle of something personal that has happened. PBK stares into the pain, staring with all physical intent. It looks real, a tense psychic confrontation. Right there is another dark night of the soul. But this is Risen theatre. We are consolable. There is empathy. We are in this together as tableaux of energies - Tony, Ali, Andy - distract the solitary Angel and are simultaneously compelled to act by him. Phil is like the deeper consequences of time, as he begins his downstage walk, encircling the cast. This is the diurnal influence on the Angel and the demi-ego energies. They surrender and are struck down.
Photo © Lexi West 2014
I had many highlights, the response after the performance was the warmest we’ve ever had, and also having Paul dancing with us was amazing. Sitting quietly listening to Alastair Sinclair saying that his highlight of the day was watching Risen Dance Theatre and that everyone in the room have goodness, truth and beauty and there is a lot of hope in the room. I’ve had an awesome day, the passion and energy of the recovery movement is very big, we are in the midst of something very special. Thanks to everyone who made it happen. Fallen Angels at The Royal Opera House: 18th November 7pm • Like our page, and post Angels @ ROH to go through to be drawn and posted on Facebook on the 11th November to win a pair of tickets for the live event at The Royal Opera House. • Alternatively you can watch the event being live streamed by Arts Streaming TV (www.artstreamingtv.com) • Want to support Fallen Angels Dance Theatre? We have a crowdfunding project: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ risen-from-fallen-angels/ to find out how you can support someone to transform their life through dance! AFFINITY Maga zine
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GATEWAYS TITLE PROJECT
Red Rose Recovery is a vibrant, inclusive and forward moving organisation that tackles stigma, gives people from a range of backgrounds in recovery, from drug and alcohol misuse, the chance to contribute to their local community through taking part in volunteering, education and employment. We achieve this by being active in the community, making links and building projects for recovery community involvement that is inclusive of families, carers and the wider community. Within this Red Rose Recovery have been commissioned to deliver an innovative approach to prison releases, by using trained Recovery Coaches to support service users whilst serving their sentence in Prisons across Lancashire. Whilst in Prison they help develop, with the guidance of a multi-agency team, a resettlement plan for them and which, when the Coach meets them at the gate on their day of release, they will help action in order to enable a smoother transition back into society. The service user will then be supported, on an asset based approach which seeks to identify and utilize a person’s strengths rather than weaknesses, to connect with the recovery community at existing projects within the community. These projects, initiatives and enterprises run by charities, leisure groups, colleges and local businesses are linked into or created and developed by the three Red Rose Recovery locality workers in North, East and Central Lancashire in partnership with the Lancashire User Forum, Community Sports Initiative and BRIC teams. By engaging with these projects and getting involved in training and volunteering they will be able build their personal and professional development and hopefully find a route into employment and be a part of wider society. An important part of this process is encouraging and helping them access mutual support groups of their choice. They will be able to witness visible, contagious recovery and become a part of the emerging recovery community as well as help build and sustain it for others. This gives them an opportunity to give back to the community which in turn helps tackle the stigma around addiction. The Recovery Coach will act in an advocacy role for key partners to ensure the resettlement plan is effective and the person is supported in their recovery and the rebuilding of their lives in a structured, positive and meaningful way whilst gaining life skills and recovery capital. 8 November 2014 |
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TR AL C E NTITLE LOCALIT Y WORKER
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Lizzie Allan
died comedy er for Central. I stu rk wo y lit ca Lo ry se Recove sdale, to help course in Skelmer lan, the new Red Ro ry Al ve zie co d Liz Re r I’m fo llo Up He and unds addiction an about to start a St e stigma that surro th h as sm d an at university and am up ries through stand people tell there sto r and recovery. y job is to empowe d Skelmersdale. M ining an sta ley su or lf Ch se , a t nd or yla eston, Le ild on and supp bu to is an enterprise pl l Central includes: Pr e cia Th n. lunteering, so ected by addictio s. This includes vo ice rv se support people aff of de tsi ity that exists ou . recovery commun It’s a blank canvas you can think of... ng hi Recovery for me and... well anyt includes the five ways to wellbeing: 1) connect: build a network of support and be part of something bigger.
2) Take notice: Look around you, there is a world out there how can I be a part of it?
Photo © Michael Holt 2014
3) Give back, lets show the community that we can change. 4) Keep active: Move yo asss! 5) Keep learning: be teachable, open your mind.
I believe anything that we can conceive, we can achieve. We all have assets and its about focusing on what we are good at and how best to use these gifts/strengths to serve each other and our community. If you want to know more come and find me and ask. Peace and love :-) AFFINITY Maga zine
| November 2014 9
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Foundry Street, Darwen t: 01254 722500 Café hub Enterprises CIC is a not for profit organization in the heart of Blackburn with Darwen. We provide healthy food, quality entertainment, and a catering enterprise. Providing the public with low cost healthy food cooked fresh daily on the premises. Our fabulous bistro is no ordinary business; all our staff and volunteers are in recovery from substance misuse and alcohol issues. They have all been given training education, and some have been employed by café hub. We hope to provide more employment for the recovery community as our business grows. Café hub has availability for individuals coming through the gateways initiative who may have an interest in receiving training in the hospitality industry.
All our surplus funds go back into the community to fund projects for the community. We currently sponsor a Recovery football league, held once per month at Ewood Park. 12 teams from recovery providers all over the north west engage in this fabulous initiative. We provide groups of mutual interest on a weekly basis, Music and Art currently running on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We are proud to be the host venue for Red Rose Recovery choir, and Al Alon meetings We host regular events, well attended by both the general public and the recovery community, breaking down barriers of stigma and discrimination. Up and coming events: November 15th and 16th, Café hub will host a number of bands over the weekend as part of The Jazz and Blues Festival in Darwen. We have plans for carol services, and a 1 year birthday celebration/Christmas party in December dates to announced. Aside from all the fun Café Hub will provide Christmas Dinner to the homeless on Christmas day, as we do annually and our café continues to be a alcohol free safe environment for individuals to socialize. 10 November 2014 |
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E ONTITLE Epre, qui dicat. Mo blant expedi dolupta ilit eum que nim et incturemqui cum que siti Now nearly dying should change my view to life. blaceari occusci ommolecea consers pellumendi dolupti dollest ut id magnimpore If not for me,dis errr how about the wife. voluptaerrum faces et est perferesti consequae antemque culpa ipiduciet aspe ationsequi lovely but, mistress has am laidlaboribus across the bed. tempedisquamSorry volutmy ea exero expero et utem etmorphine hit lab ipsandit quam et evel est, utem velesSo et,now aliquiI dolut occus as pore peles rectus dis experep apologise I vacate a tortured head.tatque nis ipiendamet occus vellit unt, core, ipiet volorumquunt officiis aut officae pratque nonse latum, odi dusande lignisWith sum quatquam inti consed in posI non restem liquia dolorrum quis morphineacil about there modis is nothing can’t mend, volo ipsus consequi occat accuptatus.
neck a few of these dear things and everyone’s my friend.
Em et quiatemNo olenduci ut eatur? Qui remquia int, con repeliquitoo illandisciis problem was too grandiose, no matter triflingnonsedi small. ad est il eum id quiatur? I am morphine Danny.....here my call !!!!! Berum dollaut as cus simagnis sit qui dolupta nonsequos magnatecto maximinient, ut prem Thensolori about 1 yearamago, areadignia there.cusdam sani autem et utatint quam vent, is quatis queroughly dolorem here que cor eum latur? Watching daytime TV with a vacant stare.
A moment of clarity, just hit me for a bit.
Quid mos et voluta es es demos maximus eum aut alique aut hil ium ni corest laborist acidess This adit will verspe bloodypre killdenducietur? you, fucking lunatic. itatemo voluptatet Am et que peribus es suntemp oreseque nonsequidunt I needed help and needed it fast, et oditincil maio. Occum solupta tusdaerios se venis et apiet maxime nullamustium sit, que velesequam eic tesequat.
aarrgh what if they want to talk about the fucking past.
Docs ahoy fordolupta adviceecest, to help by.volecti nusaniae nim quiae sam, Am aut vero eum eosa seque cumme quas quiditae aut autaerit voluptaturio dentur rest, vel int liatibus, Next thing was hello and welcome to CRI.eat ut et autessi nimusa dior aut incimol uptatum, con pre et, unt. First eos stepellorat. I was making, my shoulders in a droop, Idist acim qui volut
my confidence shot to pieces in the initial group.
Asimo quae omnimol estempe dipsapi duntisti ommo beatisim que parum quis vel idunt Two, three four soon follow as my journey gathered pace, praestrum inisimaionet et, siminis con coressit ommosti berrore risque qui acernatem ne I found real Dannylitand I was proud to showNem my eum face.arcienis aut vella dellupta sent que the sequi nulparunt destinverum nimoluptae. periorem. Undite culpa doluptat latur? Qui cum qui veribus.
Moments of doubt and weakness can come across my way,
Ga. Itatur atur mos mod ellam la es nobitatur? Quidignatium ute eum venis accus volor sin pa except now, I have the tools and power to reflect and carry on ipsapit, nest ut inctemo loreicium accus.
my day.
Ur? Bea cones voluptatist ommolorempos aliciisciis reptiure, cus est et autem reprorest lamus quias sum cumDanny rectemNoble duntio. Ut plibusa ndipsam cus eritatio. Nequunt omnihic ienimod iandaec tecabo. Namus ut miliquia si nate num natistrum fugia dionserro maio. Coribeatur, optaecus sapides ea dolorios nos cum id magnimust as quam et quiaeriam volupta tustisi omnis explibusante quis abori nis enditae dem nitatin totatiae conseni atemquam, tectem re, quae sum aborum sit el et dit ulpariorpor repti tecaborpos endiant. Ugit remos utectis maximusa volorempe ea percias is esequis doluptae sitatur? AFFINITY Maga zine | November 2014 11
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PRISON BRIDGING CO-ORDINATOR Hello, my name is Lisa and I work for CRI, inspire north lancs I am the prison bridging coordinator for HMP Kirkham and HMP Lancaster farms My role is to help create pathways into recovery for people in custody back into the community that they will be re settling into, after they have served their sentence.
Photo © Paul Husband 2014
The recovery community in both prisons, is growing more and more, visible recovery and recovery capital is the key to open any door into recovery, that is why we always like to keep in touch with the the outside recovery community, so that we can share what we have created, and create even more new and exciting opportunities by working together.
On Tuesday the 16th and Wednesday 17th of December, The recovery community at HMP Kirkham will be holding a Christmas “ celebrate recovery event “ and have decided to join forces with the Lancashire user Forum and come together to share and celebrate what we have all achieved...... HMP Kirkham will be holding their event on the Tuesday and the LUF will be holding their general county meeting on the Wednesday ........all I can say....it is going to be an awesome 2 days........if you are interested about this event, or have any great ideas you would like to share, please contact me on: lisa.ozenbrook@hmps.gsi.gov.uk Telephone : 01772 675588 12 November 2014 |
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I have laughed with people, I have cried with people, I have rejoiced and commiserated with people, I have been astounded with things that people have told me. I am not sure there is an emotion that I have not felt while doing this job. I have gone home elated and depressed, not normally at the same time. I have been amazed at some of the things people have done and said and I have felt disappointed as well. That is what Mulberry is to all of us who work here and you know what… we wouldn’t swap it for anything. To see people trying and very often succeeding in their journey to recovery is absolutely fantastic and is worth all the heartache and missed sleep that we have all had at times. To see all those who have been through Mulberry leave us and go on to lead lives free from substances is beyond description and makes everything worthwhile. To realise that we have helped someone find recovery is enormously gratifying. Mulberry Community Project is a supported housing project that operates in Blackpool. We have been operational for around 4 years and we provide support for those seeking to maintain an abstinent based lifestyle. We have had a lot of people go through Mulberry and the majority are now living an abstinent based life with volunteering, education and employment being part of their lives. We cannot place a time limit on how long it takes to find recovery so we do not have a time limit on how long people can stay with us for and our strap line is “For as long as it takes”. To get a better idea of what we do and what we offer please feel free to drop into our office in Blackpool and just sample the atmosphere of Recovery. www.mulberrycompro.co.uk
AFFINITY Maga zine | November 2014 13
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Blackpool Recovery Groups launch their Magical Christmas Memory Appeal Building on the success of last year’s Families Christmas lunch, BRG and FiR have come together this year to host a Christmas day meal for 70 people in recovery and supporters of recovery. Group organisers, Terry Hughes, Nicola Plumb, Brent Heslope, Leigh Swindlehurst and Nadene Booth said in a statement: We would like to give people in recovery and their families a Magical Memory on Christmas Day, a day for them to know that the community they are part of support their struggle to change lives for themselves and their children. People do recover from addiction with the support of those around them, lives change, communities change, adults and children thrive and prosper. Christmas Day can be a very lonely time for many people especially if isolated from old friends and family. For some children it could be their first Christmas with parents in Recovery and we wanted to capture that wonderful feeling by bringing everyone together as a community. Shughie Morrison said that last year they had been overwhelmed by the generosity of the wider community who had rallied round, from local colleges who provided pots and pans to cook in, churches, organisations and individuals who had donated gifts for all the children and the volunteers who had made it all happen, this year they were looking forward to building on that spirit of generosity by doubling in size the number of people who would be catered for and provided with a Magical Memory. Shughie said that this would be the groups first year in their new home St Marks Layton and such a wonderful venue is perfect for what we want to achieve. We have the full support of HORIZON treatment providers in Blackpool who have got us of to a flying start. Delphi Medical have pledged to pay for all the Turkeys needed for the meal, HORIZON have paid for the venue, ADS have designed an appeal poster set up a Just Giving page and will provide staff on Christmas day, Renaissance have pledged Christmas Pudding for 70, Blackpool Fulfilling Lives team have pledged Christmas stocking fillers for everyone attending alongside staffing support on the day. If you would like to help make a Magical Christmas Memory with us then get in touch. Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas! 14 November 2014 |
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EVE Date 10th/11th November
Event / Activity Recovery Conference
Info Addaction 4th National Recovery Conference
14th November
Concert
2014 Annual Well Being Concert
15th November
Music Workshop
15th/ 16th November
Music fesival
18th November
Dance
A free Music Workshop for young people aged 11-16 who are affected by grief or loss. Café hub hosts part of The Jazz and Blues Festival in Darwen. Fallen Angels at The Royal Opera House
25th November
East Lancashire User Forum Recovery Cafe Opening
Come along and get involved in your local recovery community! New recovery cafe opens in Blackpool
North Lancashire User Forum Central Lancashire User Forum County Lancashire User Forum Christmas Day
Come along and get involved in your local recovery community! Come along and get involved in your local recovery community! Come along and get involved in your local recovery community! Magical Christmas Day with Blackpool Families in Recovery / Blackpool Recovery
1st December
3rd December 5th December 17th December 25th December
Places to connect with recovery: Venue Location Fleetwood Recovery Cafe Café 3 one 6, 208-210 Lord Street, Fleetwood, FY7 6SW The Well Lancaster Boys & Girls Club, Dallas Road, Lancaster The Well Stanley's Community Centre, 79-83 Stanley Road, Morecambe, LA Tan House Ennerdale, Skelmersdale, WN8 6BA Beautiful Planet 69 Friars Gate, Preston, PR1 2ED Umbrella Cafe Nexus Art Café, 2 Dale Street, Manchester, M1 1JW Cafe Hub The Brink 16 November 2014 |
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Foundry St, Darwen, Lancashire BB3 1DJ 15 - 21 Parr Street, Liverpool, L1 4JN
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ENTS Location Glasgow Marriott Hotel, 500 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8RR DT3, Moor Lane, Lancaster, LA1 1QE More Music, Morecambe, LA3 1QT
Time 10am
Contact info@addaction.org.uk
Booking Book in advance
7pm
01524 383394
Tickets ÂŁ4
01524 381820
Book in advance
01254 722500
Just turn up!
Cafe Hub, Foundry Street, tbc Darwen Royal Opera House, Clore 7pm Studio Burnley Methodist Church, Burnley 23 South King Street, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY1 4LS Tbc Tbc HMP Kirkham
10.303pm
10.303pm 10.303pm 10.303pm
Blackpool, tba
A3 1UT
Claire@ fallenangelsdancetheatre. co.uk Jane.Riley@bprcvs.co.uk Just turn up! 07719782459
Just turn up!
admin@redroserecovery. org.uk admin@redroserecovery. org.uk admin@redroserecovery. org.uk 01235 752100
Just turn up! Just turn up! Book in advance Give us a call :)
Opening Days/Times Monday 1pm - 3pm Saturday 1-4pm Tuesday 10am-12pm / Wednesday 1-3pm Thursday 10am-3pm Friday night from 7:30pm Friday and Saturday nights
Contact 01253 873098 07453324011 07453324011 07990770783 07914 221259 info@dryumbrella.org.uk
Wednesday - Sunday Monday / Saturday / Sunday
01254 722500 0151 703 0582 AFFINITY Maga zine | November 2014 17 AFFINITY
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KERRY STEWART BRiC supports the initiation & development of community based projects which create enterprise, employment, training, environmental and social wellbeing. BRiC has funding available to support individuals/groups & organisations who can evidence the inclusion of this criteria. The BRiC process for approving funding applications has been restructured. For 2014/15 with new forms available. The BRiC panels will meet quarterly to discuss and approve or decline received BRiC applications. The final panel will meet around: 1/5, 1/8, 1/11, 1/02. If you wish to discuss or apply for BRiC funding please contact Kerry Stewart 07788 317838.
Ehsaas Wellbeing Café Launch Ehsaas wellbeing café initiative officially launched on August 12th and attracted local press who gave a glowing report of the Café. Ehsaas based at the Cor-nerhouse Café in Brierfield is every Tuesday 12-5pm. The primary purpose of Ehsaas is predominantly but not exclusively to engage and build links with local South Asians in Brierfield to improve health & wellbeing and open discussions around substance misuse.
Roses Netball team awarded “Commended Team of the Year 2014” The Hyndburn Community Sports Awards took place this month in which the Roses Netball team were shortlisted for an award. We did not expect to win as we were in a category based on success and up against 7 other teams. Our success was not that we have won a league or that any of our players have won Player of the Century. Our success is that we are a Back 2 Netball team consisting mainly of women in recovery most of whom have not played netball since school, now playing in a mainstream league of which we won one game in the entire Summer Season. To say that most teams in our division have played together for years, I would say this in itself is a huge success. Although we didn’t win the overall Team of the Year award at Hyndburn Sports Awards we were specially selected along with one other local team to receive a “Highly Commended”.
18 November 2014 |
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EAST BRIC CO-ORDINATOR Our Coaching sessions still take place every other Wednesday 12-1pm at Hyndburn Leisure Centre. The Roses is a truly diverse team ranging from women at varying stages of recovery and also women who are not in recovery but love what the Roses signifies making us an inclusive community netball team but predominantly set up to increase the wellbeing of women in recovery in East Lancs. Little Purple Book A Guide to Wellbeing Activities in East Lancs. The first edition was a huge success with 1,000 copies distributed across treatment services, recovery communities and prisons. The Little Purple Book team are now busy planning the Autumn edition which will be printed and out shortly.
Red Rose Recovery Choir The Red Rose Recovery Choir united with 4 other UK wide recovery Choirs to perform as a United Choir (representing Lancashire, Car-diff, Merseyside, Durham & Brighton) at the UK Recovery Walk in Manchester. We performed 3 songs with each one getting a fan-tastic reaction from the audience of a few thousand. The entire day was a festival full of great music and recovery represented in all its multiple forms. The walk itself attracted around 8,000 from across the UK. 2016 the walk will be held in Durham. We now meet twice a week: Mondays 5.30-7.30 9 Warner St, Accrington Thursdays 6-8pm at Café Hub, Foundry St, Darwen Recovery Street Film Festival The Recovery Street Film Festival hit the streets of the UK, sharing peoples experiences of addiction through film. People who had been affected by addiction were asked to enter their 3 minute film into a competition around the festival theme ‘deserving a future’, focusing on living with the challenges of recovery. I had the pleasure of representing CRI at the Liverpool event as one of the Sponsors. It was a challenge to engage with the public to encourage them to take 5mins to watch some inspirational films about addiction & recovery. All in all I had a great day... AFFINITY Maga zine | November 2014 19
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GARY BYRNE Service User Involvement The Fleetwood Inspire service has a really strong team of service user reps and volunteers who provide support within the community and within the project. The reps are regularly producing a newsletter, have a ‘what’s on’ board in the kitchen area and hold monthly service user meetings. Reps also meet with the service manager to feedback comments from surveys they have undertaken and raise queries on clients’ behalf. The breakfast club in Fleetwood Inspire has regular attendance of around 25 people, having been built up by volunteers and service user reps. The club is proving itself to be an effective route for introducing the service to new clients and those hard to engage, with Reps, Volunteers and Staff on hand to discuss what the service has to offer. The club also attracts the presence of a wide variety of stakeholders and other professionals. Dez (centre) says about his role as a Service User Rep: “I just love giving something back, its great meeting new people, offering support and I love all the training I’ve been able to do” Cafe 316 The new recovery cafe has been set up in Fleetwood Monday’s 1-3pm at Cafe 316 and has had average attendance of around 15 people. It takes place in a cafe owned by a local community member with a strong social inclusion ethos. The Cafe has become a great place outside for individuals to meet socially, access peer support and find out about additional activities, help and support that is available to them. Every week there is a short talk from differing people from the recovery communities and agencies like Red Rose, BRIC, Fire Service and Work Solutions are also on hand. Recovery Focused Initiatives The National Recovery Walk was attended by North Lancs community members who participated in the walk and had a great day. 20 November 2014 |
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NORTH BRIC CO-ORDINATOR Greener On the Outside Prisons (GOOP) The BRIC is excited to become involved with a new financially backed scheme GOOP. The aim is to establish psycho-educational Horticultural Projects based around the Green Gym philosophy within North Lancs Prisons for Prisoners as a therapeutic addition to the recovery work currently delivered by Inspire, Gateways and Red Rose Recovery staff teams. The aim is to set up a project that promotes the 5 ways to wellbeing and generates meaningful activity and social inclusion. It is a 12mth Pilot which started on 1st of Oct 2014. We welcome all ideas on how to take the GOOP plan forward. Contact BRiC Co-ordinator Gary Byrne if your interested in supporting the GOOP venture or have any ideas on how you think you could support a therapeutic horticultural project behind the prison walls. The common theme of engaging prisoners with nature through prison-based horticulture or landbased environmental activities in the community is showing demonstrable positive impacts on their physical and mental health and wellbeing as well as improving prospects for release. More prisoners are engaging with education and receiving qualifications in horticulture. More prisoners are being ROTL’d (Released On Temporary License) to work in the community. GOOP is being recognised, accepted and embedded into prison structures as a valid and helpful therapeutic intervention with added benefits. The continued focus for GOOP is self sustaining structures through building capacity and capability, integrating learning and joining up our work across and between prisons and the community to better equip prisoners to resettle effectively upon release. Watch this space for GOOP developments over the coming months. RPM cycle group having a great day out in the Morecambe sunshine. All the cycles and protective equipment is provided. Meeting point is Morecambe Inspire offices Sunday 12.00pm Anyone interested in attending please contact: Ste Watson RRR 07535891647 Stuart Nevin CSI 07967928883 AFFINITY Maga zine | November 2014 21
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FINGERPRINTS PERSON CENTRED SUPPORT & RECOVERY SERVICES CIC We are an abstinence based addiction, mental health & wellbeing, survivors / recovery organisation. We support individuals who are abstinent or working towards complete abstinence. No two individuals are the same, everyone is treated as an individual. Fingerprints Person Centred Support & Recovery Services CIC was Founded earlier this year by Brian Morrison, who himself is in recovery from alcohol dependency and addiction and over 9 years alcohol free. Brian was given 6-12 months life expectancy back in March 2005 if he continued to drink alcohol as he was. He accepted the offer of support and detox from ADS in Blackpool who he says he owes his life too. Brian is now very active within Lancashire Health & Social Care Forums “When I came out of treatment back in July 2005, Recovery was something which very few people spoke about, and even when I tried to set up my first recovery group in Blackpool, doors and ears were closed as it was all about treatment back then.” Fingerprints is a new social enterprise and aiming to work with other organisations to support individuals in recovery, no matter how long they have been in recovery. We will support individuals in many different ways including 1-2-1 Mentoring, Therapy Room, Peer Support, Counselling, Film Nights, Drop-In’s. We are not funded by health care, social care, local authority, lottery at this present time and we are relying on sponsorships, donations and fundraising to help us to develop and grow. If you would like to help, please donate at: www.gofundme.com/b64k9c The new Coffee Shop / Recovery Café / Internet Café will be opening on Monday 1st December. Would YOU Like To Help In The Recovery Café OR New Recovery & Wellbeing Zone? Registered Head Office: 23 South King Street, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY1 4LS Community Interest Company: Registration No 08706105 Email: info@fingerprints.ws Outreach Mobile: 07719 782 459 22 November 2014 |
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A TIME TO WAKE UP My name’s Billy. I’m thirty three years old and I’ve finally woken up after what feels like a thirteen year sleep. Heroin will do that to you. Like hiding from the first morning rays of light, pulling the quilt up more snug i refused to throw off my quilt of narcotics and just embrace life. I first began taking drugs at the grand age of eleven. I started by smoking cigarettes with my pals. This didn’t lead onto cannabis as the cliché goes because the first illicit drugs i took were acids tabs/LSD. There followed a crazy life of intense ups and downs which involved me living on the other side of the world and back. But if I’m honest it mainly consists of downs. When i reached around the age of twenty one, i had the great idea of getting into smack. Wahey! Billy’s reached his final graduation i guess people may have thought. Apart from the tortures i was about to embark on for myself, I had no true insight at all into the effects it was to have on loved ones, friends and others in general. Throughout my twenties i was a bonifide heroin addict. I snorted, smoked and injected my way through what should have been the best years of my life. A natural time of awakening and discovery, the wonders of such freedom and independence. Instead though i became a skinny, mucky-pallored shadow of myself. A spectre on the back of streets of society. Lying and stealing my way through life, even peddling the drug to ensure my constant supply. However, those rays of filtered sunlight persisted. That spark of fire and life in me, that’s in all of us no matter how far along we go, no matter what we’ve done, kept on calling. The more i listened to it the louder it got. I finally got myself on methadone about three years ago. This wasn’t an ideal place to be but it was a million miles away from the horrendous life and stresses heroin addict brought. I went through with the reduction and managed to claw my way through to the other side. I did it. I was drug free and wanted to be there. The tears i’ve shed in private could fill buckets. All the years of emotional suppression were unravelling themselves and racing to catch up to keep an even keel. Those tears though were forever tinged with soaring joy and grace. Even though there are still ups and downs such is life. Even in my darkest days i’m still singing inside with a sense of freedom and truth. I see the word differently now, much more clearly and enriched. There’s no fear anymore. When i wake in a morning there’s no sense of panic where my next hits coming from. I reach for my water or phone to check out the news and not for my foil or such like. It’s now the summer of 2014 and i fly away on holiday next month with my girlfriend. I really do have a great life now and hope for it to get even better. I can look myself in the mirror and confidently meet the eyes of the world. As i lay here in bed writing this, it’s about half six in the morning and from the light shining through the curtains i can tell it’s going to be a nice day. I’m happy, not tired at all and i feel healthy. I welcome the daylight now as i get up, as i wake up. AFFINITY Maga zine | November 2014 23
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AFFINITY Magazine’s Well it’s been an exciting few months for the Affinity Team! We received the great news that we had funding to produce the magazine in print, which means we can reach even more individuals in recovery. So a big thank you goes out to Red Rose Recovery for all there help with the bid and Lancashire Council for the money. Recovery month in September was busy. We kicked it off by attending the UK Recovery Walk in Manchester and what a great day it was to see
thousands of people celebrating their recovery. The entertainment was fantastic and the atmosphere was spot on. We ended the night by visiting the Umbrella Cafe.
24 November 2014 |
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RECOVERY MONTH
We were invited to the UKRF conference in Leicester. We did a presentation on Affinity Magazine and god was that nerve racking but hopefully we did you all proud and got our message across. Our favourite part of the day was watching the Fallen Angels, who gave a brilliant performance as ever. We also had a sneak preview of the film “Dear Albert” and if any of you get the chance to go see it we highly recommend you do, it’s fantastic.
The end of September was the launch of the Chrysalis Project, which is affectionately known as the LUF boat. It was great to see all the hard work the volunteers from Lancashire User Forum and Red Rose Recovery come to life. In October we have been busy with meetings finding printers and building this edition of Affinity. So it’s been go, go, go but the best bit of everything we have done these past few months is meeting the people at all the events and finding out their stories... who without we would not be able to produce this magazine so thank you everyone for your support and stories. x
”This was my 3rd recovery walk but for me it was the most exciting. Because this years walk was in Manchester and for me it felt like recovery was coming home. My recovery began in Manchester at Chapman Barker and the city holds a special place in my heart. The day was awesome, truly inspiring to see so many people in recovery and how much the recovery movement has grown over the last five years. I helped carry the Affinity magazine banner and even got a thumbs up from a cop! Events like the recovery walk have a huge effect on how ex-addicts are viewed and helping to reduce stigma. I feel a great sense of pride being part of something so positive.” - Mark Walsh
BY MAGS BURRETT AFFINITY Maga zine | November 2014 25
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PAUL BECOUARN After 26 years of prison life, and in the grips of addiction and desperate for recovery, I found myself at Kirkham prison on the Recovery Unit. Working with Matt Idle and the team I was able to find a Resettlement plan, after finally battling with my methadone and getting clean. I went to Inward House Supported Accommodation and followed my plans to work with Inspire, attending their Dependency and Emotional Attachment Program. After this I found my independence. Since then, I have worked with Recycling Lives with Achieve and gained an N.V.Q in the workplace, where I was offered full time work, but went for another job working with Lancashire Sport, delivering gym sessions and activities to Service Users, and their families, in the community. At Kirkham I was introduced to Lancashire User Forum, Red Rose Recovery and the recovery community. I was offered the job of Gateways Recovery Coach Coordinator, after gaining lots of training and help from Red Rose. I have recently been offered yet another job as a Project Officer at a rehabilitation unit, full time. This has happened in the space of two years.
If I had a message for the guys at Kirkham I would say “In the last two years I stopped asking the question “Why?” and have just done it and listened carefully”. Now I live a life that I thought was never possible. By asking for help and being willing to do whatever it takes, I am now recovering and my family are too. Together we can achieve anything… 26 November 2014 |
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All the best - Paul B
Free!
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Meanwhile …. Exciting news from The Dry Umbrella The Dry Umbrella C.I.C aims to bring alcohol free social events to the region and some of you will already have been to our regular slot at Nexus Art Café in the heart of Manchester’s very popular Northern Quarter. Several of our nights have been literally packed out to capacity, while others have been relaxed providing a more chilled out with DJ Jonesy on the decks its proved to be the perfect environment perfect for unwinding and catching up with your pals over coffee and cake. Since September we have brought you a full range of entertainment, music, film dance, comedy and even a night of beauty with the fabulous MetMunch who brought us edible cosmetics would you believe! The feedback has been excellent, whether packed out or laid back it seems that everyone who comes through the door at one of our Alcohol free nights, just loves the ambience we provide and the freedom and relaxation of a night out without booze . This pilot has been so successful, we have secured some more dates with our friends at Nexus Art Café to take us up to the end of December: Due to limits on our resources and the availability of the room hire at Nexus, we are not able to do 2 nights a week however there are plenty of nights to choose from, get your diaries out as here is our full line up until the end of the year: November Friday 14th Nov Saturday 22nd Nov
DJ Raven Luciano Gerber World music / folk DJ Moriaty Subception Album launch party
Friday 28th Nov
DJ Jonesy DJ Alan Cook Old School classics
December Saturday 6th Dec Friday 12th Dec Friday 19th Dec
DJ Jonesy & Quix night DJ Jonesy & Comedy Night DJ Jonesy All Star Christmas Party with a full line up of our special guests
Look out on our Facebook page for regular updates. Some nights really have been full to capacity so if you are bringing a large group over, contact us via email at info@dryumbrella.org.uk to book in advance and ensure your guests entry. But that’s not all…… our most exciting news is that we have been successful in our application for £5000 grant from those fabulous guys at Comic Relief Give it Up Fund, which means we can now continue with our work and provide a regular night at Nexus Art Café , every Saturday night right up until March 2015 ! How fab is that ! Thanks to everyone who has supported us so far, we really want to see as many of these alcohol free bars and cafes out there as possible. See you next time … Deb D and Michaela (aka DJ Jonesy) AFFINITY Maga zine | November 2014 27
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E AS T
LOCALIT Y WORKER
Jane Riley
Hello, I’m Jane the East Lancashire Locality Worker for Red Rose Recovery, we’ve got some really exciting and worthwhile projects going on at the moment so if you feel like connecting and giving something back then why not get involved. There’s a great project we’re just about to start which is a very noble cause we’re calling “Alfie’s Project”. Alfie is a lovely little boy with Down Syndrome, unfortunately Alfie has fits and his garden is not suitable for him to play in but he loves to be outside. So with the help of Hyndburn Homes and the hard work of some of our volunteers we are going to revamp his garden so it is suitable for him to play in and for the rest of his family to enjoy too. We need people with skills in joinery, ground work and general building skills, you don’t have to be professionals just willing to give a bit of your time. The environment we live in often important to us, so if you’re interested in giving back and being active, connecting and learning about our environment get involved some of the projects you can get involved with are listed below:
Manor Street Allotments in Nelson which we are helping Pendle Council to tidy up.
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The Grass Roots Centre at St Phillips Church in Nelson, we’re helping the centre to tidy up the grounds, as well as sort out the raised beds which surround the building, the centre do a food bank and we would ultimately love to be able to grow food to feed into the food bank.
We do lots of volunteer days with the Parks and Recreation Services across East Lancashire, the next one is a Bowling Green Blitz on Saturday 2nd November, we’re meeting at 10am in Alkincoats Park (near the pavilion) in Colne. Why not come along and get involved, lots of people from the local community come and help by donating their time.
There’s also lots of training opportunity’s available such as Passport to Housing, if you are having trouble maintaining or gaining a tenancy then get in touch. Passport to Housing is recognised by a lot of landlords in Lancashire and can be used as a reference, it can also move you up a band on the housing list. There’s loads of great content on the course such as budgeting skills, all the different types of tenancies there are, how to be a better neighbour, what a community is and the difference it can make to us all to feel part of a community, and much more. Are you strong in your recovery from substance misuse? Are you over 6 months abstinent? Interested in giving something back then why not become a Recovery Coach? If you’re interested in any of the opportunities above or just want to find out a bit more don’t hesitate to contact me, Jane Riley on 07885557699 or email: jane@redroserecovery.org.uk AFFINITY Maga zine | November 2014 29
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A place to Restore, Renew, Reconnect and Recover. A new service opened recently offering a 90 day core programme for people who may not need or want to access longer residential programmes. Salus Withnell Hall is a 41 bed residential trauma, wellbeing and addiction centre situated in a picturesque area on the edge of the Trough of Bowland outside Chorley. The Hall is set in acres of beautiful grounds and woodland. Each resident receives holistic support to understand the range of issues and problems they face as they address the causes and consequences of their addiction. The programme includes a staged approach to supporting people as they work through their programme towards a planned discharge. Stages can be extended beyond those associated with the core 90 day programme. We see residential rehabilitation as a station on each person’s recovery journey not the destination. The programme offered at Salus Withnell Hall integrates the 5 ways to wellbeing (NICE guidelines) as part of our approach to promoting “everyday health and wellbeing” as a way to help each resident restore their physical and emotional health. From the time they move in, each individual’s empowerment is at the heart of the programme and we start work with people to set goals around key areas as they plan their future Everything we do at Salus Withnall Hall is about promoting balance and positive life habits to support improved health and wellbeing for those in recovery from addiction If you would like to know more about the new service you can find some information on the website: www.saluswithnellhall.co.uk
You alone can do it AND you can’t do it alone.
30 November 2014 |
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Photography Competion Over the last month we have hosted a photography competition on the Affinity Magazine Facebook page. The theme was WEATHER... if you hadn’t guessed! Below are the top three images that won the competition:
2nd - Dawn Ashcroft
1st - Emma Bottomley Thanks for sending in all your amazing and crazy weather photographs. Well done to the three winners of this competiiton! You’ve all won a £5 voucher for Amazon.co.uk being in the top 3 - Please get in touch and we’ll get them in the post to you.
3rd - Karen Schofield
The next competition is themed.... Photobombing! Basically a photograph with someone or animal etc managed to get in the picture last minute. Please check out the T&C’s below before entering. Here’s a little example of what we mean: Send them in to affinitymagazine@yahoo.co.uk Prizes: 1st - £10 Amazon voucher 2nd/3rd - £5 Amazon voucher T&C’s: 1) Maximum of 3 entries per person. 2) Must be a photograph you took yourself - no stealing of others... it’s just not cool. 3) No image modification - eg cutting and sticking photographs together. Slight digital colour/contrast enhancement etc is acceptable. 4) Send in highest quality version of image (lower quality pictures can still win, but we want to print the best possible version. 5) Please include Name, contact details, and image title. Good luck!
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CENTRAL LUF CHAIR KATRINA TAYLOR I took on the role of the chair back in June, I’d stepped up from Secretary as the previous chair went back into full time employment. My background is catering and working as a volunteer in a variety of areas, from sexual health, to Brown owl of my daughters Brownie unit and being a governor and classroom helper in my local school. I have worked with lots of inspiring people during my time in Red Rose and LUF, and have grown in many ways, through taking part in a painting project for a local housing association, and building this up to another two. Working with The Big dig at Clayton Brook, encouraging volunteers to take part, and helping transport them to it. Working from a small steering group we have built up a good team, which has seen several community projects take place, helping a disabled gentleman tidy up his garden, it’s lovely to see the smile on someone’s face at the end, knowing you’ve helped bring a solution to another person’s life. The next project we are undertaking is a church clean up around the grounds, in advance of the Bishop of Lancaster’s parish visit. We are always looking out for projects we can take on to help people within our local community. We have connected with local projects, such as Chorley safe space, taking part in the carnival and promoting the good work they do for local families affected by alcohol and drug issues. We started a days in the park during the summer, to help those with children manage the holidays, we received a mini asset funding award for sports equipment to set up this idea, that started with just a conversation in a café. Although it only served a few families, it gave support to the parents during a stressful time. We are taking on several gardening projects within the central locality, with one being in a park in Leyland, which has gardening jobs and a possibility to work with small animals. We are in talks with St. Catherine’s a local hospice to help maintain the beautiful surroundings that will bring joy and comfort to patients and their families. There are several areas to work in within the ground’s including a wetland area and a beautiful area with a pagoda where patients and their families can sit and take in the aromas of beautiful flowers and views in a peaceful setting. The future of Central is starting to flourish and we look forward to the next chapter in our own developments and hope to attract more people to connect with and share our skills so we can step up to reach higher goals. 32 November 2014 |
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