Family Support

Are you a parent or pregnant and concerned about your drug or alcohol use? Wanting to improve your confidence as a parent? If yes, read on...

The Family Support Service works with women and men and will help you get the support you and your family need. We will support you in contact with midwives, health visitors and social workers. We know it can be harder to get to appointments when you have children, so we will come to you.

The Family Support Service
BDP's Parent Workers can support you in making positive changes for you and your children. Whether you want support about your drug use or parenting; assistance in finding out what is available for parents and children in your local area; someone to help you talk to Social Services; support around difficult relationships or just someone to talk to, the Family Support Service can work flexibly with your needs.

If you are a professional and would like to make a referral to this service, please download a referral form here and return it to us by post, marked private & confidential to The Family Support Service, BDP, 11 Brunswick Square, Bristol, BS2 8PE.

Maternity Service
BDP's Parent Workers are also part of the Bristol Maternity Drug Team. The team includes midwives, doctors and workers from BDP and Bristol Specialist Drug and Alcohol Service (BSDAS), offering a service which will support you before and after the birth of your baby. Social Workers are also part of this team, but do not work with all clients.

Weekly clinics are held at St Michael's and Southmead Hospitals.

Women's Drop-in
Wednesdays 11am to 1pm, 11 Brunswick Square
BDP's women-only drop-in sessions are open to any woman who has conerns about her drug or alcohol use. You can meet with a BDP worker for advice and information and spend time with other women who are in a similar situation to you. A programme of activities, including arts and crafts, pampering sessions, guest-speakers and complementary therapies is provided, as well as free refreshments and a creche for under fives.

Support for Fathers
Dads are important too. As well as providing support to dads through the home-visiting service, a monthly group provides practical and emotional support to dads and step-dads, including occasional days out with children in school holidays.

Mentoring Programme
BDP's Mentoring Programme provides one-to-one support for 8-16 year-olds whose parents use drugs or alcohol problematically. Young people are matched with a mentor who will meet up with them on a regular basis - usually once a week. They will go on outings and do activities together, and have time to chat if the young person wants to. The programme lasts for one year.

The M32 & Northern Lights Projects
The M32 Project in Central Bristol and the Northern Lights Project in Northern Bristol both involve regular groups for children and young people, aged 5 - 16, whose parents use drugs and alcohol. Activities include arts and crafts, cooking and outdoor games. The group aims to provide a safe space for young people to come together to have fun away from their home environment. Transport and a small meal are provided.

Professional's Workshops
This session is run by workers from the Family Support Service and is aimed at anyone who works with parents and their children, and wants to know more about drug use and treatment services. Upcoming dates for 2013 are as follows:

Thursday 21st February, Thursday 23rd May, Thursday 26th September and Thursday 5th December.

If you would like to book a place, please download a booking fom here and return it to us by email to info@bdp.org.uk

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