On Tuesday evening, BDP’s Rising Voices Recovery Choir performed at the launch of Frequently Asked Questions, a new exhibition uncovering the shocking and poignant challenge faced by those asking this one simple question…
If you were homeless, where would you go for help?
At the heart of Frequently Asked Questions is the enquiry into a homeless person’s rights. Hosted at the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft, the exhibition is produced by artist Anthony Luvera and written by Gerald Mclaverty.
Frequently Asked Questions is the culmination of five years research by Gerald Mclaverty, who contacted local authorities across the UK to ask how he could access basic living provisions such as shelter, safety, healthcare and food.
Produced in association with Museum of Homelessness, the exhibition aims to give a picture of how services both help and hinder the estimated 320,000 people who are homeless in Britain, offering an insight into the challenges and realities faced by the most marginalised individuals as they attempt to access systems of care.
The exhibition is open 10am-5pm daily from 27th November to 12th December 2019.
Last Friday, members of ‘Stepladder’, BDP’s drama group, were on stage at Bristol Old Vic as part of a performance looking at the issue of homelessness in our city.
Stepladder members took part in a 2 week residency at Bristol Vic hosted by theatre company Cardboard Citizens who have been working with local people with experience of homelessness as part of their latest project Get Involved, Change the Outcome.
Using ‘Theatre of the Oppressed techniques’, Cardboard Citizens created a thought-provoking exploration of the causes that lie behind this deeply important issue. The performance was a creative catalyst for an interactive debate and panel discussion, asking all of us what we could do differently to challenge homelessness? What systems and policies needed to change to help people in Bristol?
This Wednesday’s mobile Needle Exchange in Bedminster has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause. We will be back in Bedminster as usual next week. No other mobile Needle Excahnges have been affected.
Looking for an alternative Needle Exchange?
Please use the map below to find your closest alternative Needle Exchange. Full range of resources and support will only be offered at BDP Needle Exchanges. You can still receive sterile injecting equipment and return sharp boxes to pharmacies.
For more information on our Needle Exchanges please visit this link.
This Wednesday is Bristol Giving Day, an annual event hosted by Quartet Community Foundation, helping to raise awareness and funds for small charities working across Bristol. We’re pleased to have been selected to be one of those charities.
90% of all charity donations in this country go to the 7% largest charities – we don’t think that’s fair. We’ve created Bristol Giving Day so that people like you who care can have fun and raise money to support our small local causes.
– Sue Turner, Quarter Community Foundation
By taking part in Bristol Giving Day’s Bridges Challenge you can help raise money for BDP and other small charities. Members of the public are invited to run, walk, cycle or wheel across selected routes around Bristol, donating £1+ for each bridge they cross; passing over a maximum of 45 local bridges, each assigned to one of 45 local charities.
BDP has been assigned Sparks Evans Footbridge near Arnos Vale Cemetery, part in the Feeder Canal Route or the full 45 Bridge Route. You can can make a donation towards Bristol Giving Day until the end of October.
Working alongside service-users, BDP have launched a localised campaign to raise awareness of people the risks of being ‘cuckooed’ and provide people with an opportunity to come forward and seek support.
What is ‘Cuckooing’?
Cuckooing is a crime where drug dealers will take over the home of a vulnerable person, using force or coercion, in order to use it as a base for storing or selling illicit drugs.
Drug dealers are selective about who they target, often preying upon isolated and vulnerable people with a drug addiction who are living alone. The victim can be coerced into letting the drug dealers in by being offered ‘free’ drugs. Once control is gained, gangs will move in and takeover the property and lives of the victim, with risk of violence and sexual exploitation.
There’s no such thing as free drugs.
Do you feel trapped in your own home?
Drug dealers are exploiting people in Bristol and taking over their homes. If you feel unsafe speak to us at BDP. We have already helped people take back control. Call us 0117 987 6000. Let’s find a way out together.
On Monday 16th September, BDP will have reduced services while staff are attending an agency day to continue to improve our services. Please read the below information for more information about specific services.
While we are closed (during 9am – 5pm) the nearest Needle Exchange to BDP will be Superdrug in Broadmead. Please use the map below to help find your way there. To find other Needle Exchange near you please click the button below.
BDP’s Shared Care team and Detox & Community Link Workers will not be available on Monday. If you need to contact a worker, please call Shared Care and leave a message on their answerphone. A staff member will get back to you on Tuesday as soon as they can.
If it is urgent and cannot wait to Tuesday, please contact your GP Surgery directly. To find your GP’s contact details please use the button below.
