How did you feel when you first started your trainee placement?
“I was quite nervous. I knew I was joining an organisation with vast amounts of experience and expertise and was conscious that I had very little of either. But in a short year, my confidence has grown immensely. I have benefited from lots of different training, and my skills working with clients has grown alongside of that.”
“When I first joined BDP I was nervous, but after a few weeks I felt comfortable with everyone. I think it’s important to build relationships with the other trainees because you can support each other through it. I am more confident in my knowledge of harm reduction and the different pathways available. Most challenges enable you to improve your problem solving.”
Has your personal experience in recovery shaped your traineeship?
“It has helped me to not to judge, to know that everyone has potential, no matter what their current circumstances are. There was a time that I felt I could never unravel the tangled mess my life had became, but now I believe that anything is possible.”
How have you benefited from support from staff and other trainees?
“Every staff member has helped me in some way. They have all been brilliant, always encouraging me to ask questions, and have shared their knowledge and experience generously.”
“Throughout my year’s training I felt very encouraged and held as an employee and have also made some lovely friends. I have grown in confidence as an individual around people and also in my abilities as an employee. My experience has been priceless in terms of the internal reward its given me and the position I am now in to carry on in working in drug and alcohol services.”
What are your hopes for the future?
“My hopes for the future are develop as a Recovery Worker and to also consistently maintain my own recovery.”
“I hope to work in the addiction field in some capacity, I hope that the knowledge and skills that I have gained can be put to use somewhere else.”
What advice would you give to the new group of BDP Trainees?
“To keep believing in yourself, be honest and don’t be afraid to ask for help with anything.”
“They saw something in you when they interviewed you be confident in knowing that there is potential in you that will be drawn out.”
We want to thank all our Trainees for their hard work and dedication over the past year and wish them all the best of luck in their future. We look forward to welcoming our new set of Trainees this week. Stay tuned for more details.
The latest issue of Eurosurveillance, Europe’s journal on infectious diseases, features recent research into the prevalence of MRSA among people who inject drugs in “the Bristol clade”.
The study took place between 2012 and 2017 with research partners including Public Health England, National Institute for Health Research, the University of West England and the University of Bristol.
Latest issue of @Eurosurveillanc features recent research into the prevalence of #MRSA among #PWID in "the #Bristol clade" (2012 – 2017) đź“Š
— Infection Prevention for PWID (@InfectionPrev_) April 1, 2019
BDP played a significant part in this research project, helping recruit participants through our Needle Exchange located across the city and playing the part of a testing site.
Bristol’s first ever Recovery Orchestra are set to take part in their debut performance on Friday 29th March, but before that they’re making waves online, having featured in a short BBC News film.
I’ve always said that I’m into music but now I feel I’m in music.
Made from musicians who have experienced problematic use of alcohol and other drugs, the brand new orchestral project has been supported by conductor Jonathan James, with funding from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
Come and hear for yourself on Friday 29th March, 12pm at The Unitarian Hall, Brunswick Square, Bristol BS2 8PE.
This Sunday we celebrate BDP’s birthday, with the 10th March 2019 marking 33 years since BDP first opened it’s doors and began supporting some of the most vulnerable people living in Bristol.
The brainchild of a number of probation officers and ex-drug users, BDP grew out of the need for a tailored service supporting people with problematic drug use, when no specialist drugs service existed across Avon. Back in 1986, BDP was located in Mark Lane off central Bristol and the team consisted of one part-time and four full-time. 33 years later and BDP has 80 staff, 4 trainees and 22 volunteers operating in health centres and community venues throughout Bristol.
This is a fantastic cause, helping children who have extremely difficult home lives. The groups give children the opportunity to get out for the evening and take part in activities their parents are often unable to coordinate or afford. These groups are the only structured alcohol and drug support for children under 11, offered across Bristol.
This is a project I really believe in. Bristol Drugs Project estimates that parents’ drug and alcohol use probably affects at least one child in every classroom in Bristol. The organisers tell me that the groups have a positive effect in building children’s confidence and social skills, potentially helping them throughout their lives. Raising money for such an important cause is motivating me to train even harder.
– Thangam Debbonaire MP
After receiving hundreds of fundraising suggestions, Debbonaire shortlisted three charity causes which were put to a public vote last week. We are pleased to hear that almost half of people voted for money to be raised for our youth groups, supporting children affected by their family members’ drug or alcohol use.
We are more than delighted that Bristol Drugs Project’s Youth Groups will benefit from Thangam’s London Marathon run. Our groups support children and young people aged 5-16 whose mum, dad, brother or sister is experiencing problems with their alcohol or drug use. This is often a very lonely place to be.
We are particularly pleased that BDP Celebrates 33 Years!we’ve been chosen by the public. We will embrace this opportunity to raise the needs of these young people in our communities and reduce the additional stigma which being a parent with an alcohol or drug problem attracts, as we, or rather Thangam, heads to the finish line on 28thApril.
This April the MP for Bristol West, Thangam Debbonaire, will be running the London Marathon on behalf of a local charity and is asking people in her constituency to help her decide who to fundraise for. After receiving hundreds of suggestions, Debbonaire has shortlisted three charity causes which are now being put to a public vote.
We are pleased to announce that Debbonaire has selected BDP’s Youth Groups as one of the three shortlisted projects, alongside BUST (Breast cancer Unit Support Trust) Avon Wildlife Trust’s My Wild City.
I am amazed by the huge range of responses I received. I already knew about many of Bristol’s fantastic charities, but this showed me just how many great organisations there are in the city, working on so many important things.
It makes me very proud to represent people with such a generous spirit. Choosing a few organisations to put out to a public vote was extremely difficult – I’m hoping Bristolians can help me narrow it down to one.
– Thangam Debbonaire MP
Our free Youth Group supports children who are living with a parent or family member struggling with alcohol or drug use. Our Youth Groups give children respite from a difficult home life, providing them with the opportunity to get out for the evening and take part in activities their parents are often unable to coordinate or afford. Through social and creative activities, our groups help children increase resilience and self-confidence, important building blocks for success in adult life.
These Youth Groups are the only structured alcohol and drug support offered across the whole of Bristol for children under 11. This is despite estimates that parental drug and alcohol use probably affects at least one child in every classroom in Bristol.
People who live in Bristol West constituency are invited to vote on Thangam Debbonaire’s website. The deadline for votes is midnight on Saturday 2 March, 2019.
COA Week is an annual campaign helping to raise awareness of children affected by parental alcohol problems. This year the charity NACOA (the National Association for Children of Alcoholics) are celebrating their 10th anniversary running COA Week in the UK.
Please join us in our 10th year celebrating COA Week in the UK. Together we can increase awareness of this hidden problem and the support available.
– NACOA
At BDP, our Family Team run a free and confidential youth group for children and young people who are living with a family member who uses alcohol or drugs. This COA Week, we are pleased to announce that the Everseas Fund, managed by the Quartet Community Foundation, have donated ÂŁ10,000 to help support the ongoing work and development of our youth services.
Fantastic news of further donation from the Everseas Fund managed by Quartet for BDP’s support for children and young people affected by Mum, Dad or other family member’s alcohol or drug use.
– Maggie Telfer, BDP CEO
To find out more about how we can support young people, please contact our Family Team on 0117 987 6008.
