Projects including Bristol Drugs Project & Terrence Higgins Trust’s PROMOTE have reached around 170,000 people at risk of, or living with HIV during 2017 and 2018.
The fund helps support community –led interventions via online campaigns, outreach, testing, support, media and arts projects and has just announced the 14 pioneering projects which receive a share of the 2018-2019 fund of £600,000. The hope is that these projects can then be replicated and scaled up in the future.
PROMOTE which was run in collaboration between Bristol Drugs Project & Terrence Higgins Trustreceived funding from the fund last year and focused on reducing the risk of HIV in male sex workers (MSW) and sex workers of other genders. Targeting between 50 and 150 MSW in Bristol the project found that building a rapport with community members during online outreach was an important first step and that peer support groups are vital in supporting their health and wellbeing.
There are 14 projects receiving funding this year and the hope is they will support the UK’s target to achieve zero new HIV transmissions by 2030. A target which was announced at the Global AIDS Forum on the 30th January 2019.
The projects include a collaboration between two charities aiming to prevent HIV in women with female genital mutilation and a weekly YouTube drama, The Grass is Always Grindr which has a focus on how Londoners are affected by HIV.
Talking about the fund, Luis Guerra, the National Programme Manager for HIV, Sexual Health, and Reproductive Health at Public Health England said:
The HIV Innovation Fund continues to foster new approaches to HIV prevention, with a range of projects offering new and exciting ways to address key issues in HIV prevention, working particularly with high-risk groups. Projects work alongside the great programmes already running, to prevent HIV transmission and support people living with HIV across England.
We have made fantastic headway lowering rates of HIV, and are excited to see how innovative projects around the country will help us eliminate all new cases by 2030.
New materials promoting Low Dead Space equipment which include posters, a booklet and an animation co-designed by service users from Bristol Drugs Project were launched at a very special event last week.
Low Dead Space equipment has been designed to minimise the amount of space between the needle and the plunger after injecting especially when compared to the traditional injecting equipment currently supplied by needle exchanges who use detachable needs. This is important as blood and drugs can remain in this space increasing the risk of spreading blood borne viruses including HIV and Hepatitis C as more blood could be left in the equipment.
As well as an opportunity to see the new materials in a special exhibition there were talks from people who helped make the project a reality. Up first was Andrew Preston from Exchange Supplies who spoke about how the equipment was developed and the underpinning scientific evidence.
Deborah Hussey from Bristol Drugs Project who on secondment with CLAHRC West helped develop the materials with service users spoke next. Deborah spoke about her visits to needle exchanges around the country and how service users were selected for the project. Two service users from BDP then described their passion and involvement with the project and for many this was considered a highlight.
Michael Linnell, a graphic designer who specialises in producing harm reduction materials and who turned the ideas into reality was the last to speak. He reflected on the project and the way he worked with the service users to help them take ownership of the final result.
The talks were concluded with the premier of the animation which brings all the materials together.
Following the event this Tweet from James Nobles sum’s up this very special event.
As an Assertive Engagement Worker at Bristol Drugs Project, my day job is to help out the person in front of me. But this project has allowed me to help people who inject drugs at a population level, expanding the scope of my passion for harm reduction considerably. It’s been an honour to represent Bristol Drugs Project in this collaboration with CLAHRC West. To see the service users who worked with us on the project talk about their experience was the highlight of the event for me.
The materials are available to order now from the Exchange Supplies website.
Bristol Drugs Project are very excited to announce the launch of the first Recovery Orchestra in the South West! The orchestra will join its family of arts and recovery groups, which already include Rising Voices Recovery Choir and Stepladder Drama group, which have both been running for 4 years.
Starting in February 2019 and meeting for an initial 8 weeks, the recovery orchestra will be creating and writing music together leading up to a performance at the end of March.
Sophie, from BDP, says:
I was inspired to set up a recovery orchestra when I came across New Note Orchestra in Brighton in September 2017. Our recovery choir, Rising Voices, had been invited to take part and perform in the Music Dare conference, and New Note were there too. Witnessing the impact playing music together had had on their members, I wanted to come back to Bristol and do the same thing! It seemed like the logical next step for the arts recovery groups at Bristol Drugs Project, and for the arts and recovery scene in Bristol. A year and a half down the line, we have funding from Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra to run an 8 week pilot of our very own Recovery Orchestra!
Led by local composer and conductor, Jon James, the Recovery Orchestra will welcome anyone who can play an acoustic instrument and has had issues with drugs and alcohol or is in recovery. You don’t need to be able to read music, beginners and experienced musicians are welcome, and you don’t have to have used BDP or ROADS services to take part.
Working with the Royal British Legion, Bristol Drugs Project have launched Veteran’s Independence from Problematic Substances (VIPs), a new project to offer support to veterans who want to access veteran specific drug or alcohol treatment.
I am excited to be part of the new Veteran’s Independence from Problematic Substances (VIPs) project, working in partnership with, and funded by the Royal British Legion. This is an opportunity to work with the Veteran community and offer support to people who have not yet accessed drug or alcohol treatment. This may be working to reduce harm, getting someone into a treatment programme, or accessing detox and rehab. The great part of this role is that I can be flexible, so can offer 1-1s or group sessions and work collaboratively with RBL and Veterans to make positive changes. We will be running a weekly Information session every Thursday 11pm-1pm at the RBL Pop-in in Broadmead Bristol, where any Veteran or concerned family members can drop in for information or support.
– Abbie, Veteran Case Worker
This weekly drop in session runs every Thursday 11.00 – 1.00pm at The Royal British Legion, 60 Union Street, Bristol.
For more information please call 0117 987 6000 or email VIPS@bdp.org.uk.
And thank you to everyone who took part or attended our Winter Production, Merry Moot in December. We’re really proud of what we created as a group – a variety show of songs, sketches and merriment all created by Rising Voices Recovery Choir and #stepladder drama group.
We got some great feedback which will help shape our future productions….here’s a selection…
Very lovely singing, made me laugh a lot, and definitely put a smile on my face
Great innovation and comradeship, profound content and integration
Absolutely loved the enthusiasm and talent of all involved. You never cease to make me cry. Thank you!
Fantastic! Wonderful. Well done guys
Fab, amazing and wonderful!
Everything about it was special. The enjoyment on everyone’s faces. The original compositions were beautiful
Brilliant! Cheered me up no end. Thank you!
If you’re interested in taking part in our choir or drama group, then why not come along to a session and see what it’s like? We’re open to anyone affected by drug or alcohol use, and you don’t have to be part of treatment services in Bristol. Both groups start again next week:
Stepladder Drama Group: Mondays 2 – 4pm at BDP in Brunswick Court, Brunswick Square
Rising Voices Recovery Choir: Tuesdays 5 – 7pm at BDP in Brunswick Court, Brunswick Square.
And next week we will be announcing dates of our new Recovery Orchestra! 8 weeks starting from first week in February. Watch this space.
We’ve got a really exciting year ahead of us in the creative arts groups at BDP – why not get involved?
For more details or to have a chat about coming along to any of these groups, please contact Sophie at BDP on sophie.wilsdon@bdp.org.uk or 0117 987 6011.
In this final volunteer’s view before the volunteer application deadline we ask current volunteer, Josh to share his experiences at BDP.
Volunteer Q&A
We’re currently recruiting for Project Volunteers to work with us in the new year. During the countdown to our application deadline (on Friday 11th January 2019) we’re asking our current volunteers to share their experiences volunteering at BDP
What do you enjoy about volunteering at BDP?
I enjoy helping the people I see on the streets every day. I enjoy seeing them when they are on the up, and giving them a helping hand when they aren’t.
What experiences have you gained as a volunteer?
I volunteer once a week (2pm-8pm) in the needle exchange. I distribute thousands of needles to people in desperate need of clean injection equipment. I also help out at PRISM’s drop-in, which is an LGBT-specific service in Old Market. In addition to this, I sometimes do outreach at events, which means I get free tickets to all the big Bristol festivals and some club nights. I have found my time at BDP eye-opening, educational and overall one of the most fulfilling things I have done so far.
What would you say to someone thinking about applying to volunteer?
Do it. Make sure you have got your work situation figured out to run smoothly alongside giving up one morning or evening per week.
To find outmore about the volunteer role and to apply please click below.
