With the holiday season upon us Bdp will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day with the Health & Harm Reduction Centre closing slightly earlier on the 24th December and the 25th December.
Please see below for our opening times and which services are running over the holiday season.
If you live in Bristol and need help with a personal, family or accommodation problems which has reached a crisis, you can contact Bristol’s Emergency Duty Team who provide services at nights, weekends and on bank holidays.
Saturday 24 November saw St James’ Priory in Bristol filled to the brim with people coming together to remember and celebrate the lives of loved ones who they’ve lost to a drug or alcohol related death and to challenge the stigma often attached to this.
In this the 8th Celebration organised by Bereavement through Addiction people shared their loss through words and songs; the names of loved ones were read out and candles were lit in memory of those lost. We also had amazing voices – from both Gasworks Singers and Rising Voices – Bristol’s Recovery Choir. We closed with both choirs giving an incredibly powerful performance of Something Inside So Strong followed by mince pies and mulled apple juice for people to meet and mingle.
My son died 12 years ago but this is the most important event of my year
This occasion was also used to launch a New Support Group for people who have been bereaved through alcohol or drugs. The first meeting took place on Thursday December 13th and will meet monthly: dates and venue information can be found here.
Service user involvement at its very best
Materials co-designed by Bristol Drugs Project’s service users to promote the benefits of low dead space injecting equipment for people who inject drugs, alongside broader harm reduction messages, will be launched at a special event on 24 January at the Kitchen, the Station, Silver Street, Bristol BS1 2AG.
At the event, a spectacular animation will have its premiere and there will be an opportunity to hear from those involved in the project, including the service users, alongside an exhibition of the materials which will be on public display from 8-31 January in the Station’s gallery.
Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Deborah Hussey, Assertive Engagement Worker with BDP, joined the CLAHRC West team for this project. Deborah visited needle and syringe programmes around the UK, from Glasgow to London, to understand barriers to the uptake of low dead space equipment, and how different programmes operate and share harm reduction messages.
The project worked with Michael Linnell of Linnell Communications co-designing these materials with BDP service users who shaped the messages, language and look and feel of the materials. The final products are available to download from Exchange Supplies’ website. Exchange Supplies is a social enterprise that has pioneered the use of detachable low dead space equipment among people who inject drugs.
Deborah Hussey, Knowledge Mobilisation Fellow on the project, said:
It has been a privilege to work on this project. It’s given me the opportunity to find out how other needle and syringe programmes operate, through shadowing and talking to staff. It’s been fascinating to compare how different places tackle things.
I’ve valued the opportunity to help the service users on the project feel a real part of the team. We’ve had wonderful feedback about how empowered the process has made them feel, and how they felt their views were not only listened to, but were integral to the design process. It was an honour to enable this positive experience for them. I’m very proud of what we’ve produced together.
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?
What I enjoy about volunteering is the idea that you could be making a difference and helping people make positive changes in their life.
What experiences have you gained as a volunteer?
One thing I’ve done, is that I was able to set up a weekly tennis session for people in recovery from substance misuse which is still running and hopefully has a positive affect on the people who attend it. I feel proud to have started something and have already met some great people who I’m sure are benefitting from the session.
What would you say to someone thinking about applying to volunteer?
If you’re thinking of volunteering, definitely give it a go. The training was amazing and every single person who attended it was lovely. Gaining more knowledge about what BDP offered was really interesting and I’m proud to be associated with such a helpful set of people.
To find out more about the volunteer role and to apply please click below.
Bristol Drugs Project is always interested in meeting people keen to hear about our services and we were pleased to welcome Ed Davey MP – Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson and colleagues to Bdp on 23 November to meet staff and service users.
Our discussions included the distribution of Naloxone (which reverses a heroin or other opioid overdose) to reduce drug related deaths; the strength of Bristol’s GP-based drug treatment system; the health needs of older people using alcohol and drugs; experiences of the futility of short prison sentences and Bristol’s Drug Education Programme diverting people from the criminal justice system.
However by far the most powerful conversation throughout the visit was the description by service users of the daily prejudice they and others with a current or past problem with their use of alcohol or drugs experience which creates a major barrier to change.
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?
What I enjoy the most is interacting and building relationships with our service users and to know that I helped or made them feel better, even for a short period of time. But in all honesty I enjoy all parts of volunteering with BDP because my shift is different each weak, I learn something new each week from my colleagues, from the service users and about myself. There are loads of different opportunities within this role and the staff are incredible!
What experiences have you gained as a volunteer?
As part of my role I work in the Needle Exchange giving out clean and safe injecting equipment to our services users (we also give out condoms and heath packs) and in the Health and Harm Reduction Centre where service users can come and have a chat with us for a number of reasons (getting referred to other services and groups, 1-to-1’s, a quick talk to brighten up their day and much more). I also do a shift on the helpline where we take calls from concerned family members, other health services, our service users and more. We can also get involved in club and festival outreach, the outreach truck, workshops and so much more! I’ve worked at the Islamic Cultural Fayre and the Recovery Festival.
What would you say to someone thinking about applying to volunteer?
Go for it! I haven’t looked back! It’s a great place to volunteer and it really opens your eyes. I’m always learning and gaining new skills. The training is brilliant and it will give you so many opportunities to do more. Believe me when I say I enjoy every minute of it and as I volunteer every Friday, Friday is my favourite day of the week!
To find out more about the volunteer role and to apply please click below.
