It’s exciting times for people who choose not to drink alcohol. Alcohol-Free drinks are booming, and choosing to be alcohol-free is becoming more popular and widely understood.
However, one area still lacking is opportunities for nights out to see music and socialise without the occasion being centred around alcohol. Choosing not to drink can be alienating. Having an event or location where you can socialise with others who have also decided not to drink can alleviate the social pressures associated with being alcohol-free. Enter Bristol Sober Spaces, a collaborative project that aims to provide events, community and music for the alcohol-free population of Bristol. We chatted to Chris De Banks of Not Saints and one of the key members of the project to find out more:
So, what exactly is Bristol Sober Spaces?
Bristol Sober Spaces is a collaborative project between BDP, Not Saints, and the broader Bristol recovery and sober communities to show that great times can be had without alcohol and drugs. For those that love live music and the thrill of seeing a great gig, we hope that these shows will be the bridge between finding sobriety and having a good old-fashioned night out without the triggers and barriers that people in recovery can face. We also want to provide gigs for people who don’t drink for cultural or religious reasons or for people who just want to sample a sober night. Funded by the National Lottery as part of the Not Saints’ ‘Recovery Communities Live project’ we truly believe that recovery and sobriety in the UK are one community that should come together regularly and celebrate all that we have to offer.
How did this all come about?
It all started in the pandemic, believe it or not. When most people were lamenting the loss of live music, myself and the team at Not Saints took a good hard look at what we do and what we could take out to communities around the country. It was obvious from our conversations via a well-known video conferencing platform that people’s love of music and the unity that a great show can bring should be part of this new project. We put together a project proposal, and I trundled off to the National Lottery cap in hand. And success! They awarded us a funding grant to work with 7 locations around the UK to develop a regular performance-based night out in each city or region. For some, it’s Sober Mic nights, others a celebration of recovery with more structured programs, but Bristol is at the forefront of the project so far with the Bristol Beacon on board and some truly killer bands lined up.
So, your first event is in the books?
It certainly looks like it. The Bristol Beacon is such a fantastic venue and we are genuinely thrilled to have their support for the first event on the 5th of May. We’ve also got such an exciting secret headliner and that’s going to be such an amazing reveal. I think everyone is going to be blown away!
Where do I get tickets?
Glad you asked! The event is at Bristol Beacon on the 5th of May and kicks off at 7:30pm. Tickets are being sold on a pay-what-you-can basis with a suggested donation of £5 and are being sold via Headfirst here: hdfst.uk/E73304
What more is to come for Bristol Sober Spaces?
At the moment, we’re really focused on the launch event on the 5th of May, but we are already fleshing out plans for more shows in the summer and autumn as our goal is to try and put something on quarterly. We’ve also been talking about some smaller social events and sober mic nights, so watch this space!
How can I get involved?
We’d love for more people to jump on board; it’s such an exciting project with so much scope for creativity and connection. You don’t have to have any events experience or musicality, just a willingness to get stuck in and have a go. If anyone wants to get involved, then they can contact Chris at Not Saints via email at chris@notsaints.co.uk or Sophie Wilsdon at BDP on sophie.wilsdon@bdp.org.uk or 0117 987 6000.
Thanks for your time Chris and we hope that has got you excited for the first event! Grab your tickets here: hdfst.uk/E73304
Our blood-borne viruses nurse Jess Oke has been shortlisted for the innovation award at the British Journal of Nursing Awards 2022. We are incredibly proud and excited for Jess, who rightly deserves the recognition she has received for her ongoing work to test and treat every person involved in our services for Hep C and other blood-borne viruses.
The British Journal of Nursing is a publication for nurses that provides a comprehensive resource that brings together nursing practice, education and leadership. Every year BJN celebrate nurses in the field through their awards ceremony. Their awards range the breadth of nursing practice with awards for nurses in specific areas of nursing along with awards such as nurse of the year and lifetime achievement awards. Jess has been shortlisted for the Innovation which is awarded for nurses who are improving patient care, developing innovative services and creating new roles in health care.
We have everything crossed for Jess as we approach the date of the awards later this week but win or lose, her contribution to BDP and the people we support is massively celebrated by all of us here and we are incredibly grateful for her continued efforts.
Today marks 36 years of BDP. That’s 36 years of supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our society. 36 years of pursuing evidence-based treatment methods. 36 years of challenging stigma where we see it. And 36 years of being available for YOU if you decide you want to make changes around your drug and/or alcohol use.
BDP was started by a group of impassioned probation officers and people with lived experience who saw a lack of provision for people who use drugs in Bristol and stepped up to fill that need. Since then, BDP has grown and evolved but we still operate by the same philosophy as those early days; to support some of the most vulnerable members of our society in an open and inclusive service and to challenge the prejudice which people with drug or alcohol problems still experience. This remains a major barrier to people seeking the support they need.
So on this day of celebration, we want to bring you inside our services. To do this, we’ve asked two staff members to give you an insight into their role and what they get up to on a day to day basis. Of course, every member of staff has a unique story, and every team has a whole raft of responsibilities beyond the scope of this article, but if you enjoy this insight and would like to read more, please do let us know.
First up is Liana, who is part of our Shared Care team. Shared Care workers work out of GP surgeries to assist GPs by providing expert drug and alcohol treatment knowledge, handling prescriptions and other routes into drug and alcohol treatment.
“I have been a Shared Care Worker at BDP for what seems like forever, but of course, this is not actually the case. I have held several different positions across BDP and feel like I’ve found my home in Shared Care. What I like the most about Shared Care is that we get to work with service users for as long as they need support. I have the time to build solid relationships with my clients and support them to achieve real change.
“A day in my life as a Shared Care Worker is busy; that is the most honest answer. You never know what the day will bring and you certainly don’t have time to look at the clock. The bustle is what makes my role interesting and varied, however. I love the variety of working in and out of the office and in GP surgeries, as it makes me feel like I am part of four different teams.
“What makes my role, though is building relationships with the service users on my caseload. Some will complete and exit treatment quickly, some may be returning, and others may take much longer. This is just the complex nature of the problems these individuals are facing. As a worker, we cannot force an individual to make changes they do not want to make but the ability to build trust and rapport with our clients gives us the best opportunity to enable them to make the changes that are right for them at that point in time. Sometimes I feel I know them as well as my family and friends; I have met their children, their partners, their mums and sometimes even their grannies.”
Next is Becky, who recently returned to BDP to join our Early Engagement and Intervention (EEI) team after previously volunteering with us.
“It may be a cliche, but every day is never the same in the EEI team. The BDP building is bustling, and this, along with our outreach programme, means the working week is incredibly varied. Whether it is offering someone a cup of tea and a chat or issuing the lifesaving overdose reversal drug naloxone, there is always something different happening.
“This variety is what I enjoy the most about my role. From being downstairs in our drop-in space, known as the advice centre, to taking the service out via in-reach to hostels or via street outreach; BDP are continuously trying to get harm reduction out there. By doing so, we can provide support to those who may struggle to access it without, such as via our nursing service, which can be invaluable to individuals who find it difficult to get a GP appointment, let alone physically get to their surgery.
“We are so lucky to have a mix of volunteers and staff from all different backgrounds, something as an inclusive service BDP prides itself on. Having started as a volunteer, I know just how much you are able (and encouraged) to get involved in. This is not only important for those who walk through the door but for the growth and development of the organisation as a whole. I feel that I am able to continuously learn within the role and expand my knowledge, with new ideas welcomed and cheered on.”
BDP is committed to making our services accessible and appropriate for the needs of all of the different people and demographics that make up our community here in Bristol.
One of these services is our Women’s Morning group. Women’s Morning is a social support group that runs out of our Central Bristol premises. The group is a weekly chance for women with past or current alcohol or drug use to meet and talk to other women in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. From the feedback on the sessions, this mutual support is highly valued by the attendees:
All the staff and service users are lovely and very accepting. It’s a place we can always feel safe, and it is somewhere we can make friends with people who understand each other’s addiction.
This safe space has proven beneficial to the attendees who have told us they can connect and share their experiences with people who understand their situation and listen without judgment.
Another key benefit of the group is being able to build a strong rapport with the specialist drug and alcohol workers who run the group. The building of these relationships between the worker and attendee means there is a level of trust and background knowledge built up, which can be invaluable to both parties when navigating distressing issues. Attendees can also access our specialist drug and alcohol nurses, who can provide health care interventions without going to a GP.
There are also many activities laid on including visiting speakers, quizzes, arts and crafts and bingo.
A common barrier for women accessing services is child care. For this reason, we have a free creche service so women can bring their children to be looked after whilst they attend the group.
Due to ongoing restrictions on room capacities, Women’s Morning is currently running at a limited capacity. If you, or someone you are working with, would like to attend the group, please contact us on 0117 987 6000 or email info@bdp.org.uk.
A recent survey highlights that 100% of women in Bristol have experienced sexual harassment in some form. A new Bristol Nights campaign is set to tackle this type of harassment head on.
The project has an ambition to train 1,000 night-time economy workers in dealing with incidents of sexual harassment. This introductory training has been specially designed in collaboration with Night Time Economy and VAWG agencies, and delivered in partnership with Bristol City Centre BID. This training will support venue staff to implement a zero tolerance approach in Bristol, while also promoting the need for anyone witnessing any unwanted behaviour in the city’s night-time economy to immediately call it out to staff. The project also includes a limited bursary for low-income and freelance night time workers to be able to undertake the training.
Nighttime workers and businesses can sign up now to take part in training sessions throughout March.
The campaign from Bristol City Council utilises £282,000 to improve women’s safety, following a successful bid for the Home Office’s Safety of Women at Night Fund.
“Improving the safety of women at night is vital, and a challenge which cannot be achieved without allies throughout the city. Following a two month research phase involving a range of Bristol audiences, this project will seek to improve public understanding of what constitutes harassment and how often it happens. We know that many crimes against women at night go unreported but are widely witnessed. This campaign invites bystanders to call out bad behaviour, while empowering those working in the night-time economy to recognise and execute a zero tolerance response to harassment in their venues and workplaces.
“Our nightlife communities care about the safety and wellbeing of people enjoying our night time. This is such an important message.. We need to let the people of Bristol know that women deserve to feel welcome in the city after dark and as such, we invite all Bristolians to join our zero tolerance approach to sexual harassment.”
“Survey responses also demonstrate that the behaviours which the public feel constitutes sexual harassment are also widely debated. This is telling of the complexity of the issue and that a campaign highlighting what constitutes sexual harassment as well as actions they should take when faced with an incident of harassment is so critical.”
The campaign will start with the ‘Shine A Light’ Parade. On the 24th of March, people from the night-time economy in Bristol will lead groups through the city streets, dressed in and carrying lights. The parade will end at Lloyd’s Amphitheatre where speakers and artists will inspire the crowds with performances, poems and stories, inviting Bristol to join together in a zero tolerance approach to the harassment of women in the city. To join the parade join the Facebook event.
More than 1,000 billboards and posters will be placed across the city, and content will be shared on social media to raise awareness and direct people to the campaign website for resources and support.
Starting next week, our Mobile Harm Reduction Service is back on the move as we take the service to two locations in South Bristol.
We’ve listened to people who live in South Bristol and use our services who have said it can be difficult and expensive to make the long trip into Central Bristol to visit our Brunswick Square location. In order to make our services more accessible to those in South Bristol we will be taking our Mobile Harm Reduction Service to two different locations a week in the south of the city. The two locations will be Filwood Library and Hartcliffe Morrisons Car Park.
What’s on offer?
If you visit the MHRS you will be able to:
Get support, advice and information about anything concerning alcohol and other drugs
Speak to an expert drug and alcohol worker
Get free clean injecting equipment
Get access to the lifesaving overdose reversal drug naloxone
Referrals into drug and alcohol treatment services in Bristol
Get tested for blood-borne viruses
When?
We will be at Filwood Library on Mondays 11am-3pm on:
28th February, 7th March & 14th March
We will be at Hartcliffe Morrisons on Wednesdays 11am-3pm on:
