The network issue 16 draft

Issue 16

Network Monthly news, views and updates from across Phoenix James Middleton up for prestigious award

In the 2012 Third Sector Awards, we were very excited to have been nominated in two categories; Best Employer and Best Charity Partnership (for our partnership with the National Trust).

The Third Sector Awards, judged by independent experts, are about highlighting areas of excellence and achievement in the sector. To even be nominated, for two awards, is a huge achievement and in 2012 we were delighted to have won ‘Best Employer’.. so when the time to enter came round again, we knew we needed to put some of Phoenix’s achievers and achievements forward.

The competition for 2013 was again really tough, many individuals and organisations put entries into the competition with the hope of being nominated and we are delighted to announce that this year, James Middleton from our Wirral Residential Services has been nominated for Volunteer of the Year award 2013!

James started his journey with Phoenix as a service user, graduating from the service and becoming an official volunteer in January 2011. Since then James has shown real commitment to the service and Phoenix, helping to inspire others and developing new projects. The Third Sector Awards ceremony will take place on 26th September 2013 and we have our fingers crossed for James! Good luck!

£1,500 (to spend on, for exRe:Cover The Phoenix Futures Music Project has launched and ample, making a music video, vouchers for musical equipment, is open for applications! music training sessions..)!

We are looking for people who have Apply to take part by 20 a passion for making music. Have September 2013 at www. you or someone you know been phoenix-futures.org.uk/ affected by drug or alcohol addiction? Do you have a passion for recover/ where you can also follow progress updates and hear making music and want to the songs created by this unique communicate your story? If so.. we project. need you! Apply today!

Places are limited, but if selected we’ll match you with a mentor and set you up with a day in a recording studio to produce one original and one cover song. All songs recorded will be posted on-line and the public’s favourite will receive a music themed prize package worth

People who are in prison can enter in to take part in the project however you must have access to recording facilities and a prison staff member to manage your entry.

See more at: http://goo. gl/4W0Hfq

Let’s Talk about Music In preparation for the up and coming Phoenix Futures national Music Project, New Futures Aftercare Service invited an established musician and song-writer to the service on Saturday, 6th July 2013.

John Tansley of the Derbyshire band, GONZO came along to meet four of the service users who had previously had an interest in music, but had lost inspiration and motivation during their addiction.

John talked about the production of his new album, shortly to be released, and the inspiration for his song-writing coming straight from the heart, focussing on his own life experiences and relationships. All participants had questions to ask and two hours flew by. Two members

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asked about advice on their own song-writing, one on improving his guitar playing skills and the other on musical production.

The event was a huge success with positive feedback from all who attended.

Dave Hopkins said “Brilliant! I went home, picked up my guitar and didn’t want to put it down again”.

Thanks was given to John for contributing his time and knowledge. He has promised to let the service users have a copy of his new album when it is launched.

Margaret Hutchinson Aftercare Team Member

Celebrating 35 years of Achievement

Phoenix + NORCAS celebrated 35 years of working in the region with a huge birthday party. Since 1978 when NORCAS opened its first alcohol service in Norwich they have gone on to provide drug, gambling and welfare rights services in the region for many thousands of people across East Anglia.

Courtney Allen, Phoenix Futures Apprentice Shortlisted for Major Award Courtney has beaten hundreds of entrants to be short-listed for the London regional final of the prestigious National Apprenticeship Awards 2013 in the Advanced Apprentice of the Year category.

The National Apprenticeship Awards, now in their 10th year, celebrate the The party was an opportunity to achievements of the country’s most hear inspirational stories of outstanding apprentices and recovery, meet staff, volunteers Apprenticeship employers. The award and service users, past and winners will be announced at a present and to learn more about ceremony organised by the National the plans for the future.

Apprenticeship Service which will be held at City Hall, London on Thursday The party was held on 22 August 12th September. at OPEN, 20 Bank Plain, Norwich NR2 4SF, between 10.30am and Vic Grimes, Divisional Area 3.00pm, and was open to all who Director for the National wanted to drop in, lunch and of Apprenticeship Service said: course birthday cake was provided.

“Apprenticeships are a great way for young people to earn while they Paul Hammond, Phoenix + learn in a real job, gaining a real NORCAS Service Manager qualification and rewarding career opportunities. Hiring apprentices is “Over the last year alone NORCAS a proven way of attracting new talent has worked with 8,342 adult and and developing a motivated, skilled youth clients across Norfolk and and diverse workforce.”

Suffolk, and positively impacted the lives of many more through “The National Apprenticeship Awards educational events. We want to thank the local community for the support they’ve provided us to help so many local people make positive changes in their lives.”

See more at: www.phoenixfutures.org.uk/phoenix-norcas/ or contact Bob Campbell on bob.campbell@phoenixfutures.org.uk

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showcase excellence and offer a fantastic platform for apprentices and employers in our region to gain the recognition they richly deserve. I am delighted that Courtney has been shortlisted, and congratulate him on this achievement. All our finalists are shining examples of how Apprenticeships can change lives and develop businesses, and I wish them all the best of luck!”

All the London winners will proceed through to a final national judging stage and the highest scoring Apprenticeship employer entries nationally will have the additional honour of featuring in the acclaimed England’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list, which will be produced by the National Apprenticeship Service in partnership with City & Guilds.

The national award winners will be revealed during the UK’s largest national skills and careers event, The Skills Show, at the NEC in Birmingham on 14 November.

See more at: http://www.phoenixfutures.org.uk/london-regionalfinalist/

Phoenix Futures sponsors the UK Recovery Walk 2013 - Birmingham

Sparks 1st Trip to Chester Zoo

The Wirral Residential held its first Sparks activity on Thursday 1st August to Chester Zoo. Sparks is support for children affected by substance misuse, enabling them to build relationships with their parents in a stable environment We are proud to be sponsoring the UK Recovery Walk 2013 to be held later this year in Birmingham.

The day is a celebration of people in recovery from addiction, mental health difficulties, abuse, and oppression. Organisers estimate 3,000 people will join the walk which starts in Birmingham City Centre on 22 September 2013.

The organiser’s aim is to create an opportunity for people in recovery to celebrate and connect with others. In addition it is hoped that for those people in need and not yet engaged in treatment the event will offer hope and inspiration.

The walk takes place on Sunday 22nd September beginning at Victoria Square at 12.00pm and arriving at Calthorpe Park at 12:45pm where live music, food stalls, artists and entertainers will showcase the ever growing recovery community’s diverse range of talent.

“This event is a positive response to the negative stories of addiction and mental health difficulties that dominate the news. We’re highlighting that people can get better and lead meaningful and productive lives. For Phoenix to want to support this year’s walk is fantastic” The organisers welcome everyone passionate about recovery to come along and celebrate on the day.

For more information about how to get involved and to register visit www.ukrw2013.co.uk The organisers have also set up a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BirminghamRecoveryCommunity and are on Twitter @UKRW2013

Phoenix Futures’ Marcia Dixon who is also on the event planning group says:

Staff, residents and family members were invited along to the fun day out not only to experience something positive, exciting and stimulating but it was also an opportunity for residents to spend some real quality time with their loved ones away from the treatment environment. The sun was shining, the community spirit was lifted and some great memories were made on the day!!!

We are hoping to continue with the success of our first day out and are now preparing for an activity leading up to the festive months. Residents really appreciate the efforts we make with their families as it provides the community with a real sense that we are not only managing residents treatment support needs, but we are taking into account their families and loved ones at the same time Nicola Owens - Residential Programme Manager, Wirral Residential Service

Save the Date - Phoenix Forest We are pleased to announce a date for the next Phoenix Forest - Planting Day. Please hold the 22nd November 2013 for a return to St Albans, Hertfordshire for a day of planting.

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Supporting Families

Spotlight on Phoenix + NORCAS

On Saturday the 6th of July the National Specialist Family Service in Sheffield held their first official FLAMES (Families and Loved Ones Accessing Mutual and Emotional Support) day. Although the service have had family days in the past, this was the first event focusing primarily on the affect on families and loved ones.

This week we talk to the Phoenix + NORCAS white hat, I have 5 gold hats Kate Lawrence. Kate has been in post as a white hat since May Tell us an interesting fact and works for the over 50’s about yourself. outreach service in Norwich.

I am about to ride the London “The day went extremely well, and Kate started out at NORCAS as a 100 at the weekend- that’s was helped along by the lovely sunny volunteer counsellor and has worked riding one hundred miles (on weather we were lucky enough to for NORCAS for 8 years - with a brief horseback!) from Olympic have” says Hayley Morton, stadium around London and Parenting and Childcare Coordinator at break living in New Zealand. surrey. I have only been riding the National Specialist Family Service. two years!

“We were overwhelmed by the amount Why did you become a White Hat? of family members that did What are you looking forattend, particularly because of the I’m a bit of a health and safety ward to as a white hat? distance some of them had to travel. person. I’ve always been very aware This highlighted the dedication and of risks and can be a bit clumsy!

My team has recently moved commitment these family members into a new building in Norwich. I have for their children, sisters, cousins What do you enjoy about your can’t wait to start practising fire etc. We are looking forward to the next role? drills! It brings the process alive event and hope it will be just as when people have to get up successful as the first one.”

I love having the connection with from their desks- they take the other workers at Phoenix.

It’s a nice drill more seriously.

Within the workshop family members way of bringing all Phoenix + shared their experiences of how their NORCAS workers together And finally…….. loved one’s addiction had affected although we’ve worked together for them, and the troubles they had faced. a long time, there have been a lot of I would like to thank all my gold The staff members at the National Specialist Family Service were also able changes recently. Health and Safety hats. They have all stepped up has been a good chance to bond and are taking their roles really to provide guidance and support for with each other! seriously. the families individually.

The feedback gathered made it clear how beneficial these type of days are;

How many gold hats do you have?

“It was comforting to talk to other families, knowing we’re all going through the same”

Independence Day Celebrations - Scottish Residential

On 4th July staff and service users celebrated Independence “Even though I know other families are Day in true American style ! The Dining Room was decorated in going through similar experiences, meeting these families made it more of stars and stripes and an American themed menu was put a reality” on by the hardworking Kitchen Crew with support and “Thank you for a great day, without encouragement from Phoenix Phoenix my daughter would be in a graduate Scott. bad place now.”

See more at: http://www.phoenixfutures.org.uk/supporting-families-at-the-national-specialistfamily-service/

There was even a hot dog eating competition that showed the competitive side of the participants!

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Thank you Kate!

This was a fun filled day that helped boost morale within the service and also gave everyone an excuse to try out their best American accents.

A massive well done to all involved See more at: http://goo.gl/ DVz8IO