New Year Hounor Special

Network

New Year Honours Edition

On Jan 25th 2013 we celebrated the achievements of our staff, volunteers and partner organisations at our annual awards ceremony at City Hall, London.

Vice Chair’s Welcome Speech

I

have very great pleasure in welcoming you to Phoenix Futures’ New Year Honours, the annual awards ceremony for our staff and volunteers to celebrate their achievements, commitment and successes. As Vice Chair of Phoenix Futures’ Board I would firstly like to give you apologies from Mark Haysom, our Chair, who is unable to attend today. However I am very pleased to be here in his place to welcome you to our fifth New Year Honours ceremony and the fourth to be held at this wonderful location. Our thanks go to the Mayor of London and his staff for making it available to us.

As always the nominations for these awards are made by our staff across the whole organisation. At Phoenix Futures we have always been proud of being an organisation that has recovery at its heart and recovery remains a key element in each of the designated award categories. This year we would also like to recognise the additional components to our service provision, some of which fall under the Phoenix Plus banner which add value to service provision, assist in increasing an individual’s recovery capital and help Phoenix Futures maintain its unique position in the field of recovery services A key to maintaining this position is the value we place in our people: our staff, our volunteers and our service users, who are at the centre of everything we do. We believe it is essential that we recognise and acknowledge the important contribution that you have all made to the organisation.

I would also like to thank the judging panel for undertaking the difficult and unenviable task of selecting the finalists and winners from the large number of nominations we received and an even harder job I am sure of keeping the details of the winners a secret. I am so pleased that so many members of the judging panel are here today and on behalf of Phoenix Futures I would like to thank them for all their hard work.

All the nominations we received provided evidence of the great work that is happening across the whole organisation: from the contribution made by individual staff members and volunteers, to the exceptional team working and the effective partnerships that enable us to do more together for our service users and local communities.

You should all be very proud that you have been selected as finalists, congratulations to you all.

Sarah Thewlis Vice Chair

www.phoenix-futures.org.uk

Award Categories 2013

Phoenix Plus Housing Award Ensuring safe and appropriate housing is accessible to our service users is essential to helping them maintain their recovery.

Phoenix Plus Family and Carers Award Recognising the impact addiction has on the family and carers of our service users and providing effective support is a crucial part of our work.

Phoenix Plus Education and Employability Award Creating opportunities for service users to increase skills and employability is key to enabling them to lead productive lives.

Phoenix Plus Community Award Opening our services to the wider communities in which we operate enables us to educate others about the importance of the work we do.

Recovery Innovation Award Innovation comes in many forms, our willingness to explore and implement new ways of working is a key strength.

Volunteer Award Our volunteers make a real difference by dedicating their time and skills to support recovery.

Impact Award Selected by those services scoring highest on our quality measurement score card.

Resource Management Award Making the most of our resources is essential to make the biggest impact we can possibly make.

Recovery in Partnership Award Partnership working is key to delivering outstanding recovery services which benefit communities.

Executive Team Outstanding Achievement Award To the person or project that has made an outstanding contribution to the benefit of Phoenix Futures’ services users in 2012.

Chief Executive’s Recovery Icon Award This award was announced on the day and presented to the person who had embodied the spirit and philosophy of Phoenix Futures in 2012.

www.phoenix-futures.org.uk

And the winners are...

www.phoenix-futures.org.uk

Phoenix Plus Housing Award Ensuring safe and appropriate housing is accessible to our service users is essential to helping them maintain their recovery.

Winner: Sheffield Accomodation Team

Phoenix Futures has always believed that housing is the glue that holds all the other treatment components together. We therefore place great emphasis on establishing effective links with housing providers to ensure that our service users have safe and affordable homes providing the foundation for their continuing recovery.

We were therefore delighted to present this award which is to the person or team that has developed an effective working partnership to deliver secure accommodation for our service users The finalists were: Making Moves Supported Housing Team – Glasgow For developing effective partnership working with housing associations such as North Glasgow Housing, Queens Cross Housing Association, Hamish Allan Centre and North Glasgow Casework Team. The team have also worked with other agencies to help support service users with affordable options to decorate and furnish their new homes in order to maximise sustainable tenancy and maintain recovery.

Sheffield Accommodation Team For providing a range of accommodation solutions in Sheffield.

Working in an effective partnership with local housing providers such as Sheffield Homes and Sanctuary Housing and developing new service user qualifications.

Kevan Critchley – Barnsley Housing Liaison Officer Over the last year Kevan has worked with over 180 people – in 13 cases homelessness was prevented. 33 individuals were permanently rehoused, 4 were temporarily rehoused, 37 individuals were given advice that resulted in an improvement in their housing situation and 35 were supported with direct referrals to landlords or housing providers.

www.phoenix-futures.org.uk

Phoenix Plus Family and Carers Award Recognising the impact addiction has on the family and carers of our service users and providing effective support is a crucial part of our work.

Winner: Patrycja Krzeszewska

Drug and alcohol misuse can have a devastating effect on Families and Carers. Phoenix Futures is aware of the importance of supporting families and carers and the benefit to individual service users of including them in the recovery process.

We were therefore pleased to be able to present this award to the person or team that has developed an effective process to involve and support families and carers in the furtherance of an individual’s recovery.

The Finalists were: Juliet Hutchinson, Representing Family Support Service – London Prisons Family Support Service have been developed at HMP Brixton, Holloway, Pentonville, Wandsworth and Wormwood Scrubs.

Common feedback from the family members we support is “you know, that’s the first time someone’s asked me how I am feeling”

John Taylor – HMP Pentonville John set up the family service at HMP Pentonville, establishing positive links within the community and embedded the service within the prison and community at large.

Patrycja Krzeszewska – Family Support Worker HMP Holloway Patrycja has established good links within the prison and the prison service managers and governors. She provides excellent support for vulnerable women at HMP Holloway. She has been providing dedicated telephone support three times a week to a mother of a prisoner with a speech and mobility difficulties.

www.phoenix-futures.org.uk

Phoenix Plus Education and Employability Award Creating opportunities for service users to increase skills and employability is key to enabling them to lead productive lives Winner: Bath Street Recovery Hub

Education and Employment are key elements towards the continued success of an individual’s recovery and we have made some major steps over the last 12 months in enabling access to education and employment for our service users.

We were delighted to be able to present this award to the person or team that has supported recovery through a project or service focused on creating education and employment opportunities for our service users.

The finalists were: Alison Royal - Learning and Development Team Alison does fantastic work developing our amazingly successful service user qualifications. Through her dedicated approach she continues to develop more and more choice for service users to ensure we can offer a relevant qualification for everyone.

Bath Street Recovery Hub - Glasgow Amongst a wide range of initiatives the team have brought college tutors into the service to help service users with numeracy and literacy and Steps to Excellence. Further development opportunities are available through SQA accredited courses such as Sociology, Psychology and Health and Wellbeing. What’s more they have broken down barriers that previously hindered service user on prescribed medication from accessing college or employment courses. Outcomes have been enormous with service users now in employment in the social care field, beauty therapists, conservation work, administration and sports.

Paul Hammond – Work Programme Project Manager Paul leads our involvement with the Ingeus Work Programme where we work with those people with drug and alcohol problems. Paul has promoted the service so successfully we are able to employ more staff to meet the need for our services.

Paul’s passion and commitment to making this service effective has enabled us to make contact with a whole new group of potential service users.

www.phoenix-futures.org.uk

Phoenix Plus Community Award Opening our services to the wider communities in which we operate enables us to educate others about the importance of the work we do.

Winner: HMP Channings Wood

At Phoenix Futures we are proud of our efforts to engage local communities in order to achieve recovery for our service users and help create safer more understanding communities. Recovery does not happen in isolation so it is important that all our services reach out and become an integral part of their community.

We were therefore delighted to present this award which is for the person or team that has excelled in positively representing Phoenix Futures and promoting recovery within their local community.

The finalists were: HMP Channings Wood As well as holding graduation ceremonies and family visit days open to prison and probation staff, NHS Managers and resident’s family. The team have hit the road to improve understanding of the TC model to prison staff and potential clients around the UK.

Residential Management Group The commitment, passion and leadership of the management team has increased utilisation of services and our residential services are going from strength to strength. Our growing visible recovery communities situated around the residential service itself are evidence of this.

Paul Garlick – Sheffield Community Team Paul volunteers for the Sheffield Adult Service and the Community Team. He helps residents go out into the community to find voluntary work and further education. This has enables service users to do constructive things in their free time which is an important step in the recovery journey.

www.phoenix-futures.org.uk

Recovery Innovation Award Innovation comes in many forms, our willingness to explore and implement new ways of working is a key strength.

Winner: HMP Channings Wood

It is over 40 years since Phoenix Futures introduced a new and radical approach to treatment for substance users. Since then we have continued to innovate by delivering new initiatives and developing new more person-focused services. We recognise the need to meet the challenges of a constantly changing world and the needs of our service users and the communities from which they come.

We were therefore very pleased to present this award which is to the person or team that has put forward a new initiative to support an individual or a group in their recovery The finalists are: NW Prisons Team The team have designed and implemented Phoenix Futures Therapeutic Community Programme in the Prison TCs and delivered a Facilitator Training Package. This has been a huge piece of work that is benefitting the residents by providing a more person centred approach and give them the treatment that they need.

Therapeutic Community Team – HMP Channings Wood This year Health and Safety reps arrange a Health and Wellbeing week for clients. Working in partnership with Prison Health Care, Hepatitis C Trust, Harm Minimisation, the Chaplaincy and Alcoholics Anonymous to create a week packed with activities focused on improving understanding of smoking, healthy eating, personal hygiene, blood borne viruses and exercise.

Quality Department For constantly seeking new ways to improve the quality of the services we offer. The team have introduced mystery shopping, created a new Customer Relationship Management strategy, improved accessibility of contacting a service and even promoted excellence with an ‘eggsellence’ project involving a competition to drop eggs without breaking them.

www.phoenix-futures.org.uk

Volunteer Award Our volunteers make a real difference by dedicating their time and skills to support recovery.

Winner: Julie Green

We recognise and very much appreciate the dedication of all our volunteers. I’m told the judging panel found this to be one of the hardest categories as all our volunteers make an important contribution, they all deserve recognition for dedicating their time and efforts to support our work..

This award recognises one of the many volunteers who have made a real difference by dedicating their time and skills to help us in our work and support recovery.

The finalists were:

HR Volunteers – Human Resources Department Shoma and Marzena are key members of the team. After another busy year they remain committed, enthusiastic, helpful and friendly. They are an asset to us and we appreciate their hard work and dedication.

Julie Green – Recovery Navigation Team Barnsley Julie supports the in a range of ways by encouraging service users to engage with services, promoting recovery groups, providing admin support and fundraising. She does it with a smile and lifts the mood of those service users new to treatment.

Steven Farrell – Sheffield Residential Service Steven has been volunteering for over 8 months at our Sheffield Adult Service. He runs TC workshops every week and is always on hand to offer support wherever needed.

www.phoenix-futures.org.uk

Impact Award Selected by those services scoring highest on our quality measurement score card.

Winner: Trafford Recovery Abstinence (Aftercare)

We strive to deliver effective and caring services that make a lasting impact on our service users and their communities. It is difficult to maintain the highest standards when faced with the day to day challenges and the multiple demands that come with providing our services. It is only possible to so this with highly committed staff that go the extra mile.

We were therefore very pleased to be able present this award which is to the person or team that has made a significant, measurable improvement to service provision.

Compliments and complaints were collected from services across the organisation. Audits were taken out and surveys completed. The results were then recorded on a scorecard with an overall score given to every service measuring its effectiveness between 1st November 2011 and 31st October 2012 The Finalists were:

Trafford Recovery Abstinence Aftercare Overall Score 4.83

Birmingham Community Outreach Overall Score 4.75

Wirral Community Overall Score 4.75

www.phoenix-futures.org.uk

Resource Management Award Making the most of our resources is essential to make the biggest impact we can possibly make.

Winner: Diane Hilton - Representing Residential Services

The challenge of the current financial climate and a highly competitive operational environment, has meant that we all need to go the extra mile to make our human and financial resources go further than ever..

Throughout our organisation many people have led by example by demonstrating their awareness of the need to change what we do in order to maintain viable services and so help as many people as possible.

I am therefore very pleased to be able to present this award which is for the person or team that has made a significant contribution through outstanding and innovative management of resources.

The finalists were:

Kirstan Butler – Finance Team Providing crucial financial support to all our services, she has been described as “invaluable” by Service Managers

Abi Hamoodi – NE Prisons Constantly seeking way to improve NE prison services. Abi is a great example of problem solving and driving ever greater effectiveness.

Diane Hilton – Representing Residential Services Di has led a team that managed great change and in doing so created a bright future for residential services.

www.phoenix-futures.org.uk

Recovery in Partnership Award Partnership working is key to delivering outstanding recovery services which benefit communities Winner: NHS Islington, HMP’s Holloway and Pentonville

We are delighted to introduce this Recovery Partnership Award which is given to the person or team at Phoenix Futures that has developed an effective working partnership to deliver outstanding recovery services which benefit their community. : Working with partners is crucial not just for us as an organisation but more importantly for meeting our service users wide range of needs. We are fortunate to work with a range of partners including other voluntary organisations, Drug and Alcohol Action Teams, local health authorities and local councils to make just a few. Partnership working can help us deliver truly person-focused services that provide integrated pathways to recovery .

The finalists were:

NHS Islington, HMP’s Holloway and Pentonville This partnership has proactively worked together to deliver the new, innovative Building Futures programme. This is a truly responsive service provision for prisoners who really need it.

Kate Kempthorne – Park House Birmingham Kate has brought professionalism and structure to Park House’s excellent partnership with Changes. Changes is a dry house who provide accommodation to those abstinent for 4 weeks.

Through the partnership Changes have now opened a ‘1 week abstinent’ house for whom we provide a day programme for until the 4 week point.

Brenda Crossley (Represented by Julie Sutton) – Barnsley Recovery Navigation Service Brenda radiates warm and genuineness. She has worked with prescribing services and other agencies every week to exchange referrals and coordinate their approach. She has helped create a truly joined up service that puts the needs of the service user first.

www.phoenix-futures.org.uk

Executive Team Outstanding Achievement Award We are delighted to announce that this year’s award was presented the project team behind Voyage of Recovery 2012. Over 100 service users, staff and graduates took part in this life changing adventure to sail around Britain spreading the new that recovery is possible and is happening right now.

Winner: Voyage of Recovery 2012

The partnership between Phoenix Futures, the Island Trust and Tectona Trust that made last year’s Voyage of Recovery happen has taken imagination, perseverance and the willingness by all concerned to face new challenges.

The partnership behind the Voyage has generated a range of benefits: Sailing over 1,500 miles around the coastal waters of Britain is a feat in itself, however the voyage has also created a new and challenging therapeutic environment onboard the Tectona. 87 individual service users from around the country, as well as graduates and staff have been given a life changing experience.

The voyage has raised the profile of each of the partners and promoted the cause of recovery around the country.

The Voyage has even had a positive impact on the way people with drug and alcohol problems are perceived in local communities. Fundraising activities such as bag packing at supermarkets and car washing outside services, have helped break down the barriers between services and communities.

A research programme is currently underway with the University of Exeter that will study the impact of this unique recovery adventure and hopefully inspire others to think differently. What’s more, the voyage had raised our expectations of what can achieved when we work with others and set our sights high.

By combining their skills, expertise and resources the partnership between Phoenix Futures, the Tectona Trust and the Island Trust has created something very special that is greater than its individual parts: each organisation and individual involved has truly become a part of the whole with a share in its purpose.

That is why this year’s Executive Team Outstanding Achievement Award goes to the Voyage of Recovery.

www.phoenix-futures.org.uk

Chief Executive’s Recovery Icon Award This award will be announced on the day and presented to the person who has embodied the spirit and philosophy of Phoenix Futures in 2012.

Stuart Plant

“One of the challenges for chief executives is to ensure organisations they lead hold on to the things that are important to them whilst changing and adapting to the environment in which they work.

There are many things that are important to us at Phoenix but the essence of what defines us is  a resilience and an inner optimism about life even when faced with the most difficult challenges  and our deep routed optimism that people can and do recover.

Last year for the first year I called my award the Recovery Icon Award. I realised that over the last few years I have given my award to people that symbolise that essence of Phoenix recovery;  An inner strength, a drive, a passion and a commitment  An understanding of the value of support from others  Awareness of the road they have travelled but an optimism to look forward to the future.  A love of life and eagerness to celebrate it  A passion to use their experience to the benefit of others Previous winners of the award Bob, Jose, John Crane have all that in bucketful and it is no different for the person who will receive this award today.

Many people have guessed this year who this award is going too. Someone told me they knew before I did! And whilst that may spoil the surprise it also pleases me that, firstly – you understand what the award is about and who should get it and secondly you agree that I have made the right decision.

After graduating from our Hampshire residential service 9 years ago ( or Alpha as it was then) he went out into the world and worked with disadvantaged young people. Keen to use his experience of recovery for the benefit of others, he began sessional work with us in 2007 in Hampshire becoming a team member and then the department coordinator. He is an important member of the community in Hampshire and a vital contributor to the development of our residential services across the country, he does it all with energy and commitment, and takes on much more than his role demands.

Much of that is common to many of our staff, the scarily outstanding thing about this recovery icon is his ability to create a vision and take a whole organisation with him.

He convinced me to agree to a 100 services users taking part in a 12 week voyage around the country;  at the cost of £70,000  at a time when a third of our business was being retendered  and we were facing the worst economic conditions of a generation.

He did 3 legs of the voyage himself and im not sure how he has time to be a husband and a dad but I know he is a thoroughly lovely man.

A common characteristic of past winners of my award has been that they don’t really know how special they are so Stuart Plant please for a moment come and appreciate what a very great recovery icon you are and come and receive this award.”

Karen Biggs, Chief Executive - Phoenix Futures

www.phoenix-futures.org.uk

Mansukh Mistry In recognition of his dedication and outstanding contribution to our organisation

Mansukh Mistry has been our Payroll Officer at Phoenix Futures for the past 12 years. He has been an integral part of Phoenix, seeing our organisation increase its service base with an expanding number of employees.

His friendly and approachable nature has enabled him to perform the role to an outstanding level with praise from all those who interact with him.

He has performed his role with an outstanding level of accuracy and attention to detail that ensures that everyone is paid on time every month Mansukh has always been willing to put the needs of the organisation and its employees before his own.

We love you loads Mansukh.

Emily Savage Systems and Management Accountant

www.phoenix-futures.org.uk

Rowdy Yates Honourary Graduate 2012 For your belief in Recovery

At this year’s New Year Honours awards ceremony there was a very special announcement. This year the ceremony recognised Rowdy Yates, a long term friend and supporter of Phoenix, by inviting him to become our first Honorary Graduate. This recognition of Rowdy’s immense contribution to the sector was presented by Phoenix Chief Executive Karen Biggs.

When presenting the award Karen said; ‘’Rowdy Yates stopped using drugs before I was born. More importantly he did his recovery before Phoenix was born. But through that lifetime of recovery he has tirelessly used his experience to the benefit of others. ‘’ Describing Rowdy’s inspirational impact on the sector Karen went on to say; “He is the current Executive Director of EWODOR (the European Working Group on Drugs Oriented Research ) and acting president of the European Federation of Therapeutic Communities. He has a catalogue of published work on drugs, music and therapeutic communities. In 1994 was awarded the Order of Member of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the prevention of drug misuse. To honour his lifetime commitment to the field of recovery and for holding the spirit of Phoenix recovery in every sinew of his being, I am very proud to ask Rowdy Yates to become our first ever Phoenix Honorary Graduate” Rowdy accepted the award and stated he was “honoured and humbled”.

Congratulations Rowdy we are proud to welcome you as our first ever Honorary Graduate

www.phoenix-futures.org.uk

Issue 11

Network Monthly news, views and updates from across Phoenix Derby County Saved My Life

For more than ten years, the first thing Jon Fairbrother did when he woke up was fix up a shot of heroin and plunge the substance into his veins to start his day.

Jon Fairbrother is one of 150 recovering drug users who are having their lives turned around by the Active Choices scheme run by the club and the NHS. In his childhood, he had played football constantly and dreamed of being a professional – but now all he would do was sit for hours, staring at his walls, dazed and lifeless from the drug. Occasionally, he and some friends would go to a house to buy more heroin and he would turn up for shifts at his part-time job to pay for his habit.

But slowly, any thought of football slid from his mind. For more than a decade, this was Jon’s life and he had no idea how to change it. He ended up with Phoenix Futures, a Derby charity which helps people overcome drug addictions. In August last year, he was referred to Active Choices, which is when he started to learn how to live his life after drugs.

The project was set up last year by Derby County in the Community – the football club’s community team, which runs several schemes helping people throughout the city, along with Derby City Council, NHS Derby City and Phoenix Futures.

Inspired Fundraising Over the years Sheffield Community Services have supported individuals across the city in their own tenancies with drug and alcohol problems.

found himself once. They raised over £400.00 and after discussion with his family Sheffield Community Services decided that giving out Christmas boxes to all Floating Support clients, would make In 2012, one of our old clients (who the most difference to the most number of people. we helped back in 2009/10) who had made remarkable achievements in his life unfortunately passed away. We have had a great response from the 61 individuals/families He was a remarkable young man that are supported by the team. who had a passion for life and all All our thanks and our clients things music. thanks go to Paul Turner who the presents where given in his His family who he had a great relationship with decided that they name, and his wonderful family Pauline and Mark Turner wanted to mark his life by fund and Paul’s friends for fundraising raising for individuals that found on his behalf. themselves in a position at Christmas in Sheffield as he had

Health and Safety Corner You may remember from a previous column that staff at HMP Channings Wood held a jam-packed week of events for European Health and Safety Week last year.

We were really impressed with their effort and determination to make the week a success and we weren’t surprised that they were entered for the Recovery innovation award at New Year’s Honours 2013 and they won!! We’d like to congratulate the whole team on this achievement.

Particular thanks go to Victoria and

www.phoenix-futures.org.uk

Tracey and the residents of the wing who helped organise some of the events themselves.

The TC wing at HMP Channings wood has shown what can be achieved when you work together and think creatively.

Well done!

We’re always looking for new material for Health and Safety Corner! If you feel you and your team have something to celebrate- then please let Ruby Newton know.

Phoenix Futures 2013 Staff Opinion Survey

We are pleased to invite you to take part in the Phoenix Futures 2013 Staff Opinion Survey.

The aim of the survey is to find out what you think about working for Phoenix Futures. Your opinions are very important as they will be used by our Senior Management and Board to review our staff policies and practices.

The Survey is completely anonymous, so we hope you can be completely honest in your answers. So if you want to have your say this is your chance!

We want all Employees and Relief Workers to take part. We would also like Volunteers who have been with us for more than 3 months to take part.

awarded at each service’s graduation day events. All previous graduates are automatically eligible for Senior membership. Members have the choice to be as actively involved in the club’s activities as they wish, for example members can Bonds formed over the period when support fundraising activities dramatic life changes take place are and may wish to contribute to an expert panel providing advice incredibly strong and maintaining those bonds is often a key factor in a and insight into Phoenix Futures services. Senior Members will persons continued recovery. By establishing a more formal network also be invited to an annual dinner. Members can keep in of peer support and contact under touch through our Phoenix the Phoenix Futures umbrella we Re:United Facebook page and hope to assist people in their bi-annual newsletter. continuing journey of recovery.

Over the past 40 years a key part of the process of recovery for people engaging with The questionnaire should take no Phoenix Futures’ treatment longer than 15 minutes to complete. programmes has been the Please answer every question. The closing date for completion is Thursday experience of being part of a closely knit peer group.

21st February.

The Survey is really important for us as an organisation, taking part will benefit us all.

If you have any problems or queries, please do not hesitate to contact Zaid Ahmed on 020 7234 9784. http://cequel2.titaninternet.co.uk/eSurvey/index. cfm?id=PhoenixFutures2013

Team Brief Update

Phoenix Re:United is a club run by and for graduates of Phoenix Services. There are two categories of membership: Junior and Senior.

When you complete a recovery programme you will automatically become a Junior member. Senior membership will subsequently be

Phoenix Futures will provide support to Phoenix Re:United but the club will be run largely by members.

For more information visit www.phoenix-futures.org. uk/phoenix-reunited/

Children in Need The Executive Team Brief highlights key developments affecting us all. We believe that you should be informed about these topics and we wanted to know your thoughts.

The Executive Team Brief 2012 deadline for feedback was 30th January 2013.

We would like to thank everyone for their prompt replies. Results from the discussion will be released shortly.

Service users in our HMP Holme The prison have matched that with £428 also going to the House service raised £428 Childrens Butterwick Hospice in pounds for Children in Need.

Stockton on Tees.

www.phoenix-futures.org.uk

The Over 50s Outreach Service Newsletter

Reaching Out .uk

ssue I y r a u Jan

s.org a c r o n . www

Welcome back to our newsletter

Designed to keep service providers and referrers up to date with the latest news NORCAS is a provider of services for people with drug, alcohol and gambling problems in East Anglia. We are supported by the national addiciton charity Phoenix Futures.

Dry January 2012 The charity Alcohol Concern are asking people to sign up for their “Dry January” challenge...“Your mission: to avoid that cheeky after work pint, that glass of wine on the sofa, or that big boozy night out, for the whole month. Feel better. Save money. Make a difference. Your chance to ditch the hangover, reduce the waistline, and save the pennies. Make a real difference to the lives of those harmed through alcohol misuse and get sponsored by family and friends to sponsor you and raise money for Alcohol Concern.”

To download more information or to sign up go to the Dry January website – www.dryjanuary.org.uk The OFOS say –“This is not a medical detox programme and should not be undertaken by people with alcohol dependency issues. This is both an awareness raising campaign and a fundraiser for Alcohol Concern.

If you’re concerned about your use of alcohol or drugs, or you’re worried about someone else’s dependency, please get in touch with NORCAS and ask for our Over 50s Outreach Service.”

Phoenix Futures + NORCAS

In December Phoenix Futures took over the running of NORCAS services. The Over Fifties Outreach Service (OFOS) see this as an exciting new opportunity not only to continue the Service but to grow it, building on the successes of the past 3 years.

Karen Biggs, Phoenix Futures Chief Executive said: “As a diversified national organisation Phoenix is ideally placed to act as a home for well-respected regional service providers such as NORCAS.” Phoenix Futures is a leading provider of drug and alcohol services in community, prison and residential setting in England and Scotland. www.phoenix-futures.org.uk

DrugScope Conference Tuesday 6th November saw Kate and Simon head off to London to speak at the DrugScope 2012 conference – “A question of balance: delivering an inclusive treatment and recovery system”.

The hour long OFOS workshop, “Providing Services for the Older User”, was not only full but oversubscribed! OFOS Substance Misuse worker Kate Lawrence (pictured below with colleague Simon Wakefield) said: “The fact that so many professionals who work with those with drug and alcohol problems wanted to attend our session is a fantastic reflection of the rising importance attached to helping older people with substance misuse issues.”

2012 has been a high profile year for the OFOS with similar workshops delivered at national conferences in Camden, Birmingham and Harrogate. The diary for next year is filling up with events at Kings College, London and the University of East Anglia already confirmed!

Phoenix House (operating as Phoenix Futures) is a registered charity in England and Wales (No. 284880) and in Scotland (No. SC039008)