Change Grow Live

The figures released today by the Office for National Statistics show another rise in drug-related deaths, marking the continuation of a tragic trend that has seen deaths increase every year since 2012, with 5,565 deaths related to drug-poisoning in England and Wales in 2024. This is a devastating reminder of the scale of the challenge we face. Our services see first-hand how drug use is becoming more complex, with the situation further exacerbated by the emergence of synthetic opioids. Without urgent action, drug related deaths will continue on the same trajectory, with more lives lost, more families shattered and more communities left behind. Read our full response: https://lnkd.in/edf9TbMf

“I didn’t like support before. I didn’t trust anybody; I’d been very nervous and couldn’t deal with people. Last year I was a very different person. I’m more settled now; I feel more relaxed.” When Dragos first came into contact with Change Grow Live, he was 20 years old and sleeping rough on the streets of Leeds. With support from our Leeds Street Outreach Service, he has not only secured accommodation but is navigating complex paperwork, rebuilding his health and planning a brighter future. Read Dragos’ story: https://lnkd.in/e-cmu59k

📢 10x more women are sleeping rough than government figures show. Earlier this year Single Homeless Project and Solace Women's Aid - in partnership with Crisis and Change Grow Live - published the 2024 Women’s Rough Sleeping Report - How Do We Sleep at Night? Government rough sleeping snapshots continue to miss the thousands of women experiencing homelessness in unsafe, transient, and hidden situations - sleeping in A&E waiting rooms, libraries, on public transport, or in exploitative environments that fall outside official definitions of rough sleeping. Just look at the numbers: - 680 women were recorded in the Government’s latest rough sleeping snapshot for the whole of England. - Over 1,700 women were identified in the women’s rough sleeping census by local services across just 37 local authorities Women’s homelessness is different, and it is time our support systems recognise and respond to that. Every woman deserves to be seen and receive the right support they need to rebuild and thrive. 📄 Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/ePRpmkcJ #WomensHomelessness #HomelessnessStrategy #RoughSleeping #HiddenHomelessness #WomenDeserveBetter #WorldHomelessnessDay

"In March/April 2023 the proportion of children experimenting with vaping had grown by 50% year on year, from one in thirteen to one in nine.” - Action on Smoking and Health (UK). Chris Henniker is the Manager for our Eclypse service, a Young Person’s Specialist Substance Misuse Service in Manchester. He shares the service’s response to the lack of guidance on vaping, and explains how they are equipping parents and professionals to better support young people. Together with the Children and Young People’s Vaping Group, they have: - Created a free training programme for professionals - Created a free resource library for those attending the course - Developed a vaping screening tool - Upskilled parents Read more about Eclypse’s response to this ever-changing landscape: https://lnkd.in/eQzVKVvj

The London Recovery Network has officially launched! 🎉 Last week, over 250 people came together at Conway Hall to celebrate recovery, connection, and community across London. From inspiring talks by Dame Carol Black and Alison Keating to moving performances from people with lived experience, the day was a powerful reminder that connection is at the heart of recovery 💪 The new network brings together charities, community groups and Lived Experience Recovery Organisations (LEROs) to collaborate, share resources and strengthen recovery pathways across the capital. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ewTKWABZ Change Grow Live Turning Point Not Saints Outside Edge Theatre Company b3inbrent County Durham Drug & Alcohol Recovery Service Collective Voice

Read Deputy Chief Executive nic ADAMSON’s response to yesterday’s tragic attack and the rising division across our country: https://lnkd.in/ePxGwT-i

Want expert analysis on what really matters in drugs, alcohol, and criminal justice? Sign up for email updates and get sharp commentary, insider insights, and need-to-know developments, straight from the experts in the sector. https://lnkd.in/eN4Wstem

Our first ever cohort of learners have graduated from our new Level 2 Recovery Worker Qualification. This six-month pilot programme combines professional standards with compassion, aligning with the Government’s 10-Year Drug Strategy. Core modules include mental and physical health; harm reduction and medical interventions; person-centred care; and psychosocial interventions. Learners also took part in a mock interview to prepare them for their future careers. “Volunteers give us an enormous amount so it's only fair that we give them something back.” explains Chris Benfield, our Head of Volunteering and Placements. More than 70% of our volunteers say they want to work in the drug and alcohol sector, so this qualification represents a significant step forward in supporting their career aspirations while strengthening the quality of support available to the communities we serve. The early outcomes are inspiring. Of the 12 graduates: -Four have secured paid employment with Change Grow Live -One has begun working in the health sector -Others are volunteering, with new opportunities on the horizon We’re now running a pilot digital version of the course with the ambition of making it more widely available in the future – follow us for updates. Read more about our pilot Level 2 Recovery Worker Qualification and our new graduates: https://lnkd.in/exYUiVt3