A free and confidential service offering a range of support and interventions for people whose lives are affected by drug and alcohol use and other addictions is launching today in Cumbria.
Recovery Steps Cumbria is run by Humankind in partnership with The Well Communities and is funded by Cumbria County Council. It will offer a range of services including clinical, health and wellbeing support, access to work and skills opportunities, and connections to housing.
Ted Haughey, Executive Director of Operations for Humankind, said:
“As one of the biggest substance misuse charities in England, we are proud to be offering vital recovery services to people living in Cumbria. We are very excited to be working in partnership with The Well and feel that together we will have a positive impact across Cumbria where individuals, their families and communities have been affected by addiction. Sadly, in recent years Cumbria has followed the national trend of increasing drug and alcohol related deaths. We hope that by providing a comprehensive service that offers individualised recovery plans we can stop this worrying trend.”
Humankind and The Well Communities have been commissioned to deliver the service by Cumbria County Council.
Cllr Deborah Earl, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities, said:
“Humankind and The Well bring huge national and local experience to supporting people affected by drug, alcohol and other addictions and it’s this combination that is so exciting about this new service. Addiction can be devastating for individuals, but also for families and friends. Recovery Steps Cumbria will be able to provide the support that people need to move on and improve their lives, right across the county. I would encourage anyone who needs support to get in touch and find out about the services available.”
People will be able to access services from a range of sites across the county including Carlisle, Workington, Whitehaven and Barrow-in-Furness, as well as satellite offices in Penrith and Kendal. In addition, services will be delivered through community venues and in partnership with GPs and pharmacists. Support will be provided by trained professionals, including staff and volunteers who have lived experience of recovery from addictions.
Dave Higham, Founder and CEO of the Well Communities, said:
“We are so excited with this partnership and the opportunity to bring our already established service in South Cumbria to the rest of the county. We believe together we can bring about change for those that have been entrenched in addiction and want a new way of life. Within this partnership we will use lived experience as a flagship of hope, that people do and can recover.”
The previous service was provided through Unity, and any clients who were previously receiving support from Unity will be able to continue their recovery journey with Recovery Steps Cumbria.
More information about Recovery Steps Cumbria, including details of how to access the service, can be found at: www.humankindcharity.org.uk/service/recovery-steps-cumbria.