News

"I am extremely proud of everything that has been achieved this year and want to thank our Trustees, staff and volunteers for their support and dedication to people who use our services."

“We fully believe in the value of mentoring, peer support. It means people in crisis will be able to make a human connection with people who’ve had similar experiences and have recovered."

“The government have recently identified that people are not getting access to needle and syringe services as they should in this country. At Humankind, we are picking up that challenge."

“We have had an amazing five years at Forward Leeds. The service has just had its best ever year and this is down to the hard work of our staff. "

"WY-FI is about making sure the right kind of help is available for people when they need it, so supporting them to live a more fulfilling life."

"This mutual-aid forum offers a chance for everyone to share similar problems and together find solutions that support them back into recovery."

“I want to thank everybody for all the volunteering that they have done in the last year, and the volunteer hours that people have committed to our organisation."

Our staff have made a film to let the people who use our services know that we are still here and still open

"It has been an absolute delight to entertain them and the strength and love this has given me has really helped me cope with the challenges at work during this difficult time."

The film was originally made as part of a larger campaign created in 2019 to encourage people to get tested for hepatitis C and was made with support from the Leeds City Council, the Hepatitis C Trust and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

We are pleased to announce that Manish Nanda will be joining Humankind as the Executive Director of London and the South in June.

“There’s considerable evidence that confirms the first few weeks following release as being a critical period during which men and women face a range of increased risks.”

Information about medication used for managing mental health/substance misuse in easy read formats

From today, EDP join us as a subsidiary and two new services start in Staffordshire and the North East

"It’s about fighting bias, broadening perceptions and improving situations for women. It could be the year-round motto at our Women’s Criminal Justice Service!”

We are hopeful that Dame Carol’s report, and the summits mark a sea change in which the UK government will swiftly begin to increase funding to reduce drug-related harm and improve people’s chances of recovery.

Humankind has always worked in partnership to deliver exceptional services to local people. In the last year we have moved from being a Northern charity to becoming a national charity, to have a greater impact and to support local delivery.

“We need to have a much better understanding of the misuse of Over the Counter and Prescription Only Medication by people who access our services so we can further refine our therapeutic offer."

Humankind have successfully retained their Volunteer Kitemark across Leeds for another 3 years.

We are delighted to announce that the innovative Devon-based alcohol and drug charity EDP will be joining Humankind on 1st April 2020.

“Organisationally, this contract will bring Humankind and our services into the West Midlands for the first time and allows us to bring our innovative models to support young people and adults to a new area. "

We are exceptionally proud to announce that Julie Lindup, a volunteer at the Salford Intensive Family Intervention Project has received a certificate of recognition for her huge contribution to the project

"This is a reflection of how our staff constantly strive to go the extra mile and to find ways of improving how we can help people in North Yorkshire receive the help they deserve.”

The latest addition to Street Health Team’s weekly programme is Humankind’s largest rough sleeping service: Bradford No Second Night Out (NSNO) at Discovery House.

“We have a deliberate strategy of creating ‘fairer chances for all’ through the development of a range of partnership services, delivering services where there is the most need.”

“North Yorkshire Horizons is a flagship service. Our team is excited to move this work forward under the new model in a new contract, which has the potential to run for a very long time indeed.”

With the rate of drug-related deaths rising rapidly the House of Common’s Health and Social Care Committee Report on Drugs policy, published today, recommends a radical overhaul in UK drugs policy from a criminal justice to a health approach.

“We want to champion the values that everybody has chosen as our core values. It’s really important to make sure they are embedded across all our services.”

Today, Humankind’s contribution to the Alcohol Charter blogs campaign has been published. The Alcohol Charter, produced jointly by the Drugs, Alcohol & Justice Cross-Party Parliamentary Group and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Harm, sets out effective and workable policies to reduce the damage to society caused by alcohol misuse.

Collective Voice will be holding three events to bring people together from across the treatment and recovery system to discuss local challenges and hear about our new strategy.

The 2019 Recovery Street Film Festival was launched at the Everyman, King’s Cross on 3rd September where the 10 shortlisted films were shown. Humankind is one of the seven charities involved in organising the festival and we are delighted to announce that this year’s winner, The Beast Inside Me, was made by Junaid, a volunteer at Blenheim, part of Humankind’s service, in Lewisham.

“The Recovery Walk is really important because each year it’s a celebration of people tackling their addiction issues."

“The ride has been brilliant, bringing a group of staff together from different services with one aim. It’s been a great way to raise funds for users of our services and we’re going out with a real high after four days here at the Recovery Walk in Middlesbrough.”

"We feel that our partnership is uniquely placed to deliver an integrated and impactful service across the prison estate. Collectively, we bring a wealth of experience delivering services to people with complex needs both in a secure environment and in the community."

It's day three but I’m loving the bike ride so far, it’s been great to find out about the range of roles and services humankind have amongst their alcohol and drugs services along the way.

“All the users of our service, our volunteers and staff at Forward Leeds are sending their support to everyone taking part in the Humankind Ride for Recovery."

A Humankind service based in Bradford which provides short-term accommodation and support for the homeless has had its contract extended by Bradford Council.

“It was great that so many people were there to wish us well. Having people supporting us like this makes us feel it will all be worthwhile”.

What would you choose – annual tax giveaways of more than £1 billion to support the alcohol industry or paying the salaries of 40,000 nurses?

“This award highlights how much young carers and their families in Darlington are benefiting from the Young Carers service and how vital the service is.”

Humankind volunteers gave 15,356 hours of their time in supporting Humankind achieve its vision, mission and values. On Thursday, our celebration event will recognise their contribution to the organisation.

Humankind has been awarded the new young people’s health and well being contract in Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster

Humankind has been successfully awarded a new contract to provide holistic support to people in the Barnsley area with mental health and/or learning difficulties

The Recovery Street Film Festival, which encourages people to submit three-minute films conveying their experience of drug and alcohol addiction, has officially launched for the sixth consecutive year.

"...service providers such as Humankind enable us to hear first-hand accounts from the frontline...."

The merger of Blenheim and Humankind has brought together not only our shared values but also the valuable contribution of all service users, families and carers, partners, stakeholders, commissioners, volunteers and our staff.

We will have more impact on people’s wellbeing and will continue and develop our innovative service design and delivery, with ambitious plans to extend our digital offers.

As a newly merged organisation, we have combined 90 years’ experience in supporting people to reach their full potential. Our ethos of putting people first will not change as a merged organisation – in fact, it’s strengthened.

From 1st April 2019, Humankind and Blenheim have merged to create one organisation that takes a new approach to addressing health and social inequalities. We are so excited about the merger that we have created an animation to tell you about it.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for us as we both share the same vision for all people to be safe, building ambitions for the future and reaching their full potential."

“This is marvellous news for our service users, our dedicated staff and volunteers and for Humankind and its partners, Spectrum CIC and Changing Lives."

“We hope to discuss our model at the conference, gain further knowledge and hear the views and experience of other professionals worldwide.”

The service will work towards identifying ‘hidden’ young carers and, in partnership with mainstream and specialist services, to reduce the impact of the caring role for young people across South Tyneside.

Humankind worker Jo Boyd has offered expert input towards updated guidance for alcohol interventions in secondary and further education.

“We are proud to see this report recognise strong leadership, governance and collaborative working across North Yorkshire Horizons."

"Liaison and diversion is a critical service working with some very vulnerable people who have multiple and complex needs."

I've made friends, I've done things that I would not have done without being part of this exhibition. I feel a bit more confident.

We have had "an exceptionally positive response, from our staff teams, but also from our partners, stakeholders and the public".

"Ange is pioneering in her approach and this has required a need to challenge and stand up for what’s right. She has always worked in partnership and brought fun and humour in good measure, as well."

"All the team would like to wish all of our Young Carers and their Families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and we are looking forward to seeing you in 2019."

Volunteer Ramin Pourezza said: "Volunteering for Humankind is absolutely fantastic you meet so many people from so many walks of life – so many different experiences."

As the new Domestic Abuse Lead Practitioner, Becky Carrington will provide a coordinated delivery of support and management of risk to domestic violence perpetrators and their families across our Leeds services.

Read our top ten tips for a safer Christmas.

Our drug and alcohol services in London and the North of England have launched simultaneous campaigns offering advice to vulnerable people and party goers on how to “Keep calm at Christmas”.

Workers, who gathered at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland, discussed a successful year and looked forward to the year ahead.

The South Tyneside Adult Recovery Service, which is led by Humankind, has been formally launched with a ribbon cutting ceremony in South Shields.

Specialist work to reduce alcohol related harm to students at Durham University has been marked with a prestigious award.

Humankind and innovative London-based alcohol and drug charity Blenheim CDP intend to merge in April 2019 to form a national organisation named Humankind, employing over 1,100 staff.

Learners at the Steps 4 Success @ Humankind course have raised over £240 for the Help for Heroes charity.

The document entreats policy makers to urgently tackle the increased availability of cheap alcohol and empower the public to make fully informed decisions about their drinking.

More than 200 guests attended the West Yorkshire Finding Independence (WY-FI) largest ever Annual Learning Event at the Civic Hall in Leeds.

Humankind has successfully been awarded the Cyber Essentials Plus certification

“We have worked hard to have a really great year and we know we must move forward in the same way."

“It is about listening to the stories of triumph over real adversity and of learning from people in recovery and from our colleagues in services around the country.”

“This is something that we look forward to every year as a celebration of the very real achievements of individuals in recovery."

International Overdose Awareness Day aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death.

The Northern Inclusion Consortium (NIC) delivers the Step Forward Tees Valley programme across the Tees Valley Area and aims to support people experiencing barriers and complex needs move closer towards work and training opportunities.

"The messages that we are trying to get out there are about having fun but doing so in a way that means you and others aren’t put at risk."

As a charity which specialises in creating services and support to meet people’s complex health and social needs, Humankind celebrates the 70th birthday of the NHS.

Paul Townsley, Chief Executive Officer of Humankind, said: “This document shows everyone what we’re all about at Humankind."

Staff from North Yorkshire Horizons, the county’s integrated substance misuse service, are taking part in an ambitious 180-mile fundraising challenge to raise money for York Hospital’s Magnolia Centre.

Humankind welcomes the Government’s reporting and we believe that promoting equal opportunity and ending all forms of discrimination is not only a human right, but it is key to the success of the organisation.

DISC (Developing Initiatives Supporting Communities), is now known as Humankind.

CEO Paul Townsley's blog on his own experience of volunteering this Volunteers' Week

Our annual Volunteers’ Week event is taking place on the morning of Wednesday 6th June and is open to all Humankind Volunteers.

5 WAYS provides an afternoon of fun for clients visiting from St. Anne’s Residential Rehabilitation Service.

Claire Bradshaw shares the story of her positive volunteering experience.

Workers in Humankind’s LGBT+ projects have played a major part in the creation of a new national website which is aimed at tackling issues faced by the LGBT community in schools.

Four of our workers are raising money for Teesside Hospice, at a Midnight Walk on 16th June.

Sarah Spencer tells her own story about her volunteering experience with us.

A special lunch has been held to thank workers involved in large scale projects to launch drug and alcohol services in County Durham and South Tyneside.

Three new properties have been opened by Humankind Housing in Tong near Bradford to provide homes for people who have learning disabilities.

It’s with great pride that we have been able to launch our accommodation offer in Bradford.

Dawn, More Time Business Manager shortlisted for a Star Employer Talent Match award

Forward Leeds hosted a Recovery Graduation to celebrate the achievement of treatment & recovery with the Forward Leeds service

Blog from Paul Townsley on the Forward Leeds Recovery Graduation

Six Humankind-led drug and alcohol services across Northern England have launched simultaneous, hard-hitting campaigns aimed at encouraging people who use cannabis to think again about their use and recognise the increasing strength of the drug

Humankind2020 initiative aims to support 2020 people into employment and training by the year 2020.