The User Involvement Project by Steve Swales

The User Involvement Project is for people who have, or have had drug or alcohol problems. The aim of the project is to help users and ex-users to form groups, run by themselves, that will have an input into the type and levels of service on offer to them throughout Hull and East Yorkshire.

What the individual groups want to do as groups is really up to them. They may choose to act as peer support groups in methadone maintenance, harm reduction, social or educational activities. Something to keep members occupied or anything else they can think of. These are genuine groups for users and ex-users of whatever substance to help them break the (vicious) circle/lifestyle that affects them.

There are several groups in Hull including two new ones, Abstain - this group is in the process of being set up for ex-alcohol misusers, hopefully with branches in both the east and west of the city and Gladrags - which is being set up as a gay mens drug and alcohol support group.

Regular meetings take place, including the Wednesday Night Group, which is a drug users and ex-users support group held in Hull City Centre, Founders, which is a similar group held each Monday in Bridlington and a newly reformed group (Horizons) held in Goole. It is also hoped that new groups will soon be underway in Beverley and one of the outlying villages. The groups have representatives sitting on the Hull Drug Reference Group, The East riding Drug Reference Group and the Combined Commissioning Group. The representatives take an active part in these meetings and speak on behalf of Drug Service Users throughout the region. This helps to shape the way in which the treatment services and the Drug Action teams operate and plan for the future.

A recent Satisfaction Survey of the treatment services across the region carried out by group members has been well received and is instrumental in the restructuring of the treatment services. Group members have recently undergone training in Research Skills, Advocacy, Fundraising and Emergency First Aid. Various members have attended National Treatment Agency Conferences and Alcohol Concern Conferences amongst many others. On the social side of group activities, groups have been bowling, to the cinema, to Alton Towers, Knowsley Safari Park, golfing, go kart racing and one group even has its own allotment.

As group members leave, some into full time work, college, university and even starting their own business, we are constantly looking for new members. Anybody can refer people to the project, including self-referral. If you know anybody who may be interested in joining an existing group or setting up there own group... Please contact: Steve Swales User Involvement Project The Close (Off The Parkway) Cottingham HU16 5DN Tel: 01482- 841916 Mob: 07780 828334 Or contact Community Focus on: 01482 807492

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