Download pdf - DHI Friends Issue 6

8/10/2019 DHI Friends Issue 6

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Company No: 3830311 Charity No: 1078154

DHI FriendsDHI Friends newsletter#6 Autumn 2014

DHI have allowedme to move on,progress, integrate

Case study, page 6

Reach OutFestival 2014

See page 5

www.dhi-online.org.uk

Out of theshadowsDeveloping Health &Independence teams up withNatural Theatre Company.

Inside this issue

A word from our CEO 2... DHI Out of the Shadows 3-5Case Study: Jim 6... How to donate to DHI 7News in brief and Upcoming Events 8

IIn May this year, Developing Health & Independence

collaborated with the internationally acclaimed

Natural Theatre Company to produce four live,

interactive promenade theatre events (part of the

Bath Fringe Festival 2014) offering an entertaining

insight into attitudes to poverty over the centuries and

challenging contemporary perceptions of people living

on the margins today.

In Bath, where the performances were held, the lack

of affordable housing presents a particular issue for

those living on a severely restricted income, and recent

welfare reforms have served to compound this problem.

While soup kitchens, food banks and charity appeals

may offer temporary relief to people without access to

even the most basic resources, short-term support often

only serves to put a plaster on wounds that simply will

not go away without long-term investment from society

as a whole. But this is not a new situation, as Out of the

Shadows showed.

Over the past centuries, many generations have

struggled with the issue of relief for the poor, being

generous when the economy is buoyant, and blaming

Continued on page 3...


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DHI Friends Issue 6

Its not just the transition from an unusually hot

summer into a distinctly more mellow British autumn

that is making me wish those long, hot days could

linger for just a little bit longer. Not only were we

extremely fortunate in terms of weather for Out of

the Shadows open air promenade at the end of May

(produced in collaboration with the Natural Theatre

Company), but, more importantly, we were thrilled at

the amount of interest it attracted. Out of the Shadows

looked at the different approaches to poverty throughhistory, perhaps best summed up as patronage or

punishment. If neither offered an effective response,

the event was certainly a success in raising the prole

of DHI and its alternative approach: addressing the

underlying causes of poverty, such as lack of

affordable housing, and offering

people real opportunities to

improve their circumstances. It is

therefore, not surprising that

we will be watching withgreat interest as Andrew

Georges private members

bill to reform the negative consequences of the under-

occupancy charge progress through the Lords. While

intuitively sensible, the under-occupancy charge plunges

a signicant number of the most vulnerable into debt,

since the downsizing envisaged is simply not possible

for many for a variety of reasons, and it is hard not to

welcome this as sensible reform without getting political.

Close on the heels of Out of the Shadows, our annual

Reach Out festival could have shared the same title. Thefamilies and carers of those misusing drugs or alcohol are

an oft un-heard and un-supported group, yet it is impossible

to underestimate the effect of addiction on them; many

suffer anxiety, depression and poor health because of

the stresses and strains in their lives. We were therefore

delighted to have John Taylor bass player and co-founder

of Duran Duran sharing his personal experiences

of addiction and recovery with those affected by

a loved ones substance misuse, which certainly

raised the prole of the event, thereby helping totackle the stigma and isolation of those affected.

Which leaves me to invite you all to our annual event,

which is taking place at Bath Royal Literary and

Scientic Institution on November 25 at the usual

time of 6pm. If youd like to join us, please

see page 8 for further information.

A word from our CEO

Developing Healthand Independencewould like to offer oursincere condolences tothe family and friendsof Anna Marie Witt,who worked for us fornine years until heruntimely death at theage of just 46 in July

this year. Anna willbe greatly missed byall of us.

Rosie Phillipsand John Taylor


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Issue 6 DHI Friends

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those perceived to be a drain on the economy when

recession hits - in effect, we either patronise or punish

according to our own circumstances.

As the Out of the Shadows walks progressed, Natural

Theatre Company players and DHI service users

presented thought-provoking scenes from the Roman,

Medieval, Georgian, Victorian and 1960s periods for

contemporary consideration. Some of the integral

scenes were devised by clients who participate in DHIsCreative Writing Group, and their input proved to be

invaluable to the event as a whole. Each of the four

walks attracted audiences of 120+, concluding at the

Beehive drop-in centre where DHI staff and service users

mingled with the audience, offering insight into the work

of the charity, and an approach that offers opportunities

to people to change and improve their circumstances, not

simply to have things done to or for them.

After participating in the event, dozens of peopleleft feedback in a Comments Book at the Beehive,

via Twitter and also on the Natural Theatre Company

Facebook page. Heres a selection of some of the

comments:

An excellent, multi-layered performance in Bathtoday. Powerful juxtaposition of the appallingtreatment of poor and dispossessed people in thepast as we walk through contemporary Bath. Strong

questions asked and poignant parallels madebetween Poor Law past and Universal Benefit today.Humbling and motivatingRichard White

My children really enjoyed this way of engagingthem to think about these issues. Well done!

Emma McCote

Had a great afternoon following this promenadeperformance, well done to all involved. A thought-provoking and entertaining project

Emma Firman

Excellent!Katy Wallace

Brilliant!Kirstin Melbourne

Great way of informingSusan Parsons

Congratulations to all involved a great project!Jill Bennett

Do it again please! anonymous

DHI would like to thank all those who were

involved in making this event happen and everybody

who came along to support it we literally couldnt

have done it without you. Special thanks to DHI

service users Edwina, Charlie, Ian, Jim and Paul for

sharing their personal stories.

If you would like to see lm footage and a photogallery of the Out of the Shadows event, please visit

our website.

Continued from front cover

Developing Health & Independence: Out of the Shadows

Turn the pagefor photos

of the event ...


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DHI Friends Issue 6

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Out of the Shadows

30 & 31 May 2014


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Issue 6 DHI Friends

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O

n June 14th DHIs

day-long Reach Out

event at The Station

in Bristol now in itsseventh year offered a unique

opportunity for families and loved

ones from across the south west to

share their experiences with peers

and professionals, and raise public

awareness of this hidden issue that

touches so many lives.

Rosie Phillips, DHI CEO, said

of the event, It is impossibleto underestimate the effect

of addiction on families and

carers of those misusing. This

conference brought them together,

alongside drug treatment and other

professionals, to enable them to

shape services and get the best

possible support.

With over 100 people inattendance Reach Out 2014 was a

huge success and well covered by

the media, including an interview

with Family Champion Jenny

Millward on local BBC radio. The

event included practical workshops

on groups, obstacles to seeking

support, and how to help your

loved one. Plus there were moving

stories from family members whobravely chose to break the silence

associated with caring for a loved

one struggling with substance

misuse and highlight the value

of accessing support.

It also featured a keynote speech

from Duran Duran bassist andlong-time friend of DHI, John

Taylor, on his own personal

experience of addiction as both

user and concerned other. John

commented, Events such as these

are vital to both the families and

support communities dealing daily

with issues of addiction. So often

they feel isolated, unclear of how

to proceed and silenced bythe stigma they perceive to be

attached to this widespread and

indiscriminate disease.

Reach Out2014 festival

Raising awareness in Bristol of Carersaffected by loved ones substance misuse

This pic: Rosie Phillips,DHI CEO, addressesattendees. Below: DHIBristols Nick Booth

runs a workshop.Bottom: Keynotespeaker John Taylor,Duran Duran


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DHI Friends Issue 6

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Iwas in addiction for 20-oddyears from around the age

of 12 until the age of 33

cannabis when I was 12, then

the party drugs, the rave scene,

pills, acid. I eventually got into

heroin at the age of 22.

I tried rehab loads of times,

but it wasnt until the fourth

time that I cracked it. My

daughter lives in Bath but Icouldnt live near her because

of the crazy house prices, so I

moved to Weymouth for a while

and then I relapsed, but that was

due to me moving to an area that

I wasnt familiar with, where I

didnt know anybody. I was in

the middle of nowhere; it took

me nearly an hour to get to Bath

to see my daughter every day,but most of the time I didnt

even have the bus fare to make

the journey. So I got lonely and

isolated, and I think thats whyI lapsed. But in a strange way, it

was good that I did lapse, because

I found out about DHI. It took less

than 2 weeks to get into the dry

house in Bath where I lived for four

months, engaging with people and

attending groups that I otherwise

wouldnt have been able to do.

They gave me a strong foundation

on which to rebuild my life.Now Im a few weeks away

from getting my own at and

having my independence back.

Im in touch with my daughter

again on a regular basis, and I

mentor a 13 year old boy who

is at risk of offending. I visit

schools to talk about poverty,

drugs and alcohol, and Im going

to do employment mentoringfor young people aged 16-21. I

volunteer for Age UK too. This is

all down to the support of DHI.

Case study: Jim

When I came toDHI, my confidenceand my self-esteemwas very low, butthe future is lookinggood. DHI haveallowed me to

move on, progress,integrate, makefriends - I couldn'thave done any ofthis on my own.Jim


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Issue 6 DHI Friends

7Company No: 3830311 Charity No: 1078154

Please complete this form, enclose with your donation and send to:Fundraising Department, Developing Health & Independence, 15/16 Milsom Street, Bath BA1 1DE

www.dhi-online.org.uk Registered Charity Number 1078154

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DHI Friends Issue 4

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DHI Expands Supported

Housing Services

DHI is happy to announce the

expansion of its supported housing

with two new properties: Hillside

in Yeovil is a six bed shared

house for those on a script, while

Portway in Wells is a four bed

shared dry house. Both houses

form part of DHIs contribution

to Somerset Drug and Alcohol

Service, offering accommodation

and support to those in recovery

from drugs and alcohol.

New Young Persons Drug

and Alcohol Treatment Service

in Wiltshire: Motiv8

We are delighted to have been

awarded the contract to deliver

Young Peoples Drug & Alcohol

Services in Wiltshire, the service

is called Motiv8. This is a fantastic

achievement for the organisation

and will signicantly strengthen

young peoples services.

Swindon Support Planning

and Direct Payments move offices

The Swindon Support Planning

and Direct Payments team have

now moved from their temporary

home at the Swindon Citizens

Advice Bureau to a permanent

base at at the Swindon Support and

Advice Centre, Sanford House,

Sanford Street, Swindon, SN1

1QH, a hub to numerous voluntary

sector organisations.

Project 28 selected as sponsor to

local football team

In an unusual sponsorship deal,

Bath based Larkhall Athletic

football team will have the

Project 28 logo on their shirts for

the 2014-15 season. Councillor

Lamming said I gave the

sponsorship to Project 28, a

truly worthwhile cause caring

for youngsters aged 11-17 years

of age after hearing about the

impressive work they do.

Recovery Festival 2014

Recovery from drugs and alcohol

is something to celebrate! That

was the overwhelming message

of the Recovery Festival 2014,

which took place at Woodlands

Church in Clifton, Bristol on

the 25th July. DHI was one

of an impressive range of

organisations from across Bristol,

South Gloucestershire and Bath

and North East Somerset which

organised and participated

in the vibrant, entertaining,

moving and inspirational day-long

event. It was aimed at celebrating

the successes of those in Recovery

and providing inspiration to

those working towards it.

New Peer Supporters

at DHI Bristol

Congratulations to 13 new Peer

Supporters who completed

their Peer Support training

programme this month.

Providing support to clients in

housing services, detox untis

and structured day programmes,

Peer Supporters use their rst-

hand experience and training to

make a real difference to people

attempting to change their lives

and break free from addiction.

Upcoming Events...

The 2014 DHI Annual Eventwill be hosted at the Bath RoyalLiterary and Scientific Institute

between 6pm and 8pmonTuesday 25th November. It willprovide an opportunity to hearthe latest about our services,meet our clients and staff, andhear inspirational stories throughour annual Client AchievementAwards. DHI has issued an openinvite to the event. There is parkingin the Charlotte Street car park

nearby for which the cost is 1.50for unlimited time after 6pm.People wanting to attend shouldemail [email protected].

News in BriefHere are some other significant DHI events that have happenedover the last few months.

DHI Friends Issue 6