A Doncaster NHS drug and alcohol service has teamed up with Sheffield Hallam University and Spectrum Community Health to set up a Recovery Academy in Yorkshire for people working in addiction services and for those in recovery from substance misuse.
Aspire Drug and Alcohol Service, which is run by Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust, has been working with organisations in education, research, housing and the prison service to offer a range of recovery focused education lectures, group work and presentations that promote strength-based support and sustainable recovery communities.
Stuart Green, Aspire Service Manager, said: “The Recovery Academy is for anyone interested in drug and alcohol addiction or community development either personally or in their area of study or work. Tutorials are jointly devised and delivered by people who are working, teaching or who have a vested interest in the field of drug and alcohol addiction as well as recovery and wellbeing.
“The idea behind the college is to increase and share knowledge of both lived and taught experience of substance and alcohol misuse in a welcoming, relaxed, non-judgemental and confidential environment. The college also supports staff working in the health and recovery field with their continued personal development.”
The academy takes an educational rather than a clinical approach to raising awareness of drug and alcohol addiction and focuses on both individual and community strengths to improve recovery from addiction.
It offers knowledge that would not be available in further education colleges due to the specialist expertise of delegates and tutors.
David Best, Professor and Head of Criminology at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “This is a great example of applying academic knowledge and skills to support local partnerships and to improve the wellbeing of staff and the outcomes for drug and alcohol users and their families. We are building sustainable partnerships to strengthen local communities and to make the university an accessible and positive resource for vulnerable populations in Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber.”
Dr Linda Harris, CEO and Chief Medical Officer at Spectrum, said: “The Recovery College is a great opportunity for knowledge sharing. The college brings practitioners from a variety of community and secure settings to learn together, along with academics and researchers in the field.
“This is an exciting and challenging time for practitioners working with vulnerable communities and the Recovery College allows people the time to reflect on hot topics and challenge their thinking as well as highlight best practice.”
The first Recovery Academy was held in December 2017 with the following link providing information about the topics and themes https://prezi.com/view/FD1Sn2XPnYLls0oAlt6j/
The next Recovery Academy will be held on April 24 at the Northern College, Barnsley S75 3ET. People interested in joining can register at this link http://bit.ly/2FT47Hl
If you or someone you know is experiencing drug or alcohol issues and want to talk to someone in confidence please visit Aspire’s live chat at: www.aspire.community or ring 01302 730956.
