Boxer David Haye

backs DHIs work

around legal highs
SPACED, page 4

People have a
moment when it clicks
The Woodworks Project,
page 6

DHI Friends
DHI Friends newsletter #7 Spring 2015

www.dhi-online.org.uk

Annual Event 2014:

Peer Perspectives

much celebrated event

in DHIs diary, this
year was no exception.
Taking place at the
Bath Royal Literary and Scientific
Institution on 25th November 2014,
the event focused on the role of
service users providing support to
their peers as well as celebrating
the enormous efforts of its staff
and volunteers.
DHIs Bristol Peer Support Service
took centre stage with Chris
Hodder, ROADS Peer Supporter,
sharing his story and giving an
insight into what the Peer training
and placement through DHI has
meant to him and his recovery.

As ever, the Client Achievement

Awards were announced to
rapturous applause from the

The Out the Shadows

team treated us to a
brief and thoroughly
entertaining performance,
based on their successful
collaboration with The
Natural Theatre Company,
once more donning their
Georgian regalia.

audience, with the Team Award

going to Out of the Shadows,
DHIs theatre group, for their
creative collaboration with the
Natural Theatre Company as part
of the Bath Fringe.
Darren King, who had struggled
with problematic alcohol use

since his teens, was awarded the

Contribution to the Community
Award. Homeless when he
managed to complete a community
detox with the support of his
GP and DHI, Darren has turned
his life around, becoming a Peer
Continued on page 3

Inside this issue: A word from our CEO 2 / Legal Highs 4 / Project 28 tackle
anti-social behaviour 5 / Wo odworks Project 6 / Donate 7 / News in brief 8

DHI Friends

Issue 7

A word from the CEO

vulnerable people in both Wiltshire

seem to have had Maslows
and Somerset, despite the excellent
hierarchy tattooed to the insides
of my irises ever since secondary outcomes achieved. At the same
time, Drugscopes State of the
school and his basic argument
Sector Report showed that workers
that people cant attain their
identified housing as the biggest gap
potential (and contribute positively
in provision, along with support for
to society) if basic needs for food,
those with a dual diagnosis.
warmth and shelter arent met. For
any criticisms there may be of
At our previous Annual Event, Dr
Maslow 70 years on, this makes
much sense to me. Decent affordable Phil Hammond used a metaphor for
our health and social care system
housing and support for our most
that of a stream, where increasingly
vulnerable are essential, and for all
bodies float down the stream. We
the spending we put into health, all
dive in deeper and deeper to pull
evidence shows that outcomes will
them out again and again and spend
be poor if basic needs for housing
so much time pulling them out of the
are not addressed.
deep end that nobody ever wanders
up stream to see if somebody is
Given this it worries and perplexes
pushing them in! It seems to me that
me that housing is such an easy
this is precisely whats happening
target for cuts. During the last
when we desert vulnerable people
couple of months, DHI has been
with housing needs at a time when
notified of funding withdrawals
we have a growing housing crisis.
from housing support services for

Clearly we need to
shout louder about the
absolutely essential link
between housing and
outcomes for health,
crime, education,
employment and just
about everything else
that matters

DHI welcomes
We are delighted to welcome
Anne Welch to DHI. As Corporate
Services Director Anne is
responsible for the organisations
operational infrastructure,
covering services including
HR, IT and PR. Anne trained
as an accountant with KPMG,
subsequently working in medium
sized businesses across a
number of sectors including
retail, telecoms and economic
consultancy. Annes personal

values are in line with DHIs;

self-direction being key to
personal growth; this makes
sense to me as the way for
people to make the best of their
abilities, to increase output and
for each individuals sense of
worth and fulfilment.
Anne explains the attraction of
DHI a great team of people
and clarity of vision and values.
Im lo oking forward to working
with the central services team

to provide an efficient and

effective operational structure to
support these aims.
You can reach Anne at:
annewelch@dhibath.org.uk

Issue 7

DHI Friends

Continued from front cover

Annual Event 2014: Peer Perspectives
supporter and working voluntarily
at a homelessness hostel in Bristol
and running a social drop-in on
Saturdays for people in recovery.
Damian Vaughan and Jamie Floyd
were joint winners of the Dave Miel
Personal Achievement Award. Jamie
was a poly drug user for 24 years. At
one of his lowest points Jamie lived
in his dealers garden shed. In his
recovery, Jamie has thrown himself
into activities, promoting DHIs
many services, varnishing garden
furniture at the Warmley Treatment
Centre and helping to relaunch the
bike maintenance project.
Jamie told us that being nominated
in itself was a huge confidence
boost and winning was
terrifying! His cycle ride from
Bristol to Lands End appalling
weather to boot raised 350 for
DHI, but that hasnt put Jamie off
as hes just signed up for another
fundraising ride of twice the
distance. Watch this space!

had a built in budget that enabled

Damian to choose his own Personal
Assistants and decide how they
support him.

Damian feels empowered by his

educational accomplishments and
the improved quality of life he is
able to enjoy. He is now training
with DHI as a peer to support others
in a similar situation. Damian tells
DHI Friends that he was shocked at
being nominated, but the experience
Finally, Damian Vaughan delivered
made me hold my chin up high. Its
a rousing speech on the quality of
life he is now able to enjoy and what amazing to know its actually possible
to know you can do something in life
the award recognition means to
and get somewhere.
him. Damian was referred to DHIs
Swindon Support Planning and
Direct Payments Service as a result
of having severe epilepsy.

At the point he was referred he so

crippled by anxiety and depression
that he felt his wings were clipped
as options seemed so limited.
Damians Personal Support Plan

At the Annual Event I

met people who had
previously plunged into
seemingly hopeless
addictions from which
there appeared no return
until, with the help of
DHI, they were able
to return to normal
productive lives
Councillor Vic Pritchard

DHI Friends

Issue 7

Legal highs
SPACED is a newly launched pilot service supporting those who are
using NPS (Novel Psychoactive Substances, also known as legal highs)
funded by Safer South Gloucestershire.

PACED (Stimulant,
Psycho-active, Alternative,
Club, Experimental Drugs)
aims to improve peoples
awareness in order to reduce harm
and direct those who need support
to treatment services. SPACED
also covers more traditional party
drugs such as cocaine, MDMA and
amphetamines.

In addition to supporting local

people with advice and signposting
for treatment services, the
SPACED team are ensuring that
they are interacting with their
target market at a variety of public
places including night clubs. One
Kingswood nightclub, Chasers, has
been so receptive when it comes
to raising awareness amongst their
clients that the staff uniform now
boasts the SPACED logo.
Evidence suggests that NPS use
can be more prevalent in rural/nonurban communities such as South
Gloucestershire and therefore the
SPACED project is vital in ensuring
that local communities in the area
are not disproportionately affected
by NPS in terms of health life
expectancy.
Our approach builds on
the existing evidence
4

David Haye (centre) at Chasers Nightclub

lending support to the campaign

around NPS which highlights

that NPS users differ significantly
from more traditional users of
treatment services.

heroin and crack users, they (users)

often have good personal resources
jobs, relationships, accommodation
most over 18 club drug users are
relatively young, whereas the heroin
and crack users in treatment are
For example the National Treatment
Agency highlight that: unlike typical getting older (NTA, 2012).

People dont really know what they are taking and neither do we
know the full extent of the long-term effects. People really are
gambling with their lives when they use these drugs. We are keen
to move away from the legal high tag. As it suggests a benign
drug, when in fact legal does not mean safe.
Natasha
Novel Psychoactive Substance Co - ordinator for SPACED

Issue 7

DHI Friends

Project 28 tackle
anti-social behaviour
in Keynsham

olice have seen a vast

reduction in the number
of anti-social call outs in
the last year since working
alongside Project 28 to minimise
anti-social behaviour among a
targeted group within the Keynsham
community. Project 28 is DHIs
Young Peoples drug and alcohol
treatment service in B&NES.
Teenagers who had been hanging
around at the bandstand of the
Keynsham memorial park became
involved by painting up car tyres
for a flower garden they created
at the entrance of Wyvale Garden

Centre and other useful

community works.
Engaging young people in
meaningful occupation is essential
to progress, but this starts by
building a rapport with them and
delivering a street-based service.
Jess Elmer from Project 28
explains: First we make connect
with the young people and build
up trust. They know the service
is confidential and that we dont
judge, so they can be honest. In
return we provide boundaries but
also a sense of fun so the young
people can relate to us.

Their approach has been flexible,

dropping everything to focus on
any problematic areas. In one
case, Project 28 alerted us to an
anti-social behaviour hot spot
that wasnt yet on our radar. Early
intervention works.
Tim Harris
B&NES Antisocial Behaviour
Manager

Alices story
Prior to engaging with the police antisocial behaviour team and Project 28, 19
year old Alice couldnt recall a time in her teenage life without being on a Youth
Referral Order, which entails reporting to the Youth Referral Panel regularly.
l Alices background is all
to o familiar; a dysfunctional
family life where drug/alcohol
abuse has been normalised and
police were concerned about
Alices antisocial behaviour and
crimes such as bullying, theft
of a car and vandalism. Even
when Alice wasnt committing
fresh crimes, shed breach her
YRO which would mean another

6 months of monitoring and

Community Service.
Project 28 staff built up a
relationship with Alice and
found out about her interests
which then laid a foundation for
Alices change in attitude and
willingness to learn.
Intelligence Reports on Alice

fell from 114 in one year to

just 2 during the time of
liaising with our services. Alice
enthusiastically joined in with
the project at the garden centre
and is about to embark on a
painting and decorating course
at college. Alice has been 6 days
abstinent from marijuana at the
time of going to press, another
first in her life as a young adult.
5

DHI Friends

Issue 7

Talking to
Byll Pulman who runs Bath charity The Woodworks Project alongside
Stephen Budd, one cant fail to be caught up in his enthusiasm
for teaching parallel life skills to his students.

en, a DHI client, was

homeless and addicted
to heroin. Although
progressing with his
treatment, Ben felt he wasnt
doing enough to see the
progression he wanted and craved
routine and productivity in his
life. Ben tentatively went along to
his first Woodworks session and
immediately had a lot of respect
for the skill and the beautiful
wood types. Ben admits that
turning up promptly three days
a week was a big shock to the
system, however boundaries were
in place and this allowed him to
escape his chaotic lifestyle. It
calmed me down, levelled me,
knowing I was learning skills that
people have honed over hundreds
of years.
For Ben, the personal gain was
enormous, but the fact that he
was part of doing something for
the greater good, touched me and
instantly made me change my
ways. Ben has thrown himself
in wholeheartedly and now
volunteers for TWP, enjoying the
team work and camaraderie whilst
doing deliveries and collections of
antique furniture.
Byll of TWP explains his
6

approach is about attitude and

knowing where the fine line is
of encouraging someone to have
a go, but not so that theyre too
stressed by it. Ben says that
alongside the practical work
people talk about their lives, their
challenges. For Ben this may be a
career avenue, as he has achieved
support from DHI and TWP to
begin a carpentry college course.

I can usually tell how

someone will approach
woodwork just by the
way they stand next to
a piece of wood and
people have a moment
when it just clicks and
that can give me a lump
in the throat
Byll Pulman

For more info:

www.thewoodworksproject.com
or 01225 435566 or visit their
beautifully styled shop on
Southgate Street, a few minutes
from the bus station.

Main image: Ben working under Bylls

guidance. Inset: Beautiful craftsmanship
from The Woodworks Project

Issue 7

DHI Friends

Thank you so much

for all that you do
to support DHI
As a charity we could not continue to offer our
services without donations from our supporters.
Please go to the link below to donate. You can
also use this link to raise funds for us through a
fun activity of your own choice.
Your donation supports a variety of projects including: support for peer run activities
such as the fishing club, art groups and Off the Wall magazine, deposits for private
accommodation or street work with the homeless. Thank you!

Please donate here: www.justgiving.com/dhi/

WANTED: Volunteers
for new Social
Prescribing service

my script

Launching this April, My Script is an exciting new service, funded by

B&NES CCG, to provide social prescribing across all 27 GP practices
in the area. Our team of staff and volunteers will support patients
to address the personal or social issues that may be negatively
impacting their health (such as debt, isolation, housing, family,
depression, etc) by signposting and encouraging them to engage
with relevant local services, groups, or social activities.

So if youre interested in giving up a few hours a

week to make a real difference in your community
please contact volunteers@dhi- online.org.uk

DHI Friends

Issue 7

News in brief
The Beehive announce newly
qualified Peer Mentors for 2015
Congratulations to the 6 clients
whove completed their training
as Peer Mentors. A graduation
ceremony was held on February 11th
in recognition of their achievements.
The new Peer Mentors will volunteer
at the Beehive in group and 1 to 1
sessions, sharing their experiences
and mentoring other clients through
their recovery journey. They will also
volunteer at the Royal United Hospital
to support those who are experiencing
addiction, encouraging them to access
DHIs services.
RSVP (Resolve to Stop the Violence
Programme)
DHI will be launching RSVP in
Bristol in April in partnership with
Victim Support. Our programme will
support male perpetrators of domestic
abuse who voluntarily seek help to
change their abusive behaviours. The
programme offers one-to-one pattern
changing behaviour sessions and will
support perpetrators to gain personal
insight, to be accountable and to
develop new (non violent) ways of
communicating.
Gearing up for Personal
Health Budgets
DHI has been chosen by NHS
England to take part in a pilot
programme to increase the take up of
Personal Health Budgets. A PHB is a
pot of money awarded to an individual
who has complex or enduring health
needs relating to a disability or long
term health condition. Patients eligible
for a PHB can now receive it as a cash
8

award and DHI will be working with

local health colleagues to show how
this money can be used to deliver
more holistic and creative care plans
which empower clients to take greater
control of their health and wellbeing.
Somerset service closures
It is with sadness we announce the
closure of two highly-regarded DHI
services in March. The Family Focus
service, part of the national Troubled
Families programme, has been
operating in Mendip and Sedgemoor
since 2013 and has been highly
effective in supporting families with
multiple/complex needs to access
services and turn their lives around.

Dont miss
our Reach Out Conference
Thursday, 11th June at 2:30
8.30m, Frys Conference Centre,
Keynsham. Save the date!
To book: events@dhibath.org.uk

The Families Floating Support service

has also delivered fantastic outcomes
supporting families in housing need.
We would like to extend sincere
thanks to the respective staff teams for
all their efforts and hard work.

Social Justice Champion Award

Rosie Phillips (DHI CEO) won a prestigious Social Justice Champion Award
on 18th November 2014. The award recognises the work of individuals and
organisations who are helping to build a more just society by empowering
people from disadvantaged backgrounds to take personal responsibility
for improving their lives. Rosie received her award at a ceremony in London,
presented by Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP, Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions and Chair of the Social Justice Cabinet Committee.

Rosie Phillips receives

her Social Justice
Award from Iain
Duncan Smith