Working with Stockport Drug and Alcohol Service

In October we delivered our first Ambassador programme for Stockport Drug and Alcohol Service. The programme gives people who have come through the service the opportunity to gain an Accredited Information, Advice and Guidance Qualification along with additional training on Boundaries, Safeguarding, Domestic Abuse Awareness and Risk Escalation training. They can then use their lived experience and new knowledge to make positive changes by volunteering within the service or their local community improving theirs, their family’s and the local community’s lives. They all gave fantastic feedback on the course and are excited about the next chapter in their lives.

The programme was a huge success and all 11 learners completed the full course. Of the 11 learners; 1 has already started Employment with us on an Apprenticeship Audit role, 8 are currently waiting for their DBS to come back to start their new Volunteer role within the service and 1 is looking to volunteer within the NHS on the wards.

Together we have co-produced the new volunteer service with brand new roles with a focus on Community Engagement. So far the local Council, Housing, Homeless Centre, Local Volunteering Hub and many more have signed up to link in, and recognise how the programme will benefit the whole of Stockport.

We are currently in the process of co-producing a digital model for the service and are working in Partnership with Stockport Homes to map what local services and provisions are available and linking in with them to create referral pathways to and from the service.

Our plans and aspirations for the future are to get the new Volunteer service up off the ground and make a big impact to the service, to have more Community engagement and  start setting up new provisions within the local community.