TRAUMA
BRIDGE THE GAP
A specialist traumainformed outreach service is showing that partnering with local charities is leading the way for individuals facing multiple disadvantage .
Bridge the Gap ( BTG ) was launched by Surrey County Council as part of the government ’ s Changing Futures programme in a bid to improve the lives of Surrey residents experiencing multiple disadvantage .
These people have almost always experienced some kind of early trauma which , over time , can lead to issues such as mental ill health , substance use , contact with the criminal justice system or homelessness .
Bridge the Gap is Surrey ’ s first trauma-informed outreach service for residents facing multiple disadvantage . Lisa Byrne explains
These individuals are usually known to traditional services , having sought support many times before . However , they can end up falling back through the gaps due to their complexities and , through no fault of their own , fail to meet service criteria and expectations . That ’ s when people can become ‘ retraumatised ’ by the very services set up to help them .
The Bridge the Gap consortium is made up of a group of 11 local charities that have partnered with Surrey County Council to provide a specialist offer of support . The charities form part of the Bridge the Gap VCSE Alliance , supporting people experiencing multiple disadvantage . BTG support is provided by a team of 24 specialist outreach workers – some bring lived experience to the workforce and are employed through an Alliance of Surrey ’ s voluntary , community and social enterprise ( VCSE ) organisations . ‘ Through Bridge the Gap we ’ re providing support to the most traumatised and socially excluded people ,’ says Joanne Tester , CEO of Guildford Action – one of the 11 charities , which has supported residents with multiple disadvantage for more than 30 years . ‘ Forming relationships with these vulnerable people is a crucial part of Bridge the Gap , which considers the underlying trauma someone has experienced in the past . The programme focuses on a person ’ s strengths , rather than their issues and complexities . By taking a trauma-informed strength-based approach , the service sees beyond a client ’ s presentation and supports them towards their own personal goals . ‘
This way of working is a ‘ game changer ’ for Surrey , she adds . ‘ I cannot imagine us going back to how things were before Bridge the Gap , and the powerful vision that now shapes our work .’
Clients don ’ t have to be abstinent from substances to receive support . Workers are trained to continually assess dynamic risks , offering a service that is risk aware , while providing a co-occurring conditions support pathway . This includes timely access to mainstream substance use and mental health treatment services , if and when the client desires or is ready for it . This aims to avoid , wherever possible , failure and re-traumatisation .
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