Using a van and trailer provided by Hackney ’ s community wellbeing team , the service began operating in Ridley Road Market in the centre of the borough for a day a week . |
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‘ I can get out there and meet others . That ’ s what I like about the service . We ’ ve knocked on doors in the hostels and gotten groups of people to come along . It brings people together .’
And the community have started to tell us “ try this area , try that hostel ”. They ’ re worried about the overdoses too .’
EXPANDING BRIEF The scope of the service has expanded as the year has gone on , including work to develop a wound care pathway for people who find services difficult to access , referrals for housing needs and engagement with partner organisations to test for other blood-borne viruses , making every contact count . The
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hub ’ s staff and volunteers have made links with local charities in the substance use , sexual health , and homelessness spaces , and with the Greenhouse Practice , a GP surgery that specialises in supporting the homeless population in the borough .
The hub is led by a strategy group , which includes representation from both providers and commissioners , and a volunteer strategy group that ensures service user insights are continually shaping delivery and outcomes . The hub has supported 170 people with equipment or advice , and also supports the wellbeing team in providing meals and hot drinks as a means to build a rapport and sustain engagement .
In between the hub ’ s core service days , its team have fanned out into hostels to find and reach clients as a regular part of their outreach . A recent visit to a hostel near London Fields saw five people tested for hepatitis C , all of whom were positive , as well as the provision of harm reduction advice and equipment . The team from the Hackney Harm Reduction Hub engaged 12 residents during a 12-hour session , and then laid
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plans to return and introduce new lived experience peers to the residents .
Mobility continues to be a key theme as the service evolves . The hub ’ s team are exploring options like Zipcars , bicycle rentals and public transport vouchers to increase the mobility of its peer volunteers and clients . A new freephone line has also been set up for people to request delivery of supplies to wherever the person requires or alert the team to drug waste hotspots , so that the hub can help clean up dangerous waste in the borough .
TACKLING RISK While the Hackney Harm Reduction Hub has made strides , efforts to distribute safer inhalation devices such as pipes remain a point of legal contention . A survey of people visiting the Hackney hub found demand for this type of equipment – many people are using pipes for both crack and heroin , and use of homemade pipes is putting people at significant risk . This has driven a joint submission from LJWG , Haringey Council public health team , The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
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and Release to the Metropolitan Police for a ‘ letter of comfort ’, that gives permission for safer inhalation pipes to be distributed .
The project faced other trials as well , but has been able to adapt . People who use drugs were relocating due to increased police presence during scoping exercises , for example , so outreach planning now avoids overlaps with enforcement activity . Managing living experience volunteers ’ conflicting commitments was proving a challenge , so The Hepatitis C Trust ’ s volunteer coordinator introduced a tailored support package and volunteer time prioritisation plans .
LOOKING FORWARD Looking forward , the service is strengthening its data collection to gain deeper insights into the demographics , health needs , and service preferences of its clients , to better shape and guide the service . A further survey , incentivised with vouchers , will gather feedback from service users to make sure the needs of some of Hackney ’ s most vulnerable residents are being met without asking too many questions when initiating relationships .
As we continue to aim to eliminate hepatitis C as a major public health concern and support people to understand the risk of harm posed by drugs – including synthetics – the Hackney hub represents a new way of tackling harm reduction . Through a community-led and rooted approach and close partnerships among voluntary and public bodies , Hackney is setting an example for cities across the UK and beyond on how to approach substance use with dignity and support .
Elliot Bidgood is at Principle Consulting working with the Hackney Harm Reduction Hub
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