box, water bottle, mug, notepad and pens nicely packed in a rucksack. We continued to liaise with his keyworker and the clinical team as Shaun started working, and were able to accommodate appointments to suit his work schedule.
Of course, the support didn’ t stop there as IPS offers regular wellbeing and in-work support sessions for a further four to six months. Shaun welcomed the check-ins, and we completed the initial onboarding documents together as he talked me through his answers. Once the forms were done and the start date was set, we identified that pharmacy pickups may prove difficult in the future, and discussed how we could eliminate barriers that might impact on his work. We managed to arrange an appointment within the week, where our clinic team discussed long-acting buprenorphine injections with Shaun. He was keen to move forward with this new medication to avoid any obstacles as he wanted this employment to work for him in the long run.
Shaun’ s commitment to working and attending clinic appointments benefited his overall wellbeing as he became accustomed to this new routine and his working life very quickly. The domino effect has also helped his relationships to flourish, as he has put his recovery at the forefront of his progress. Even 18 months on, I feel honoured to have worked with Shaun and feel grateful to have been part of his recovery journey.
If you’ re inspired by reading Shaun’ s journey and are accessing a drug and alcohol service, speak to your local IPS team – and unlock your potential.
Sophea Saroay is IPS team leader at Cranstoun
I was collecting sublingual buprenorphine from the chemist three times a week. This was going to be difficult as I obviously didn’ t want to keep taking time off work to collect my medication. With IPS support I was able to see a clinician at Cranstoun to change my medication to long-acting buprenorphine, which meant I was only attending for injection every month.
All of this is a massive achievement for me. Next April I’ ll be two years in employment and my buprenorphine dose has now reduced to the lowest level, as my clinician Dave has motivated me continue to build on my recovery.
I’ m proud of my achievements and want my story to encourage other people to get into work, because it is possible. Now I want to climb the ladder in the workplace, and I’ ve already completed some refresher courses. I really feel that IPS has given me the confidence to believe in myself and continue to progress in the future.
PEER POTENTIAL
As Ara prepares to launch its peer academy in Bristol, Joshua Hapgood explores the unique contribution of people who’ ve
‘ walked the path themselves’
Ara Recovery 4 All has been running services for vulnerable people and communities for nearly 40 years, and since 2017 we’ ve been the lead provider for the Bristol Homeless Pathway 4. This provides accommodation for people who are homeless and want to address their drug and / or alcohol use, alongside our other services such as prison resettlement and support to tackle gambling harms across the South West and Wales.
We’ re now in the process of launching our peer academy in Bristol – an exciting new initiative designed to support individuals in recovery to become trained peer mentors and help others on their journey. The programme will offer clients living in Ara housing structured training and supervision alongside personal and professional development opportunities. We’ ll provide accredited learning and work pathways so that people with lived experience can give something back and support others on their journey to stability, connection and long-term wellbeing.
THE HEART OF RECOVERY The academy puts lived experience at the heart of recovery support, recognising the unique value of those who’ ve walked the path themselves. Through structured learning, supervision and hands-on experience, the academy will equip peer mentors with the skills, confidence and knowledge to support people who are early in their recovery from substance use and homelessness and currently living in Ara supported housing.
Our aim is to develop a strong community of trained peer mentors who can use their lived experience to not just support recovery but also reduce stigma and strengthen local networks for Ara clients – all of this will open up pathways to opportunity, inspire hope and enable people to live better lives. We’ ll develop the peer mentors both personally and professionally and support them to achieve their goals – whether that’ s furthering their education or looking at wider employment pathways.
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE The mentors will gain practical experience in supporting individuals through one-to-one and group sessions, while building up their confidence, skills and professional networks. For people accessing support, the academy will offer compassionate, lived-experience-led guidance, help with life skills, and provide a safe pathway into wider recovery services and community networks.
Through structured learning, supervision and hands-on experience, the academy will equip peer mentors with the skills, confidence and knowledge to support people who are early in their recovery.
The academy recognises that lived experience is a powerful professional asset – one that transforms services, builds connection, and creates real opportunities for both the people rebuilding their lives and their mentors. We’ re extremely grateful for the generous funding we’ ve had from both The Nisbet Trust and St Michael’ s Foundation.
‘ I’ m extremely proud that we’ ve been able to launch the Ara peer academy and give people with lived experience high-quality training and a social purpose,’ said Ara’ s director of recovery and resettlement, Robbie Thornhill.‘ As well as the benefits for them and their future careers, Ara clients will be able to tap into strong recovery support and perspective from people who have been in the same place as them and found a way through.’
Joshua Hapgood is peer coordinator at Ara
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