people we worked with . We needed fresh direction to reflect the organisation we ’ d become and in 1979 we began providing services under the name Turning Point . Today , the name and our strapline , ‘ Inspired by possibility ’ continue to serve us well .
Turning Point has always explored innovation in technology to improve its services . This goes back to the early ‘ 80s when we embraced new phone technologies and set up Drugline , our helpline providing advice and information . From a base in Birmingham , we soon developed a network of helplines across the West Midlands .
Today , we continue to put new technologies to work . Digitally delivered services , such as crisis support and talking therapies by video call , make it possible for us to support even more people , as well as providing choice for individuals around how they engage .
HARM REDUCTION Working so closely with the people we support , we ’ ve always understood the importance of enabling people to live their lives in a safer way . In 1984 , we introduced our needle exchange services at The Hungerford Centre in London , which reflected our pragmatic approach : those who require equipment to use substances should be supported to do so in a way that protects and keeps them safe . In the same year , we opened our first service targeting underserved communities – in Southall , London – working with people from Asian communities who had alcohol problems .
Turning Point ’ s ethos has always been to consider the health of the whole person – mental and physical . The value of emotional support was a key reason our founders made it a priority to offer mental health support in conjunction with treatment for drug and alcohol use . In 1985 , we made the formal step into mental health when we opened projects in the Midlands and North West .
Turning Point joined the campaign to combat the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS
In 1985 the late Princess Diana became Turning Point ’ s patron , a role she carried out until 1996 . Diana championed a person-centred approach to care , and combatting stigma was a central theme throughout her humanitarian work . Perhaps most famously , in front of the world ’ s media , Diana shook the hand of a patient suffering from AIDS at a time when fear and misconceptions surrounding HIV and AIDS were rife .
and opened the Rehabilitation of Metropolitan Addicts project in 1987 , which provided residential care for people with AIDS . Four years later , we opened The Griffin Project in West London , our first continuing care unit for people who use drugs affected by HIV .
DUAL DIAGNOSIS A decade later we opened one of the first outreach projects for people with co-existing mental health and substance use issues in Cambridge . The emergence of dual diagnosis as a diagnostic category from the late 1990s shifted the focus away from the drug itself and towards the wider context for recovery . In 2007 , our then chief executive Lord Victor Adebowale established the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Complex Needs and Dual Diagnosis .
The need to support people struggling with more than one issue continues to be at the forefront of our work , and can be seen in today ’ s inpatient services such as our Smithfield service – a purpose-built specialist inpatient treatment unit in Manchester city centre . Our approach is always centred around the needs of each individual during their detox programme for alcohol , opiates or other substances .
When undertaking detox , the focus is to improve the physical , emotional and mental wellbeing of our clients so longterm changes can be achieved . To ensure that withdrawal symptoms are managed effectively the units are staffed by
SUBMITTING AN OBJECT
Everyday objects can help us tell amazing stories about ourselves . They can represent an experience that meant something to you , or was a significant turning point in your life . So we ’ re asking people to submit their story using an everyday object , as a way to share moments of
mental health nurses and support workers 24 hours a day .
Into the new millennium , we continued to use our experience and expertise to advocate on behalf of those who use our services . In 2004 we carried out Home Office-commissioned research on the use of khat , with the ACMD subsequently recommending it should not be a controlled substance . We also developed ‘ Connected Care ’, our methodology for involving communities in the design and delivery of more joined-up , responsive public services . We tested the methodology in 19 communities across England , engaging directly with more than 130,000 people . In 2006 , we published Bottling it up , our report on the views of parents and children affected by problematic alcohol use .
Last year we launched a new training resource to increase the awareness and understanding of dual diagnosis – the online course has been designed by experienced specialists and is available for anyone to access for free , regardless of level of knowledge .
The outbreak of the pandemic was an especially challenging time for many people , including the individuals we work with , and we ’ re incredibly proud of the way our teams responded .
We kept our services open wherever we safely could and elsewhere we adapted how we provided our services – from quickly moving to phone / video appointments across our drug and alcohol services , to publishing information and guidance for the people we support about staying safe and well during lockdown .
THE FUTURE Turning Point is continually evolving and improving its services and the lives of those we support . Our annual Safer Lives Conference , for example , brings together over 200 delegates to develop strategies to reduce opiate deaths . We ’ ve also opened new services such as supported accommodation for people with multiple and complex needs at risk of rough sleeping in Stafford and sexual health services for young people in Hounslow and Southwark .
We are developing more integrated approaches and wider partnerships , responding swiftly to changing drug markets and patterns in drug and alcohol use , developing the evidence base , tackling stigma and celebrating recovery . All of this is reflected in our CQC rating which has increased from 91 per cent to 96 per cent in the past few years .
Nat Travis is national head of service , public health & substance misuse at Turning Point
hope and inspiration . We ’ ve already selected our first 20 objects which you can view on our website www . tp60 . co . uk , and will be revealing five objects chosen by partners over the coming months . In June we ’ ll reveal the final 35 objects chosen from all the stories we receive and showcase the full 60 objects at an exhibition at Kensington Palace .
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