A SOCIAL SPACE
Drug deaths and harms are increasing , the cost-of-living crisis is impacting families and young people , homelessness is rising , prisons are overflowing and cases of domestic abuse are at appalling levels .
Cranstoun ’ s three-day Social Justice Conference will cover the five key areas of domestic abuse , young people ’ s services , criminal justice , housing and homelessness , and of course substance use . The theme is ‘ innovation and collaboration ’ – coming together to learn , share and be inspired by each other .
At Cranstoun we believe in empowering people , meeting people where they ’ re at and delivering services that are designed by the people they ’ re there to serve . At this conference we ’ ll hear from leaders in the field , from those with living experience and those who challenge outdated laws and stereotypes .
While we all work as hard as we can as individuals to support people often experiencing multiple forms of disadvantage , we believe our combined knowledge , expertise , compassion and voice can drive the wider policy changes needed for real meaningful change . This
With drug-related deaths on the increase , Peter Krykant looks ahead to Cranstoun ’ s Social Justice Conference 2024
is exactly why this conference is so critical – to steal the theme of this year ’ s DDN conference , we really are ‘ Stronger Together ’.
So who should attend ? Anyone with an interest in social justice – third sector , drug services , prison , police and probation services , housing associations , social workers , commissioners , health services , night-time economy , community safety teams .
When last year ’ s inaugural Cranstoun Social Justice Conference took place in Brighton , we were joined by delegates from all over the world – Aamer Anwar the Scottish human rights lawyer , renowned Canadian activist Zoe Dodd and author and reader in law Dr Kojo
Last year we brought together individuals and organisations to share ideas in a safe space , a space where we could be honest and open with each other ...
Koram were among a wide range of speakers covering topics like drug decriminalisation , racial justice , sex work , civil disobedience , overdose prevention sites and heroinassisted treatment .
After amazing feedback we ’ re ready for # SocialJustice24 which will take place from 18 to 20 September at the Birmingham Conference and Events Centre . Much has changed since last year ’ s event , with the drug supply in the UK becoming increasingly toxic – which makes the need to scale up harm reduction services crucial .
‘ It ’ s imperative now that we use spaces like the Social Justice Conference to find our people and team up to prevent further drug deaths , given the rise in adulterants like nitazenes and xylazine ,’ said keynote speaker and Release ’ s service coordinator , Shayla Schlossenberg . ‘ I ’ m grateful for the chance to speak and look forward to finding accomplices interested in taking action against the toxic drug supply .’
Alongside Shayla , we ’ re delighted to welcome other keynote speakers including Judy Chang from the International Network of People Who Use Drugs , outgoing executive director of Harm Reduction International and Cranstoun board member Naomi Burke- Shyne , our very own director at Cranstoun Meg Jones , Hannah Boyle and Claire Longmuir from Simon Community Scotland , Anna Millington from HR M2M Network , Deb Hussey from Turning Point and Aura Roig Forteza from Metzineres in Barcelona .
We ’ ll also have poster displays and an exhibition space , and the conference registration will include free-flowing tea and coffee . There ’ ll be a full lunch each day , and a social evening with a drink included on arrival for each delegate .
Last year we brought together individuals and organisations ( that are often competing for contracts and tenders ) to share ideas in a safe space , a space where we could be honest and open with each other about some of the challenges we faced as drug deaths continue to rise . Our challenges now are even greater . The Social Justice Conference will give everyone attending enhanced knowledge and expertise so we can meet them head on .
A full programme will be included in the bags at this year ’ s DDN conference . For further information and tickets – www . cranstoun . org / socialjustice-conference-2024
For group rates , exhibition spaces and student rates email pkrykant @ cranstoun . org . uk and events @ cranstoun . org . uk
Peter Krykant is events and campaigns lead at Cranstoun
22 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • JULY / AUGUST 2024 WWW . DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS . COM