DDN National Conference
UPFRONT
Drink and Drugs News is published by CJ Wellings Ltd , Romney House , School Road , Ashford , Kent TN27 0LT t : 0845 299 3429
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IN THIS ISSUE
6
ON THE COVER – Pathways from Prison 15
Volunteering
and the voice of experience
Support for veterans
16
INSIDE
4 NEWS Government complacent on alcohol harm ; new DWP scheme
8 PRISON TO HOME Community support 10 WIDER HEALTH Focus on wellbeing 12 WE ARE VIA ! Whose new brand ? 14 CAREERS The social worker 20 COMPASSIONATE END Dignity in death 22 MANY ROADS Will you be there ? 23 LETTERS ‘ Dear editor ...’
Recovery Street entries are now open for 2023
18
DDN National Conference
THURSDAY 13 JULY 2023
The National Motorcycle Museum , Birmingham
NEARLY THERE !
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‘ Everyone will gain from sharing experiences ’
We ’ re in the final run-up to the annual DDN Conference on 13 July . We ’ ll hear from people with personal experience of all the issues reflected in our pages , including making a path from the criminal justice system – a key theme of this issue .
In February 2008 I wrote in my editor ’ s letter , following the first DDN Conference ( in partnership with The Alliance , back then ): ‘ Reactions to our first DDN / Alliance service user conference have been illuminating , interesting and inspiring for the next attempt . Most of the responses have been overwhelmingly enthusiastic ; it ’ s on the online forums that discussion gets more open . Some contributors suspected there was no point to the event , as nothing would change . Others found it a less than polished experience compared to a standard conference format . Some didn ’ t go – but were sure it couldn ’ t have been worth it . That ’ s the most frustrating comment to hear !’
So where are we 15 years later ? Still hosting the dialogue and convinced that everyone will gain a lot from sharing very diverse experiences – see Anna ’ s article on p22 . I still hear the occasional comment ‘ it isn ’ t for me ’ – but these days I want more than ever to know , why not ? Claire Brown , editor www . drinkanddrugsnews . com and @ DDNmagazine
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