WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO WORK IN THIS FIELD? I feel very passionate about harm reduction and being able to advocate for both trans folk, and people who use drugs. I was drawn to BDP specifically because of their work with the LGBTQ + community, their harm reduction interventions with students, and their involvement in progressive research around drug use.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR DAY … My typical day involves creating content for our social media – I like to draw on the intersection between people who use drugs and Queer people. I also help facilitate our monthly health and harm reduction hub for trans + people in Bristol – Project4T. It’ s a lot more handson, guiding people through the kind of support we have on offer; sexual health testing, drug and alcohol support, DIY HRT information, mental health support and blood testing.

WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST REWARDING? Being able to offer a safe, trauma-informed, accessible space for the trans community is hugely rewarding. We’ re extremely fortunate in Bristol that the Queer community is active, involved and forever growing, and it’ s amazing that we get to be a part of that. Project4T is the first of its kind in Bristol and I’ m extremely proud to have helped bring it to life. The feedback we’ ve received so far is really heartwarming and truly emphasises the need for this kind of service in the city

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHANGE? We’ re working to increase access to the service by expanding our capacity and reach. It’ s been great working with some amazing peerled organisations like Dandelion and Changes Bristol to help with this. Trans people need services to step up now more than ever,

and demand for support for people who are DIYing [ meds without a prescription ] is growing – we’ d love to be able to meet this need even more.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO ANYONE CONSIDERING A SIMILAR CAREER? Do it! Working in the drug and alcohol sector, and the charity sector in general, can be tricky – but it’ s also extremely rewarding work. It’ s all about the people. I work with some incredible, kind, dedicated people who are now friends for life. Any job is going to be difficult, but the kind of people who do this work never will be.

' I work with some incredible, kind, dedicated people who are now friends for life. Any job is going to be difficult, but the kind of people who do this work never will be.'