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words, people, places and things, one day at a time. And one day I believe all treatment services will be built that way.’ Partnerships were central to this, he stressed –‘ the ability to harness that collective recovery capital’. Solution-focused partnerships could foster respect for each other’ s abilities, strengths and differences –‘ community and professionalism coming together.’
With Dear Albert this had meant things like employing peer mentors, establishing a breakfast club, daily outreach, naloxone distribution, and‘ bringing the message of recovery to wider audiences with the help of established providers. We’ re grateful to Turning Point, commissioners and everybody else for a willingness to be open to shared learning. Ultimately LEROs will need to become more professional than the professionals, and that’ s a tall order. It’ s not for the fainthearted, but it can be done.’ Turning Point had been delivering treatment services in Leicester since 2016, said operations manager Andrea Knowles,‘ and our partners at Dear Albert have been working with us right from the very beginning.’ Initially this had been focused around mutual aid, access and making sure that recovery was visible in the community.‘ Then the team started working with our aftercare offer and have made
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some amazing impact in that area. Now we’ re really working across the board together – coming in right at the beginning of someone’ s treatment journey.’
One of Turning Point’ s core values was the belief that everyone had the potential to change and grow.‘ So everything we do as a partnership is around that personcentred focus, coming to them where they are at any one time. I’ m really proud of the partnership we have in Leicester. By working together we really see the needs of our community and we’ re able to build services and systems that really work for the people that we’ re here to support.’
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FIGHTING TO SURVIVE Originally from Zimbabwe, Andrew Mtizwa-Mubayiwa had been teaching in the UK when addiction issues led to the collapse of his marriage. Interviewed by Hannah Mordey of the Social Interest Group, he told the conference that this was followed by him becoming street homeless for 15 years. He’ d been on a spouse visa, which had been revoked following his marriage breakdown.‘ So I became illegal. I couldn’ t go home and at the same time I couldn’ t stay. I probably found the wrong solution for my problems – I went deeper into addiction. It was the only way for me to find solace.’
Fear of revealing his immigration status meant he was unable to access services, and it
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also changed the way he interacted with people, he said. He moved around – from Cardiff to Bristol, Bath and then London.‘ It was very frightening. Every day I had to survive. I met some wonderful people, but I always kept my addiction secret. I was begging, and people would ask what I needed the money for –“ tell me, I can help you”. It hurt me so much that I couldn’ t tell them my situation because I was illegal and wanted by immigration. I kept it secret for years and years.’
Finally, he confided in a worker at St Mungo’ s.‘ I was tired. Things were so bad that I needed help.’ He was put in touch with an immigration solicitor who told him that after 20 years in the UK he’ d be able to apply for leave to remain, regardless of his legal status.‘ So this meant another eight years. It wasn’ t easy, but I just managed to retain that sensibility of“ at least I’ ve got a life”. I always tried to keep myself in a reasonable state.’
He was finally housed thanks to the‘ Everyone In’ programme for rough sleepers during COVID, which also coincided with him being granted leave to remain.‘ So Corona in a way was a blessing in disguise,’ he said.‘ It was the first time in 15 years I’ d managed to
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sleep in a bed and have a decent bath. I used to sleep on the bus when it was cold, and one time I’ d gone for six months without bathing. I got on the bus and everyone just got off. I cried.’
He’ s since returned to college – where he was named student of the year – and has recently had a book of his poetry published.‘ Everybody here today will know that when you try to remake your life and you want to start again, there are barriers – and that’ s when people should come together. I was going to college but I wasn’ t healed. You need time to heal and do normal things, eating good food, sleeping. If you try to rush, it’ s disastrous.’ DDN
‘ Everybody here today will know that when you try to remake your life and you want to start again, there are barriers – and that’ s when people should come together.’
ANDREW MTIZWA- MUBAYIWA
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