DDN CONFERENCE 2024
STRONG SUIT
Service user involvement is going from strength to strength in Wolverhampton , say Christiane Jenkins and Marcus Johnson
At the Service User Involvement Team ( SUIT ), we ’ re always looking to make an impact and raise awareness of our service and the people who engage with it . Many of our clients and volunteers are marginalised and stigmatised , and getting their voice involved is core to our values of lived experience .
Our team understands that people exposed to addiction come with an extra , often creative , sensitivity . Our exhibition stall at this year ’ s conference showcased powerful visual art , created by our clients and volunteers , and it was fantastic to witness so many of the delegates drawn in by the impressive work .
Included in SUIT ’ s wraparound support offer is a recognition that the creative arts can release emotions and frustrations , and at the same time create beauty , change perception , and resist stigma and judgement .
SUIT was founded in 2007 and has since become a platform service for some of the most vulnerable people in Wolverhampton . We deliver prevention , treatment and rehabilitation services , both through the criminal justice system and within the community , and we believe that vulnerable people with drug and alcohol problems should be treated fairly , have access to services that focus on recovery , and be able to engage with service providers that will support them individually .
In early 2024 , we became recognised as a LERO , which means that SUIT can connect with similar organisations creating peer-led support . This has opened a variety of new pathways for lived experience co-creation and for our services to grow and develop . Our volunteers and staff all come with lived experience and work to reduce barriers between clients accessing healthcare , welfare , employment , in criminal justice settings , and also in areas considered inaccessible to people on the
SUIT want to thank everyone at the conference for a fantastic day of valuable outreach , informative presentations , and amazing connections . We always find the conference refreshing , relaxing , and exciting , and a place where professionals , advocates and clients come together to share knowledge , strategies , and experiences .
sharp end of society .
Right now is the most exciting time in SUIT ' s 17-year history . Early this year , we received funding for core staff , including a creative arts and research lead and Punjabi-speaking and Polish-speaking project workers . Support and engagement need is increasing within South Asian and Eastern European communities in Wolverhampton , and we now have the resources to tackle this . Our increased outreach provision and exciting creative projects should also bring a unique focus and more referrals into the service .
We also have a new data illustrator role , which is allowing us to provide robust evidence for peer-led support . For the first time since our service began , our lived experience is not just anecdotal but is being brought to factual real life . Our team is proving its value , passion , and dedication to a wider audience , and with deeper meaning , and we are now living and breathing our own air – giving clients a powerful voice and the opportunity to resurrect their lives with buddy support from a team who have lived that lifestyle and climbed over the other side .
At the DDN Conference our team were able to connect with a diverse group of experts ,
policymakers , and individuals directly affected by substance use , and it was great to meet so many of you in person . We took part in insightful workshops , including essential naloxone training from Cranstoun , panel discussions , and networking sessions , all aimed at enhancing the support and resources available to those battling addiction . Harm reduction , holistic therapies , and community-based support systems were all discussed and there was such a feeling of dedication and togetherness , especially surrounding policy changes , how we tackle drug deaths , and the nitazenes and fentanyl crisis .
Hearing success stories and challenges from other lived experience recovery organisations reinforced the importance of our mission at SUIT . The team feel renewed and ready to implement new strategies and continue advocating for an even more inclusive and effective approach to addiction . We extend our thanks to the organisers of the DDN Conference for hosting such a valuable and inspiring event .
Christiane Jenkins is creative arts and research lead and Marcus Johnson is project manager at SUIT
12 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • SEPTEMBER 2024 WWW . DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS . COM