Above: The Well hub and social
supermarket in Barrow
supported with daily team Zoom
meetings (other platforms are
available), and regular outreach
is now via telephone and social
media platforms and tools –
WhatsApp and Facebook. This aims
to replicate as far as possible the
principles of pre-COVID delivery but
with the added bonus that group
work is now open to all without
geographical restrictions.
Since the lockdown began:
more than 15 online support
groups are running each week
with regular participation
live exercise classes (weekly)
achieve around 100 views per
session and active participation
recovery shares (weekly) are
viewed by up to 500 people
live topic broadcast (with field
experts) are viewed by up to 700
people
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Both organisations have also
inadvertently created ‘flagship’
broadcasts. Red Rose Recovery and
WWW.DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS.COM
the Lancashire User
Forum developed the
‘LUF Lounge’ on Saturday
evenings at 5pm –
hosted on Zoom and
broadcast to Facebook
as a live stream. The
Well have been using
Facebook to live stream
for broadcasts on
Monday and Friday each
week at 12 noon. Both
events have drawn in
both local and national
figures to update,
educate, support and
entertain our recovery
communities.
Both organisations
have been collaborating to share
experience of the technology, to
support each other’s approaches
in reaching out and provide
meaningful content for the local
recovery communities – and
beyond. Digital delivery has meant
reaching recovery communities in
Wales, Australia and New York!
New partnerships are appearing
as a result of the new digital
world, for example working with
local housing providers to support
delivery of food parcels in the
physical world and support them to
access the online offer.
THE LESSONS
What are we learning as a result of
all this?
Isolation and mental health have
been key issues raised, especially
from those in supported housing
as they are almost confined to
their bedrooms (although we
know that not all are keeping to
lockdown rules and meeting up
with friends etc).
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• People are struggling when they
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are unable to see their children
and other family members;
this is also undermining some
people’s mental health.
There is a perceived increase
in relapse; local treatment
provision has seen an increase in
referrals.
Another key concern is that those
who have experienced crime,
assault or dispute are desperate
for personal contact, something
no digital transformation can
ever overcome.
Facebook and Twitter followers
are rapidly increasing alongside
significant increases in requests
for support.
The beauty of digital is that the
analytics are available to help
inform reach. We can see an
unprecedented surge in views
with a global reach from the
broadcast events so far.
THE FUTURE
This has yet again highlighted
the inherent value of community
organisations and community
participation. It has shone a light
on the need to address digital
inclusion and ensure people have
access to the right tools to enable
participation, alongside other
existing social, economic and
health inequalities.
Plans are currently being
developed to build on these early
developments and to bring along
other groups who wish to join in,
to build digital inclusion, develop
the new digital skills and embrace
what technology has to offer. This
will include technical, social and
policy development needs.
The future is clearly unknown.
When will lockdown measures
begin to ease, how will that happen
and what restrictions will remain?
All are questions that society as a
whole will be grappling with. What
is certain is that the digital shift in
delivery for recovery communities
locally is here to stay. Yes, the
physical world is important and
digital cannot replace much of
‘normal’ recovery activity. However
the ability to reach out beyond
borders (of whatever sort), to share
stories, experiences, music and
thought in times of crisis is aided
by digital platforms. The increased
connectivity is making a difference,
for example people who suffer
with anxiety or those living in rural
communities. We can’t just go back
to ‘normal’.
Chris Lee is public health specialist
at Lancashire County Council
If you would like to know more, please contact:
Chris Lee, [email protected]
Peter Yarwood, strategic engagement lead, Red Rose Recovery,
[email protected]
David Higham, CEO, The Well Communities, [email protected]
LUF Lounge: www.facebook.com/groups/279396408828996
The Well Communities: www.facebook.com/groups/
thewellcommunities/
MAY 2020 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • 9