Personal share (anonymous)

I was born in the North East in 1987 and grew up with my parents and brother. From an early age I thought something was not right. I was a bit unhappy as a child I grew up in a dysfunctional family fuelled by alcohol and other drugs. By the age of 15 I had tried most drugs and thought it was great, but after a while I found myself in and out of prison on and off different drugs. By the age of 21 I knew my life was a mess; by this time I was selling drugs an involved with crazy people. I wanted out but did not know how so I continued in that cycle for another 4 years. By this time I was a father and in prison so when I got out I decided to change for good, but even with the best intentions I could not stop using and committing crime.

 

I started going to recovery groups; at first I hated them all those strangers talking about how they felt and for the first time I was really trying to change. One day I went to see my Key Worker and she said have you heard of Oaktrees? I said “no what is it”? She said "a 12 week abstinence program would you be interested" (rehab). I said yes and didn’t really think much more about it until a few weeks went by and I got an interview for Oaktrees. I went and started the next week. For years I did not know what was wrong with me and why I could not stop using drugs, but I was in Oaktrees less than 1 hour and questions I had all my life were beginning to be answered.

 

I have never looked back since and now i work a 12 step program and it has changed my life. Just for today I have lost the urge and obsession to use drink and drugs and for someone who could never go a day without using it is a miracle. Most importantly I believe I have done this by changing my belief system and as a result my behaviour began to change. Before I could do that I first had to admit I was the problem and I was the only one who could change that.

 

I am so grateful to have what I have and life only keeps getting better the longer I am in recovery. I went from being an uncontrollable addict living a life of pain, misery and despair and within a short space of time through recovery I found so many good things. I discovered fellowship, joy, hope, family and confidence in my self and self esteem through giving back through volunteering and now support work.

 

The most important thing I have learned is that I have a choice today and If I do not take responsibility for my life I wont have a life worth having. I am looking forward to the future and all it holds.

 

One hell of a grateful recovering addict! J

New Year's Eve Winter Carnival - Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

This New Year’s Eve sees the arrival of a BRAND NEW Winter Carnival Parade that will ring in the New Year in style. You can follow the carnival parade to the Quayside as it sways, stomps and dances its way along the new route – there are even dance moves you can join in with.

Down by the River Tyne is where the party really gets started, with BBC Newcastle’s Jonathan Miles compering, followed by early evening fireworks over the river.

From 4pm
Music and carnival performance around Monument

5.15pm
The parade leaves Monument for Newcastle Quayside

6pm and Midnight Fireworks over the river
The best viewing points are from Newcastle Quayside

Public Transport
Metro will be running an enhanced service on New Year’s Eve until 6.30pm. Then a 15 minute service through Newcastle city centre, with trains every 30 minutes to South Shields, Airport, South Hylton and St James until approx 11pm. Quaylink buses will be rerouted for some of the evening.

See nexus.org.uk for more travel advice.

Remembrance and Hope Day - Bruswick Methodist Church December 2014

Remembrance and Hope Day - Brunswick Methodist Church December 2014

 The service was very well attended and it was both moving and uplifting to see everyone together under one roof; in remembrance of those who have passed away, giving prayer and hope for those still suffering and in recovery.

Leisel the Minister of the Church delivered a spiritual and thoughtful service and there were prayers, poems of hope and the names of those who we knew and sadly passed away were remembered and read out.

The service of Hope & Remembrance held at the Brunswick Methodist Church on Dec 4th was both a very moving, and spiritual experience. 

Everyone was given a star of remembrance to write a personal message on and place on the Christmas Tree while candles were lit for those who have passed away and we still remember.

Pam’s Experience

It gave me the opportunity to reflect on my past year in recovery and all that has gone with it.

It also was a stark reminder of how addiction kills, and was a very poignant moment when the names of those who had passed on were read out.

I personally used the service to give thanks for my sobriety and remembered those close to me who had passed on.

The stars on the tree were a very thoughtful idea and the personal messages each person wrote on them I am sure will stay with them forever.

A very momentous day I am sure everyone will agree and one I hope to repeat next year.

Wishing you all a very Merry Xmas and a peaceful New Year.

Pam 

Chris’s Experience

It was my first time attending the Remembrance and Hope Day and I found it to be a very spiritual and moving experience.

It filled me with humility and hope seeing so many people paying tribute and respect to those we have lost, loved and cared for. Also for those who still suffer and are on the road to recovery.

It reminded me of where I came from; the people I have come to know and who have supported me. It also reminded me that we cannot do this alone and need the love, care, understanding and support of fellowship and a power greater than ourselves.

While the people I knew and lost never left my thoughts, it was the first time I have paid my respects to them in a spiritual way since they passed on.

They will always be in my thoughts and prayers; as will everyone I have been fortunate enough to get to know in recovery so far and have helped support me on my journey.

It is an experience that will stay in my thoughts forever and it will be a service i hope to attend again next year.

Wishing everyone a peaceful and happy Christmas and New Year!

Chris

If anyone would like to share their experience of the Rememberance and Hope Day on the blog (can be anonymous) please email Andy.Hackett@newcastle.gov.uk

NUCF Minutes 11/12/2014

NUCF Minutes

Location: Plummer Court

Attendees: Andy Hackett, Terry T, Terry, Richard, Chris, Julie Whitfield, (Turning Point), Christine, Cliff, Andrea, Kev Wall, Lee, Nicola, Brian, Jayne, Gary, Andy, Paul

Apologises: Pam, Nasir

Introductions round the table.

Agenda/discussion points:

·         Update on Client Advisory Groups and Events

Trading Places – Trading Places continues to do really well. Christmas dinner to stay as Sunday 21/12/14 unless we think derby day will cause any issues. Andy to pick up clothes from Turning Point for Trading Places.

Plummer Court – Main update was that the Introduction to 12 step groups on Wednesday would be put on hold until after Christmas. Wednesday group is going well with no issues.

Recovery Clinic - Terry updated and said is going well supporting people in end of care and continuing care. Some clients from the clinic attended the NUCF

·         Christmas Cover

Discussion around ensuring we have cover for all the groups over the Christmas period specifically Plummer Ct on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and Trading Places on the 21^st and 28^th. List was circulated asking for names and we do have plenty of volunteers to cover the groups so they will all go ahead.

  

·         Party info and numbers

Went over the information for the NUCF Christmas party. Thursday 18/12/2014 at St John’s Church. There will be a joint service user and carer forum first from 11.00am. Then Christmas lunch followed by party games and a film.

The places are limited so people were asked to give their names to confirm attendance.

·         AOB

o   Communication and posters – Trading Places designed and printed by Julie and ready for circulation to different services. Posters with service contact details are almost complete and just need points of contact added.

o   Changing Lives Volunteering Opportunities – Still volunteer opportunities at Changing Lives Recovery Centre see Andy for details.

o   Art program tasters – Tyne and Wear Museums and Archives are starting some art program testers in the new year and Zoe is going to come to the NUCF to give us more details.

o   Alcohol reduction scheme – Christopher is coming to the NUCF on the 8^th to talk about the scheme that is being piloted in specific areas of Newcastle and to get forum feedback.

o   Guest speaker on 8/1/2014 will be Christopher Hartsworth.

o   Next forum 18/12/14 (before Christmas party at St John's Church) then a Christmas break till next forum 8/1/2015 at Plummer Court.

Personal Share by Pam

I remember when I was in “the madness”……although my madness didn’t consist of “crazy things” and “great nights out,” ……at least not at the end, it consisted of ISOLATION, LONLINESS, a mere existence!

Once I finally got “sick of being sick,” and I finally took the Dreaded “leap of faith” by being honest with my Hepatology consultant AND MYSELF, and admitted that I was in desperate need of help, my life started to turn around.

The forum has helped give me structure back in my life, something to look forward to, something to be “part of” and something that hopefully, with my contribution, will make a difference to other addicts and carers, and demonstrate that there is “life after addiction,”…….There is HOPE.

The work that is done at the “client advisory” session at Plummer Court on a Wednesday afternoon, of which I am a contributor of, not only shows those going through Detox and Titration that there is a way out, but also helps me immensely with my own recovery, keeping me grounded, reminding me of where I have come from, and how each day, my addiction is only ever 1 drink away.

I will always be grateful to the NUCF for the opportunity, and as it continues to grow, alongside my sobriety, together, we CAN make a difference.

Pam 

What's On and Upcoming Events

Celebration, Remembrance and Hope Day at the Brunswick Methodist Church, Brunswick Place Newcastle City Centre (behind Waterstones Book Shop). This year the event will take place on 04/12/2014 at 3.00pm. The event is a chance to celebrate recovery and remember those we have lost to the disease of addiction.

It’s Christmas!

Trading Places Christmas dinner Sunday 21st December. Trading Places will open at 10.00am and stay open until 2pm for the dinner and party. There will be presents, games and more volunteers are needed. It is a brilliant idea and was an amazing experience last year and the service users really enjoyed it and the feedback was amazing. Trading Places will also be open throughout Christmas from 10am-12pm. NUCF Members welcome to attend to help and celebrate.

NUCF and Turning Point combined Christmas party Thursday 18th December at St John’s the Baptist Church on Grainger Street Newcastle from 11.30am. Turning Point staff organise everything. There will be plenty of food, guest speakers and party games, all welcome.

NUCF Minutes 27/11/2014

Date: 27/11/2014

Location: Plummer Court

Attendees: Andy Hackett, Terry Thomas, Terry Hatch, Lynne, Richard, Chris, Gary, Julie Whitfield, (Turning Point), Christine, Mark, Gillian, Pam, Cliff, Graham (Reaching Out), Liesl, Sarah Blakey, Nasir, Tracey, Andrea

Apologises: Kev Wall

Introductions round the table.

Agenda/discussion points:

Update on Client Advisory Groups and Events

Trading Places – Andrea updated on Trading Paces at Ron Eager house. Everything running smoothly and the Christmas Party is on 21^nd December it was discussed if extra volunteers were needed for Christmas as there were 100 people attended last year. Anyone is welcome to come along and visit on Sunday to see what happens. Trading Places is now on EVERY SUNDAY until further notice.

Plummer Court – Main update was that the Introduction to 12 step groups on Wednesday would be put on hold until after Christmas.

Recovery Clinic - Terry and Gary updated and said is going well supporting people in end of care and continuing care. Advising clients on what help and support is available after detox/titration.

·         Guest Speaker – Sarah Blakey Active Inclusion Officer

Sarah explained her job role and the purpose of her attending the meeting to get feedback from the NUCF on their experiences of the housing process within Newcastle.

The forum gave specific examples to Sarah around imperfections and injustice within the current system. These were around homeless people trying to find accommodation in one authority e.g. Newcastle when they were from Sunderland for example. Sarah took the names for these people and will look into the individual cases.

There was a generic discussion around the failings of the existing system and a lack of joined up working between authorities due to Central Government legislation. Also the additional cuts to spending will not help the process.

Further discussion was around working smarter to move people from emergency hostels to more secure housing to help with their chances of recovery.

·         Reaching out project – Graham Wilkinson

Reaching out is a project that matches volunteer mentors with ex-offenders wanting to settle in Tyne and Wear after they have been released from HMP Durham.

The mentors provide support help men leaving prison to resettle in the community and move into employment where appropriate. The mentors will work with people for up to 6 month to encourage, support and help mentees achieve their goals. The support includes: visiting in prison, meeting on release, accompanying to appointments and assist with housing issues.

The mentees have had sentences below 2 years and the majority less than 12 months.

The project has been funded for a further 2 years and the mentors will be given accredited peer mentor training. More information is available on the northern learning trust web site under reaching out.

Graham is looking for 10 new mentors and is recruiting now. Details and application forms were left for the NUCF.

·         AOB

o   Communication and posters – Julie circulated the Trading Places posters she had designed. A couple of amendments will be made and then copies printed and distributed to projects. The NUCF Facebook page is available for all members to post on and the minutes will be added to the FB page instead of shared via email. Let’s all use the page as it will be a good information source.

o   Regional Service User and Carer Party – The regional party will now take place at the end of January as a New Year celebration. More information and dates will follow.

o   Changing Lives Volunteering Opportunities – As well as the mentor opportunities there are volunteer opportunities available within Changing Lives Recovery Centre. If you would like to get involved contact Andy

o   Rota for Plummer Court – There was a discussion around having a rota for Plummer Court Wednesday group so nucf members could plan further ahead. Difficult due to the changing numbers of clients at Plummer and the changing requirements for the numbers of volunteers. Agreed to keep current process of texting and review in the future.

o   Chair for next NUCF Terry

o   Location of next NUCF is Plummer Court (to be confirmed) and minute taker Richard

o   Next NUCF 11/12/2014