NUCF Minutes 15/10/2015

Minutes for NUCF   15/10/15

Chair: Cliff

Minute Taker: Andy

Around the room introductions. 10 Forum Members

Apologises: Dave

Client advisory Groups. 

Trading Places:

Andy gave new members an explanation of what Trading Places was, how it was set up and the running of it. Also talked about the need for more volunteers and 3 people put their names forward. Except for the need for more people there are no issues with the running of Trading Places.

Plummer Court Monday & Wednesday: 

Richie & Cliff explained to the new members what happens in the Monday and Wednesday groups. There is a great atmosphere within the groups and both the staff and clients react really positively to the NUCF members being there. Again more volunteers needed for both groups.

Recovery Clinic: 

Terry gave an update on his role at the Recovery clinic and 1 member said they would be interested in finding out more and potentially volunteering at the clinic.

Guest Speaker:

Steve Loxley: Director of Recovery Advocates North East (RANE)

Steve introduced himself and talked briefly about his experience within the world of substance misuse, services and recovery. He explained how RANE came to be and the objectives of the organisation. Steve broke this down into 2 areas;

Advocacy: This is specifically around helping clients directly. Taking them to appointments, to recovery groups and mutual aid meetings. To help people to get a structure in their lives. Also to educate service users on how different services work and the best way for people to get the best outcomes from these services. Essentially bridging the gap between people and the services that they interact with.

Peer Led Recovery: This element is about making recovery visible in the community, to encourage people not to hide but to be ‘part of’. Encourage people to attend groups etc. Also to promote recovery nationwide as well as regionally and locally. There is very strong recovery I other areas of the country and the North East can learn from these areas and incorporate their best practice.

There were comments about residential rehab and Steve explained that there are benefits to this but everyone is an individual and needs differ. But there is a need for an awareness around what rehab is and that there are different options such as the RAD’s in Durham. 

RANE advocate a range of recovery meetings and models and are running SMART meetings and mutual aid meetings for new comers. 

There was a question around how the forum can get involved with RANE. Steve said they would be welcome at meetings and there would hopefully be volunteer opportunities in the future but only after RANE had put in place a structured volunteer program.

Men in Recovery Event

Andy gave an update that there is a men in Recovery event planned and to be facilitated by the Road to Recovery Trust at the Hancock Museum on Saturday 21/11/15. All welcome and volunteers needed.

Revive 2016

Revive recovery Festival planning has begun. The second meeting is to be at Broadacre Hse 6.30 on Wednesday 22/10/2015 again everyone welcome to attend and get involved.

Guest Speakers

Discussion around getting new guest speakers for the forum. Suggestions put forward were Graham Brewis, a representative from DWP, PROPS and a University drug and alcohol Welfare Officer. Andy will make contact and see if these people can attend.

Next NUCF: 29/10/2015

Location: Plummer Court

Chair: Chris

Minutes: Richard

Guest Speaker: Gail Bland from Uservoice.

NUCF Minutes 01/10/2015

Minutes for NUCF   01/10/15 

Chair: Chris Patterson 

Minute Taker: Richie  

Around the room introductions. 3 newcomers attended & 9 Forum Members 

Client advisory Groups.  

Trading Places: 

Richie & Cliff gave a brief-ish! Rundown of what Trading Places is all about and what service and support they offer and to whom ‘this was for the benefit of the new people’ but otherwise it is going well, no issues and lots of volunteers supporting. 

Plummer Court Monday & Wednesday:  

Richie & Cliff focused mainly on a disruptive client on the day unit who came in with an alleged “Beat Box”. The said volunteers dealt with it in a diplomatic and responsible, they asked politely a number of times and the lad agreed and put his head phones in. But other than that the groups were going good and no issues.  

Recovery Clinic:  

No update 

Guest Speaker: 

Ronnie Rowbotham: ‘North East Peer Mentor Coordinator for Lifeline Northeast Services. 

Very enthusiastic and inspired talk by Ronnie. Spoke about the history of Lifeline and the various services they have already established within the Northeast, i.e. Durham, Sunderland and Middlesbrough. Spoke about a Recovery Gym in Middlesbrough and how that has proven invaluable to tackle the growing problem of steroid abuse. Lifeline intend to replicate this in Newcastle as it has been such a success in Teesside. It will also will help volunteers who would like to access the gym for own purposes and to gain qualifications in Health & Fitness. 

RR also spoke in depth about volunteering opportunities within Lifeline and how lifeline do not look at volunteers as “just volunteers” but as unpaid members of staff. They have a structured strategy and development plan for all volunteers to provide the best possible opportunities for all volunteers.  

All volunteers will initially be given ‘Volunteer Packages’ which will consist of information around; data protection, equal opportunities, boundaries etc. Volunteers will fill in package, go for assessment/interview where they will be educated around the vision and the values of the organisation. And to speak about any training opportunities that are available for the volunteer. The training for the volunteers within Lifeline is as such that staff are also now receiving the same training too. 

RR stated that he will be overseeing volunteer coordinating duties in Newcastle until someone is appointed in the role for the area.  

RR Also stated that he is in the process of scratching the name ‘Peer Mentors’ because he believes that a ‘peer mentor’ is classed as a 2nd hand volunteer and looked down upon ‘within Lifeline’. Peer Mentors will be more about quality than quantity in the future to be handpicked and the shining light within the structure of the organisation, to be intensively trained. They will complete the course with four recognised certificated to their name and will then each be given a caseload of their own to work with.  

When prompted on a question around whether volunteers are able to be scripted and still volunteer RR stated that it is sometimes ideal that volunteers on scripts do volunteer, as it gives the newer person on a script a lot to aspire to. However the volunteer must be in recovery, accessing some sort of recovery groups i.e. SMART or Mutual Aid and have a reduction plan in place. 

A few of the Members expressed an interest in working with Lifeline and RR said he would email Andy with his contact details for him to ‘cascade’ back to the members. Ronnie’s contact details are: 

Email: Ronnie.Rowbotham@Lifeline.org.uk 

Mobile: 07921973292 

Next NUCF: 8/10/2015 

Location: Plummer Court 

Chair: Cliff 

Minutes: Richard