In our final episode of season four, host Andy chats to Gill and Billy from START, a partnership between Hartlepool Borough Council (HBC) and Foundations, delivering an integrated substance misuse treatment service in the region. START stands for 'Supporting Treatment and Recovery Together'. Gill and Billy talk us through the way the organisation works, and the benefits of integrating the service into the community - for example, by using community hubs and working closely with other local organisations.

⏰ Now that we've finished another great season, the Recovery Talks team is pausing production to take stock of all of our fantastic achievements and decide where to take the podcast next. We want to thank all of our listeners and guests for supporting us so far and look forward to telling you about our future plans very soon! ⏰

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Note: In all of our Changing Lives Podcasts we make references to topics such as addiction, homelessness, mental health problems and domestic violence. For more information on our work or to seek support for any of the issues we discuss, you can visit https://www.changing-lives.org.uk/

In our penultimate episode of the season, host Andy Ryan speaks to Rondine Molinaro and Martin Blakeborough from Kaleidoscope, an organisation which runs substance use projects across Wales and supports upwards of 10,000 people a year. Rondine and Martin take Andy through the charity's incredible history, from its roots in Baptist Ministry in 1968 to its groundreaking work today in harm reduction, on-site prescribing, peer mentoring and co-production. 

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Note: In all of our Changing Lives Podcasts we make references to topics such as addiction, homelessness, mental health problems and domestic violence. For more information on our work or to seek support for any of the issues we discuss, you can visit https://www.changing-lives.org.uk/

Today we welcome a trio of incredible recovery sector professionals to discuss lived experience and how lived experience of addiction and recovery can benefit communities, organisations and all other aspects of health. Two of our guests, David Best, a professor in addiction and recovery research, and Stuart Green, service manager for Aspire in Doncaster, were part of the team who set up CLERO, the College of Lived Experience and Recovery Organisations. Stuart and David are also joined by Gord Garner, Executive Director of the Community Addictions Peer Support Association (CAPSA) in Canada.

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Note: In all of our Changing Lives Podcasts we make references to topics such as addiction, homelessness, mental health problems and domestic violence. For more information on our work or to seek support for any of the issues we discuss, you can visit https://www.changing-lives.org.uk/

In the first episode of 2023, host Andy speaks to Leon Marsh, the Director of Hospitals and Residential Services at Adferiad, which is an organisation providing services for people in Wales with mental health problems, substance misuse problems, and those with co-occurring and complex needs. Adferiad has been commissioned by Gamble Aware to deliver a number of residential services in Wales. Andy and Leon speak about gambling addiction more broadly, which often occurs alongside other addictions, and then the key benefits of the inclusive residential services that Adferiad provides. 

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Note: In all of our Changing Lives Podcasts we make references to topics such as addiction, homelessness, mental health problems and domestic violence. For more information on our work or to seek support for any of the issues we discuss, you can visit https://www.changing-lives.org.uk/

While our ho ho hosts take some time off over Christmas, we share some highlights from the 2022 Changing Lives Staff Celebration! Sommer interviewed nearly twenty members of staff on what the term recovery means to them, why they love their jobs and where they see the sector heading in the future. Many thanks to everyone who took part on the day.

🎄 We're taking a break in scheduling and will be back with episode 9 on Monday 9th January 2023! Wishing all of our listeners a peaceful festive period 🎄

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Note: In all of our Changing Lives Podcasts we make references to topics such as addiction, homelessness, mental health problems and domestic violence. For more information on our work or to seek support for any of the issues we discuss, you can visit https://www.changing-lives.org.uk/

Today, host Andy catches up with Danny Hames, Head of Inclusion and Chair of the NHS Addiction Provider Alliance, and Oliver Standing, the director of Collective Voice. We spoke to them back in season one all about the treatment sector, and in this episode they revisit the conversation, discuss where things are now, as well as touching on some recent reports and campaigns.

🎄 We're taking a break in scheduling and will be back with episode 9 on Monday 9th January 2023! Wishing all of our listeners a peaceful festive period 🎄

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Note: In all of our Changing Lives Podcasts we make references to topics such as addiction, homelessness, mental health problems and domestic violence. For more information on our work or to seek support for any of the issues we discuss, you can visit https://www.changing-lives.org.uk/

In this episode, host Sommer speaks to John, a senior support worker in one of Changing Lives' Supported Living Services for young people. These services support vulnerable young people in housing need, including care leavers, who require assistance to develop the skills and confidence necessary to live with reduced support and, over time, to live semi-independently or independently. John left home aged 17 and spent time in Changing Lives' supported accommodation himself. He talks to us about his journey and about his career in social care.

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Note: In all of our Changing Lives Podcasts we make references to topics such as addiction, homelessness, mental health problems and domestic violence. For more information on our work or to seek support for any of the issues we discuss, you can visit https://www.changing-lives.org.uk/

Today's episode is all about volunteering and the benefits of being a volunteer, both for you personally and for the organisation you donate your time and expertise to. To delve into this topic, host Andy speak to Liam and Sarah, who both work for the charity Humankind but began their journey into the sector as volunteers. They explain what they got out of those early roles and how their lived experience of recovery and addiction made them excellent volunteers. 

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Note: In all of our Changing Lives Podcasts we make references to topics such as addiction, homelessness, mental health problems and domestic violence. For more information on our work or to seek support for any of the issues we discuss, you can visit https://www.changing-lives.org.uk/

In this episode, Andy speaks to Danny Ahmed and George Charlton about their work in the recovery sector and about Naloxone, an emergency medication that can reverse the effects of an overdose of opioids like heroin or methadone. The trio chat about the power of support and human connection, and why they believe everyone should carry a Naloxone kit and know how to use one. 

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Note: In all of our Changing Lives Podcasts we make references to topics such as addiction, homelessness, mental health problems and domestic violence. For more information on our work or to seek support for any of the issues we discuss, you can visit https://www.changing-lives.org.uk/

In this episode, host Francis speaks to Amy Van Zyl who is operational lead at REFORM, an organisation working with and advocating for women who have had children removed from their care. Often this is due to substance use, mental health problems, domestic violence or a combination of them all. Amy and Francis talk about what REFORM does, how and why it was created and what their hopes are for the treatment of these families in the future.

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Note: In all of our Changing Lives Podcasts we make references to topics such as addiction, homelessness, mental health problems and domestic violence. For more information on our work or to seek support for any of the issues we discuss, you can visit https://www.changing-lives.org.uk/