In-demand substance misuse service looks to expand

A recovery programme that works with about 1,000 people struggling with alcohol and drug addiction has seen an increase in demand but still wants "to get bigger," its director said.

The Bridge Substance Misuse Recovery programme, in Northamptonshire, said it had helped thousands of people recover from dependence since it was founded in 2005.

Bridge said recent rises in the cost of living had been behind a surge in people who used its services across its three sites in Northampton, Wellingborough and Corby.

Its director, Steve Carroll, said: "People are coming in earlier and staying longer so it is clear people are getting what they need."

Mr Carroll said he had seen a rise in mental health problems and people becoming reliant on substances as a result of pressures arising from lockdown during the height of the Covid pandemic, describing it as a "big hit" on the service.

"So many people that use our services are often lonely and isolated, so we were able to give them somewhere to be around other people," he said.

Cost of living pressures have meant Bridge's housing and financial services have been in high demand.

Mr Carroll said a large number of people turned to substance misuse to cope with everyday struggles.

The organisation aimed to alleviate some of the stress by providing support with budgeting, housing and job searching.

Mr Carroll said the service has received about 1,300 new referrals in each of the last two years.

He said there was "not necessarily a maximum" number of people it could help, but added that increased demand meant it would benefit from increased funding.

About 90% of the service's staff are volunteers who have had their own experiences with substance misuse.

Bridge calls people who use its services "members" and one of them who also volunteers as a mentor, Jay, said the gym had helped keep him stay focused on his recovery.

"I know that if I am taking care of myself, I feel so much better and I am a lot less likely to relapse," he said.

"It is all about encouragement. The environment is so much more motivational when we all have an underlying understanding that we have all gone through a similar thing."

The organisation promotes social prescribing, which is a method described by the NHS as non-medical, community-based support.

Its main purpose is to connect people to activities within the community to improve their health.

Bridge promotes volunteering and other stimulating activities such as the poetry group, dress-making, crochet lessons and arts and crafts. They have previously hosted friendly sport competitions and silent discos.

The service, which is supported by £800,000 of council funding, focuses on peer-to-peer support, meaning they work with other services like the Department for Work and Pensions, smoking cessation groups and housing support.

"We have all got the same goal, which is to get people well," Mr Carroll said.

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