My colleague Emma Ward was awarded some funding from Adfam to put on a community event to raise awareness around the impact of substance misuse on family members. Emma’s role is to work with adults affected by a loved one’s substance misuse, meaning that our families’ link together on occasions and therefore our work compliments each other in supporting families that are living with a substance misusing family member.
Emma felt that it would be a good idea to put on an informal community event that was not a means of training but more raising awareness. We put our thinking caps on and talked about when we had learnt the most from our clients and what was the biggest impact on us, but also putting in elements of life we enjoy and what we felt others would too. We both agreed that our clients stories of survival and resilience were what touched us the most and made us remember how strong our clients are and helped us change ways in our working practise. We both agreed the day should include the voices of our clients but needed to work out the most suited way to do this to protect our clients and ensure best practise in our community event. The next element we needed was what would make professionals attend, we thought about the stresses and strain professionals feel in their professional roles and how offering complimentary chair massages maybe a way of encouraging others to attend. We also thought of what people do when listening to stories or when reading books and thought of the old tradition of tea and cake… we could see it in our heads, flowers on tables with old fashioned dollies, tea and cake for all, a complimentary therapist with her relaxing music in the corner and listening to the voices of people affected by another’s substance misuse and with that once upon a tea time was born.
The day was amazing, more amazing then we both could have dreamed of, with a guest list of 58 and 10 speakers ready to share their story’s, Emma and I are were racked with nerves and excitement. The venue looked lovely, I brought my collection of tea pots and we used a local florist to put together cute posies of flowers which nestled into each teapot, Emma had found some dollies and they sat snugly under each teapot making our centre piece of the table perfect for the theme of the event. Sophie had set up her corner and had incense burning with relaxing music for those requesting a 5 minute chair massage. The tea and cake was out and ready for guests to arrive and take their seat.
In the main hall, as the guests arrived we played Fats Waller’s dixieland, jazz and swing music, the air felt warm and the atmosphere felt alive. It was the perfect feeling to the start of the event. All guests were giving an information pack which included details of all the agencies involved and an agenda of the day.
Our keynote speaker was Lorna Campbell, Lambeth Councillor who started the day by talking of her experience of substance misuse and the impact on families but also how important she felt it was that this area was kept on the agenda.
Thanks again for inviting me. It was a good event. I will spread the word as much as possible. This needs to continue so I am concerned about possibility of losing funding. Do keep me informed.
Lorna Campbell (Lambeth Councillor)
All our speakers spoke excellently and filled the hearts of many professionals with their own stories and the stories of their clients. We had an array of professionals telling their own stories, clients talking of their own experience of their children using substances misuse, letters written by children and even a professional telling his story of surviving his own substance misuse problems but making it out the other side and now working as a assertive alcohol outreach worker.
It was a pleasure to be part of the day and warm the souls of front line professionals working with families were substance misuse is involved.
‘I left the event feeling filled and moved by all of the testimonies, I was deeply touched when I heard the children’s testimonies and how their parents substance misuse has impacted on them. Having worked with Adults most of my life, I rarely hear or see how the addiction impacts on the Child’
Angela Small (Area Manager, Lambeth Harbour)
Being more mindful of denial and stigma. I have been moved by some of the stories I have heard today and how families cope, manage and enable behaviour
Today has reinforced my wanting to work in this sector – and I will carry on working towards my goal to work with children and families
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