Changing Lives: Recovery Talks

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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In today's podcast we are joined by Arron Owen, the National Lead for Criminal Justice at Cranstoun, which is an organisation providing services for those facing difficulties with domestic abuse, alcohol and other drugs, housing, young people and criminal justice. Aaron talks to us about all of the services Cranstoun offers, how that offering has changed and evolved over time, and what he personally gets out of working in the sector.

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In today's podcast, our host Andy speaks to Zoe Metcalfe (North Yorkshire Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner), Lisa Winward (Chief Constable, North Yorkshire Police) and Sally Lynch (Commissioning & Partnerships Manager for the NYPCC). Together they paint a picture of how recovery services work in North Yorkshire, particularly for those entering the criminal justice system. They also explore their personal motivations for doing the work and their aspirations for the future.

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As we kick off season four of the Recovery Talks Podcast, hosts Andy, Sommer and Iain (together with producer Bridget) come together to discuss how their personal and professional lives have changed since beginning the podcast, as well as what the world of recovery looks like now. They also tease some upcoming episodes and ask for your thoughts on who should be interviewed - so come and give us your ideas!

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In this special episode, we speak to Andy Hackett from Newcastle City Council and Annemarie Ward from FAVOR UK about the UK Recovery Walk, which this year is being hosted in Newcastle. They explain the history of the walk, who and what the walk is for and how anyone can get involved! 

For our final episode of season three, Andy catches up with Aaron and Mark, two of the guests featured in season one's episode 'Men in Recovery'. They chat about how definitions and rules of 'being a man' have changed for the better in recent years, about intergenerational trauma and parenting, and their key tips for anyone looking to stay in recovery.

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This week we speak with Jane Donohoe, who is a trainer and motivational speaker about her work in trauma. We talk about some of the statistics, about vicarious trauma and what people can do support other who's lives have been impacted by Complex Trauma and Complex PTSD.

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Today our host Andy speaks to Jimmy and Angela from the Road to Recovery Trust. Angela is the Projects Development Manager, and Jimmy is the Operations Manager at George Street Social, which is run by the Trust. They speak about what their roles look like on a day to day basis, what recovery looks like to them both and what the Road to Recovery Trust offers not just for people entering recovery but for those who want to stay there for the long term.

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In this episode our host Sommer speaks to Catrina Mchugh MBE about the work of Open Clasp theatre company, and her experiences collaborating with women for personal, social and political change. 

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On today's episode, Andy speaks to Mark and Martina from York In Recovery, who are a peer-support and peer led recovery group who offer a safe space, activities, and connection for members of the York Community who are either in recovery or who may not be in recovery but have an interest. They speak about how York in Recovery was established, what recovery means to them personally and the wisdom they've picked up whilst being a part of such a great community. 

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This week, Bridget speaks to Peter Cartwright and Beth French about their work in the bereavement sector and how people who have lost friends or loved ones experience recovery. This episode contains frank discussions about deaths caused by addiction to alcohol and drugs - please exercise caution and practise self care when listening. 

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To mark Mental Health Awareness Week this week, our podcast features two guests from the Amy Winehouse Foundation, Joe Sheerer and Jane Winehouse. They speak to Andy about why the foundation was established, the support it provides to those in recovery and the incredible prevention work they do with young people in schools and other settings.

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In today's episode, host Bridget speaks to Merlin Mee and Dami Fawehimni about what the term recovery means to the LGBTQIA Community. What issues might queer people face, how can they recover from them and how can people be a good ally or advocate to a queer person?

(Please note, a guest in this episode makes references to past self harm)

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This week we speak to Noreen and Donna about the journey of BAC O'Connor, a centre in Staffordshire which has provided drug and alcohol rehabilitation since 1998. We discuss how their role in the community has been important in supporting people to find their recovery and challenge the stigma around addiction.

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In this episode we talk to Josie, who works with women in the criminal justice system, about what working in recovery means to her and her journey into working in the sector.

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In this episode we talk about the power in the language used around recovery and addiction. This leads us to talking about life chances and what lies beneath the presenting and sometimes obvious need. Retired senior police officer Jason Kew and Gateshead's Director of Public Health Alice Wiseman share their experiences, hope and compassion from their journeys and how we need to change a relationship with the harm we witness within our communities.

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Welcome to Season Three! On today's episode, Andy speaks to his colleague Dolly from Changing Lives, as well as Viv and Kirstie from the organisation Adfam. They talk about their experiences of supporting families and how dependency impacts everyone around the person. In this discussion we not only recognise the wider and more holistic impact of substance abuse, but challenge ourselves to discuss what needs to change moving forward so that families can be better cared for. 

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In the final episode of season two, we talk about public health and wellbeing through the experiences of Damian and Rupert who have worked across these sectors for many years. We talk about the importance of community and how we need the collective compassion, hope and spirit to support, challenge and change when needed.

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In this week's episode, host Sommer speaks to Rosie Lewis, former Deputy Director of the Angelou Centre, about her long career in activism and advocacy and the importance of tailormade recovery services for women and children.

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On this week's episode, Andy speaks to Lily and Dan about the importance of connection at individual, community and systemic levels. The discussion asks questions about the relational impact of trauma and how we need to attune to the people, systems and communities to fully understand recovery in its widest and most authentic form.

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People who have been in recovery for multiple years often get asked "why do you still do it?" In this episode, Iain speaks to guest Peter who has been in recovery for over 40 years. He explores what it has been like, how it has grown, and why he is still committed to it after all these years.

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In this week's episode, we talk about recovery in the community - how this is the really powerful space where sustainable and healing change does and can take place. Today's guests are Stuart Green, Drug and Alcohol Service Manager at ASPIRE, and Anne Marie Ward, CEO of Faces & Voices of Recovery UK (FAVOR-UK).

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It is widely believed that we use substances and processes to change the way we feel. In this episode, psychotherapist and clinical supervisor Marianne speaks to host Iain about how we feel about our "selves", touching on the topics of shame, guilt and self-worth and how we change those within our recovery journey.

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In this episode, host Andy speaks to Oonagh Mallon and John Liddell, local authority leads from North Tyneside and Northumberland, about what it's like to commission work that helps people in recovery. They speak about their roles, their learning from working in the sector and their hopes for the future.

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Welcome to Season Two of the Recovery Talks Podcast! In this episode, hosts Andy, Iain and Sommer - along with producer Bridget - reflect on what it is like to be in recovery around Christmas and New Year as well as milestone birthdays and other large events. What's it like to be sober at a time of excess? What does 'success' and goal setting look like to a person in recovery?

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In the final episode of series one, hosts Sommer, Iain and Andy come together to reflect on what happened and what they learned, as well as remembering the amazing stories and voices that we have heard in each of the episodes. 

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In this episode we talk with the leadership team of Changing Lives, a national charity celebrating its 50th year in 2021. In this discussion, we talk about how the charity has shaped by the many people that have connected with us over the years, and what the future holds for us and for the concept of recovery.

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Host Andy Ryan is joined by Francis Simpson and Laura Furness for a discussion of the word 'vulnerability'. They discuss their personal experiences of using the term or having it used to describe them, as well as how vulnerability and recovery are linked, and how we all need to be a little 'vulnerable' to look after our health and wellbeing.

What is it like to experience addiction and recovery from the viewpoint of a loved one? In this episode, Eve talks to host Iain about her experiences of recovery and the impact of being on that journey with a loved one.

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In our sixth episode, host Andy speaks to Louisa Morley, a nurse specialising in substance misuse and addiction, and Helen Chidlow, a GP who has been working in addiction services for the past twelve years. Together they explore the term 'recovery' through a clinical lens - what the sector can improve and what it is definitely getting right. 

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In this episode of Recovery Talks, we speak with Danny Hames, Head of Inclusion and Chair of the NHS Addiction Provider Alliance, and Oliver Standing, the director of Collective Voice. Together they explore recovery, the sector and their personal thoughts on where we are now and where we might go next.

In this episode we talk about recovery and how issues like toxic masculinity can impact on our mental health. Our guests take time to share their personal experiences, and discuss how the pathway to making changes and finding personal recovery is both amazing and difficult.

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In this episode, host Sommer speaks to Billie and Steph from York Women's Wellness Centre about the specific challenges facing women in recovery.

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The word "spirituality" is often used by people in recovery. How is this connected to addiction and recovery and why is often it important to people in recovery? In this episode, Ollie talks to host Iain about his thoughts on recovery, faith and spirituality.

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In the very first episode of the Changing Lives: Recovery Talks podcast, we meet hosts Sommer, Iain and Andy, who talk about what the term recovery can mean to them, both personally and professionally. Using their own experiences, they try to unpick some similarities and differences.

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