Cranstoun’s volunteering service is giving people hope and purpose

Cranstoun has been supporting those wanting to make a change to their drug and alcohol use in the county since 2015 with tremendous results; supporting thousands of people to transform their lives and get back on track.

Results that Volunteer Co-ordinator and Service User Involvement Lead, Alex Fotheringham, says is hugely influenced by the service’s volunteers.

Alex said: “At Cranstoun Worcestershire we love our volunteers. They bring their passion and energy to the service and help us reach people in different ways.

“We have tons of volunteering roles from helping with the clinical side of things such as needle exchange and screening to going out and about in the community to reach people who are not engaged in our service. They are fantastic individuals, many of whom have been supported by Cranstoun themselves, so they bring lived experience, knowledge and empathy that you just can’t get anywhere else. We want to use Volunteers’ Week to thank the extraordinary people who volunteer for us and also invite you to join us – we always have volunteering opportunities available and would love to hear from you!”

Gavin Warrington originally came to Cranstoun for support five years ago and now volunteers for them. Gavin goes out with his fellow volunteers every Friday distributing Naloxone, a life-saving drug which temporarily reverses overdoses caused by opioids like heroin, providing time to call an ambulance and receive treatment.

Gavin said: “I’ve been with Cranstoun for five years as a service user but for the last three I’ve also been a volunteer offering peer assisted community knowledge and support. I go out every Friday with the team and we give out Naloxone to those on the streets. I’m really proud of the work I’ve been doing in the community.

“We’ve distributed 100 Naloxone pens, and we know of 10 which have been used to administer lifesaving care. It gives me a boost knowing the people in our community are safer and more informed in what to do in case of overdoses happening because of me and my team. If we save just one life, then this is all worth it. I think we’ve made a massive difference in Worcester. I love being able to be out in my community passing on the knowledge I’ve learnt during my own recovery journey with Cranstoun.”

Cranstoun Worcestershire is supported by the Worcestershire Safer Communities Project, funded by the Worcestershire County Council’s Public Health Team and Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion.

Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Health and Community Support at Worcestershire County Council, Councillor Dr Satinder Bell, said: “We are delighted to be working with Cranstoun to get the right support to the right people at the right time. The work they do for the Worcestershire community is phenomenal, taking a holistic approach to addiction and supporting the individual with all aspects in their recovery journey. I would highly recommend anyone interested in this kind of work to volunteer for Cranstoun – volunteering not only helps the individual getting support but also gives you a sense of purpose, belonging, community and achievement.”

Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion added: “As Chair of the Combatting Drugs Partnership in West Mercia, I see all too often the damaging impact drugs have on users, their families and the wider community. Policing with the community is one of the four key pillars of my West Mercia Safer Communities Plan, and working with partners and the excellent work of volunteers is crucial to that. Through the Safer Worcestershire project, partners and volunteers are coming together to support Cranstoun’s life-changing work that helps to reduce crime, stop harm, and ultimately build safer, stronger communities.”

To volunteer with Cranstoun please visit: www.cranstoun.org/volunteer-roles/worcestershire/