It was Tuesday afternoon on the 17th of September, in the basement of our office, Salford CVS. CP, one of the clients of Achieve Personal Recovery Support Fund, visited our office with her Achieve Woker Dayle Kidd to collect her mobility scooter. CP is 56 years old, suffering from severe COPD, and regularly has chest infections. Moving from her flat to do groceries and go to the pharmacist and the support services has been difficult for her. The bright smile on her face after seeing her brand-new mobility scooter was something invaluable. She put her two hands together and thanked Jeremy (a colleague from our office who helped me to get the scooter outside the building) and me.
I really enjoy this, and I am humbled to receive these types of gratitude whenever I contact the clients we support under the Achieve Personal Recovery Support Fund (PRSF). It is such a pleasure to know that the very little I do contributes to elevating the hope of their lives. I joined Salford CVS in October 2022, and it has been nearly two years since I have been coordinating the PRS Fund. The PRSF fund is being delivered by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and administered by 10GM. Salford CVS is the major implementing partner for this project.
The critical element of this funding is providing material support to the clients to improve their physical and mental wellbeing while recovering from substance misuse. Even if it’s a three-month gym pass, electric items, or some vouchers to buy home decorating materials, this grant greatly impacts its clients.
Imagine if you make a firm decision to change your life by stopping using alcohol and any other substances. It would be best always to have some support and courage to carry out this journey and overcome obstacles. While Achieve Support workers guide them through this, as Salford CVS, we provide non-cash awards to help them continue their journey. Currently, Salford CVS supports PRSF applicants across Salford and Trafford.
The following statistics show some of the different awards PRSF has made from June 2021 to date.
The majority of requests were for gym passes, and the second major request was for electric items, followed by laptops. Most clients request gym passes as they find it helps them improve their physical conditions while leading to calm and relaxation. Laptops allow them to connect with the broader world, including attending recovery sessions. Having a hot, healthy meal, wearing clean clothes, and having a cosy home gives you self-confidence and positive vibes, accelerating your recovery.
This can be certified by the feedback from the clients and Achieve workers.
Some feedback for the clients.
Feedback from some Achieve Workers
Tracy Smart, Team leader and member of the Achieve assessment team across Salford, Trafford, Bury and Bolton, mentioned that the impact of the personal recovery support award was immense. Specifically, receiving laptops/mobile phones helps clients look for and apply for volunteering opportunities, training courses and jobs and help with their college assignments and courses. Also, it increases accessibility to recovery support networks for service users who are unable to leave the house to access face-to-face groups through service users being able to have access to laptops and wifi access. Even though you are recovering, it is important to stay close to your loved ones as it will provide you with the emotional support you need. Tracy further highlights that digital equipment supports keeping in contact with their loved ones whilst the cared for has been in rehab, supporting the emotional well-being of both the carer and cared for. “I am pleased with the service provided by Salford CVS in the Achieve Asset fund. I find team members approachable, and the communication in response to applications was helpful and informative.” This was Tracy’s response regarding Salford CVS's approach with Achieve workers.
Nicola Willoughby, Recovery Coordinator, Achieve, Bolton, Bury, Salford and Trafford, stressed that the support received by the PRSF clients are initiatives aimed to address not only the immediate challenges associated with substance misuse but also the broader aspects of an individual's life that can impact their ability to maintain sobriety and lead a fulfilling life in recovery.
Lauren Cann, Coordinator at Salford Achieve, mentioned that the support clients receive from the PRSF helps them strengthen their recovery capital and reach their identified goals, whether that be abstinence or reduced and controlled use. Further, she highlighted, “CVS in Salford has been amazing in supporting my clients' reach their goals in many ways, from providing funding. Both myself and our clients deeply appreciate CVS’s service, and I am delighted to continue to work in partnership with them”.
All of the above statements elaborated that the PRSF plays a key role in substance misuse clients’ lives. It is a pleasure to have been a tiny part of their recovery journey. I value this beyond my job role.