Alcohol and drug outreach support service for people who sleep rough available in Lincolnshir

22nd November 2023

Drug and alcohol charity WithYou teams up with partners to increase support to people who sleep rough across Lincolnshire.

The outreach project known locally as ‘Something Different’, focuses on taking alcohol and drug treatment support directly to some of the most vulnerable in our community, wherever they are. As many of the people in the project team have lived experience of the issues faced by people who sleep rough, this means they can offer first-hand, non-judgemental advice.

Homelessness has risen dramatically in the UK in the past decade, both in terms of people sleeping rough and the number of people living in temporary and unsuitable accommodation. Many of these people have drug and alcohol challenges, with the difficulties of not having a stable home making it much harder for people to address their use.

A rough sleeping *questionnaire carried out in 2020 found that at least 43% of respondents who had a drug need, developed their dependency prior to first sleeping rough, and 17% afterwards.

The Something Different project is delivered by WithYou together with Double Impact, Lincolnshire Action Trust and other partners. The service is currently available across Lincoln, Boston and East Lindsey areas and is designed to encourage access to and engagement with alcohol and drug support services, wherever they are, including dentistry, counselling and advice on self-care and harm reduction.

In line with the Lincolnshire Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, WithYou is working in partnership to improve access to and keep people engaged in treatment whilst they are sleeping rough or in emergency or temporary accommodation.

Karen Ratcliff, Head of Service Delivery at WithYou in Lincolnshire, said:

“We know that there are often multiple barriers, mistrust and stigma that prevent people who sleep rough in our community who are struggling with alcohol or drugs, to reach out.

“We want the service to remove the need for a referral to be made to the treatment service and for people who sleep rough to benefit by having instant access to a key worker with structured treatment. It is also an opportunity for staff or people with lived experience to give first-hand advice on self care, harm reduction and distribute potential life-saving Naloxone if they or someone they know is at risk of drug overdose.

“The service removes the worry of attending an appointment or having to travel to an office or town they do not necessarily feel comfortable in. Especially as the weather is turning colder, we want to locate, reach and help people access and remain in drug and alcohol treatment and ultimately, we want to save lives.”

The service aims to remove barriers to accessing and remaining in treatment, taking the front door of the service to the person whilst improving joint working between professionals and services.

Stephen Youdell, Director of Operations at Double Impact, said: “The Double Impact Recovery Service has worked in partnership with WithYou since 2016, during which time we have seen our service offer develop and grow to become an established part of the treatment/recovery system in Lincolnshire.

“The majority of our referrals come from WithYou teams situated across the whole of the county and this project, where we have staff with specific lived experience embedded within specialist teams, will help service users connect and get the most out of the services and opportunities available to them.”

The Something Different outreach team includes peer support workers who are able to offer harm reduction advice using their own lived experience.

Albert Clifton, Recovery Worker and Lived Experience Worker for Double Impact and WithYou, said:

“I’ve been in recovery for 15 years. Drugs took everything from me and I ended up homeless on the streets. So I have a bit of experience of what it's like being homeless and feeling like you don't feel part of the community. You have this homeless community and that’s what you feel comfortable with.

“This project is reaching people who wouldn’t necessarily access services at all. You’ve got to want things to change but you need somebody to give you a bit of belief. Hopefully I give a bit of hope by sharing how I got to where I am today.”

Watch our video to learn more about the Something Different project and how the WithYou in Lincolnshire service collaborates with partners.

If you or someone you know needs support for alcohol or drugs in Lincolnshire, email WithYou via withyou.lincolnshire.spoc@nhs.net call 0800 304 7021 or visit our website for more information or for a free, confidential online chat: www.wearewithyou.org.uk