The First Steps to Recovery – CFO Activity Hubs and Drug and Alcohol Support

CFO work with a number of participants who have challenges around drug and alcohol usage.

CFO Activity Hubs provide a safe space for these participants on the road to recovery.

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CFO Activity Hubs do this by providing the four elements of recovery through the activities we deliver and the style in which we engage people on probation:

1.?????? Social – CFO Activity Hubs engage people in their own lives, helping them build new relationships with positive peer groups, giving opportunities to rebuild relationships with family and significant others.

2.?????? Physical – Help promote lifestyles and learning that moves towards building the stable elements of a life; well managed finances, assertive approach to problem solving which allows for independent living, employment and capacity to self-finance legitimately.

3.?????? Human – Learning and skills, health and diet, positive skillsets, self-esteem and confidence building.

4.?????? Cultural – Values and beliefs and leaving behind of old, negative identities by embracing all, including those of different backgrounds, cultures and more.

CFO Activity Hubs also provide information and tools to assist the recovery process and create routes to engagement with mainstream provisions.?

Many participants may not be ready to access mainstream drug and alcohol support services and rehabilitation when they first arrive at the Hub. Through activities that boost confidence and self-esteem and remove barriers that are obstructing these provisions, CFO Activity Hubs can support the initial steps to recovery. Drug and alcohol interventions are available directly at many Hubs too.

Mike*, who attends the Wolverhampton CFO Activity Hub for support with his recovery said: “Without this place, I would be sat at home, bored, alone and drunk. I want to create art here, as it’s the only thing that has helped me to avoid drinking as much as I have done.”

Whilst at the Lewisham CFO Activity Hub, Jasmine* has been getting support from staff whilst she attends mainstream support.

Staff at the Hub noted her addictions as a key issue to rehabilitation and referred her to RESET (Treatment and Recovery Support Service) which has been a massive help to her. Speaking about her experience, Jasmine* said: “Without the CFO Activity Hub, I would never have thought that I could come out of my dark hole of drinking as I didn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel, but I do now. It has made me more confident into gaining employment too but I’m just so pleased and grateful for all the help I currently receive from the Hub and RESET.”

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The voluntary nature of the CFO Activity Hub programme is also advantageous to recovery.

Whilst many participants may attend mainstream services (as directed by Probation), they may not actively engage. CFO Activity Hubs encourage engagement with activities and tailored support for each individual. This approach helps to encourage engagement with mainstream drug and alcohol support too, not just within the CFO Activity Hub.

By engaging and overcoming the barrier of drug and alcohol usage participants are often able to address other challenges in their recovery pathway. This can include employability, accommodation or financial needs amongst many others.

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Take Danny*’s story for example. He attended the CFO Activity Hub in Liverpool getting wraparound support for CRS provisions. Having built a strong relationship with his Support Worker, Danny* disclosed that he was using cocaine and cannabis and needed further support to prevent relapse. This would be a key barrier to break through for Danny* in feeling like a reformed and valued member of society.

The staff member arranged a 1-2-1 with the Substance Misuse Worker at the Liverpool CFO Activity Hub. Danny* attended and completed work on the impact of his drug use, the impact his mother’s drug use had on him as a child and how to move away from a substance-centric social network. The last of which he would do by building positive relationships with his father and auntie, which would massively aid the early stages of his recovery.

With a new mindset developed, he began working on the next steps of his action plan. Danny* was supported in attending a local college course, creating a CV and completed some extra courses on getting work ready, giving him the best chance of returning to the labour market now that his drug use had been addressed.

Danny*’s journey at the CFO Activity Hub in Liverpool showcases how these spaces help to work through key barriers and allow participants to grow through their recovery journey. Without the substance misuse support, Danny* would likely not feel work ready, and would have maintained a barrier to rehabilitation.

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If you are working with a person on probation who needs wraparound support for their drug and alcohol provisions, direct support or simply a space to spend positive time and make personal developments, please click here to learn more about CFO Activity Hubs and make a referral.

Should you have any further questions about how CFO Activity Hubs can aid the recovery process, or any of our other services, please email: [email protected].

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*names changed to protect identity