People helped by a substance misuse initiative took part in a countrywide event focused on discussing their road to recovery.
Delegates from the City and Hackney Recovery Service attended Turning Point’s My Voice gathering in Wakefield, bringing together individuals using services across the nation to exchange personal narratives and suggest improvements to care frameworks.
Attendees openly discussed how drug and alcohol use, mental health issues, and learning difficulties had shaped their lives, with many pointing out they encountered several obstacles at the same time.
The sessions explored what had helped people progress in their recovery and what further measures providers could take.
Freja, a trainee peer mentor with the City and Hackney team, said the My Voice gathering is fantastic since it gives her a sense of belonging, validates her views, and demonstrates that others are genuinely interested in hearing her perspective. It creates a space for people to communicate and remain linked.
She added that it enables services from different regions, serving varied populations, to identify patterns within those communities and work together for collective benefit.
Piers Adamson, senior operations manager for City and Hackney, said he was extremely proud of the peer mentors who shared their experiences. They spoke with such commitment about their recovery journeys, which he hoped would inspire others.
Matt Miles, national head of involvement at Turning Point, said the organisation believed the most effective support could only be delivered through genuine collaboration with those receiving it. Gathering to hear people’s experiences helped them understand what quality support meant regarding substance use, mental health, and learning disabilities, and allowed them to keep learning and improving.
More than 100 people attended the conference, including current and former service users, family members, carers, and staff.
Turning Point said the feedback gathered at the event would shape its strategy and improve care across the organisation.