The team from Turning Point will be in Hereford in June with a recovery sofa event.
The team have told us more.
“Talking about your substance use comes with a huge amount of stigma and difficulty, it’s not easy talking about our issues and even harder to admit to something that most people won’t really understand. This can stop must of us from opening up, asking for help, and from challenging misconceptions when we hear them.
The big red recovery sofa is our attempt to break down some of that stigma, to bring these conversations out in the open and to help people be heard. We want to share the incredible journeys that people in recovery have been on, as well as recognise that there are hundreds of people struggling with drug and alcohol use who need to know that it’s ok to ask for help, that there is free and confidential help available and that people do care.
Inspired by the Recovery Street Film Festival, which is held each year to tell these amazing stories and encourage people to look deeper into a topic that may be uncomfortable, we are hosting three pop-ups in Hereford during June, all from 10:00am – 4:00pm:
- Friday 20th June: High Town, Hereford.
- Wednesday 25th June: The bull statue, High Town, Hereford.
- Monday 30th June: Hereford Cathedral.
Each day will provide an opportunity to speak with someone who has previously been in treatment or is still in treatment, as well as volunteers or staff who work with people who use drugs or alcohol.
As part of the film festival, which encourages people to submit short films (up to 3 minutes in length), we will be filming the sofa and hope that people will be happy to sit and talk with us, without judgement or criticism (if you don’t feel comfortable being on film, that’s absolutely fine too). We want people to ask questions and find out more, to challenge misconceptions and leave feeling informed and, hopefully, a little more aware of what some people are going through.
We’ll be setting up a stall with information and opportunities to get advice and support, whether it’s for you or someone you know. We will be offering free dry blood spot tests to check for hepatitis and HIV, provide advice about safe drinking and reducing harm, and giving out free, lifesaving naloxone (an opiate overdose reversal drug). Or you can just stop by to say hello and find out a bit more about the support we offer in Herefordshire or sign up to become a volunteer”
For more information on Turning Point click here -> News & Insight | Turning Point
