Blenheim is a charity that provides support to drug and alcohol users, their family and carers 

WE BELIEVE IN PEOPLE’S CAPACITY TO CHANGE

How we can help you

How to contact usI first accessed Blenheim as a service user and I’m now proud

to be a peer mentor, helping others through recovery.

I feel a valued member of the service and the faith and belief instilled in me

by the staff and service users has really helped me grow as a person and I am now starting to live up to the potential I had before I developed a problem with substances. The staff have helped me

through some extreme personal trauma and without their help, support and non-

judgemental attitude I can honestly say that I may have given up on life and I

will be forever grateful for the hope and recovery I found at R3.

At Blenheim’s R3 service, I have set up an arts and craft group and have now

started and lead a peer support discussion group. We’ve witnessed the evolution of

the R3 Day Programme to be a much more service user-led project and seen first-hand

the excellent results for clients.

I find that being a service user representative and peer mentor helps me with my recovery as it helps me

maintain my new lifestyle choices by giving me a sense of purpose and fulfilment.

I have plans to work in the field and I would like to be more involved in innovative ideas to help services deliver better outcomes. I aim to take up the training and volunteer opportunities I have at Blenheim and hope to return to

the service in a paid role, once I am fully qualified and have had a bit of experience.

Blenheim has been an important part of my life, and I hope you enjoy reading about how they’ve helped people over the past year.

Jimmy, Peer Mentor at R3

020 7582 2200

info@blenheimcdp.org.uk

www.blenheimcdp.org.uk

“I came to Blenheim and it’s encouraged me, there are some good people here. I hope I can encourage other people, I want to do

something worthwhile and contribute something positive in this world, find some peace.”

Mike, Lewisham service user

»» Identifying the tools and support you need to achieve your goals

»» Setting goals for recovery

»» Creating a recovery plan

»» Getting ready to make changes

»» Learning how to reduce potential harm caused by your substance use

»» Being assigned a recovery worker, who will do key work with you throughout treatment and help with

motivation

»» Groups

»» Educational groups

»» Substance specific groups

»» Gender specific groups

»» Evening groups

»» Key work sessions to support you with your goals and progress

»» Explore future employment, training and education opportunities

»» Reduction in use and detox, if necessary

»» Complimentary therapies

»» Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

HousingWe may be able to support you to find somewhere safe and stable to live

DietMany of our services offer health and dietary sessions to help improve your overall wellbeing, or if you’re having difficulty paying for food, we can provide a list of local foodbanks

HealthMany of our services have a nurse on-site offering medical support and testing for hepatitis C, HIV and other viruses

SmokingMany of our services offer help with stopping smoking

Out and AboutDays out with activities such a canoeing and yoga

FitnessSome of our services have gyms, or sporting packages to help you stay active

SocialIt helps to talk to others who are going through the same thing, so many of our services hold regular social groups run by our service users, including film nights and gardening clubs

Relaxation therapiesMost of our services offer complementary therapies such as acupuncture, Reiki, shiatsu and reflexology to help relieve stress and cravings

HEALTH AND WELLBEINGAt Blenheim, we understand that someone’s drug and alcohol use isn’t the whole picture. That’s why we offer a range of support to help improve all aspects of your life. Below are examples of what some of our services offer.

“Blenheim staff are very helpful and

understanding. You can have a one to one session with them and

you don’t feel afraid to ask questions or receive answers.

“It gives you that lovely feeling, makes you feel more comfortable in yourself. While you are at Blenheim you forget about the world. You are concentrating on what is around you, people caring

about you.”Grace, ReAL

Recovery PathwaysWhen you come to Blenheim for support to change your drug and alcohol use we have a range of treatment options available, designed to help you in your recovery journey. Your individual needs will be discussed with you when you first come to the service and depending on your goals we will prepare a recovery plan with you. Here are some of the support options available:

»» Mentoring from people that have recovered from drug and alcohol use

»» Mutual aid groups

»» Weekend support

»» Recovery check-ups

»» Relapse prevention

»» Referral to other support services

PREPARATION1

CHANGE2

MAINTAININGRECOVERY

3

YOUNG PEOPLEOur Insight services in Kensington and Chelsea, Haringey and Southwark help young people and parents with problems relating to alcohol and drug use. We offer support, guidance and help setting goals for the future, as well as activities to provide distractions from cravings and teach new skills such as:

MusicOur service in Southwark has a music room where you can

learn to mix music and develop your own work

SportMany of our young people services

offer sporting activities like football, tennis and boxercise

SocialWe hold ‘Hot Café’

evenings every Tuesday, with activities like table

tennis, a hot meal and sometimes even water fights!

SUPPORTING YOU INTO WORKFinding work, volunteering or training can offer purpose to each day and help support your recovery. That’s why we do everything we can at our education, training and employment (ETE) services to help you move forward and find an opportunity that suits you.

INVOLVING YOU IN YOUR RECOVERYSomething we’re really proud of at Blenheim is involving our service users in the work we do in our services, from leading groups like art classes and yoga to helping us choose who we employ to help them with their recovery.

Roxy had been working with the team from Insight KC who got her ready

for and into rehab:

“My goals are starting a new life spending more time on myself, walking more and asking for help when I need it. I feel right at home with everyone and they are really helping me find my feet.

And I’m really trying to get everything out of the groups. I miss Insight and mum but I know I am in the right place. I feel really great for

making the choice of quitting my old life and my main goal is never going back to drugs ever again.”

Dave found full-time employment after

coming to our DAWS ETE service.

“After hitting my rock bottom and realising my drinking and substance use was out of control my doctor

referred me to Blenheim. The staff were so welcoming, understanding and non

judgemental.I’ve now completed a Fashion Course, Prince2 project managers course and got back into full time employment. I have to thank Nicolas

who has been an absolute superstar in helping me.

It hasn’t been an easy journey. I struggled to cope with life after 7 months in rehab and struggled with adjusting to a clean and sober life. It was tough but all the staff at Blenheim supported me and with lots of support and

guidance my life is back on track.Don’t suffer in silence. Just ask for help and be honest. It’s tough but you have to really want it for yourself and no one

else.”

Becky is a service user at CASA Alcohol Service, who has sat on

employment panels to hire new Blenheim staff.

“On the day, I felt quite excited and proud to represent Blenheim as this was a new experience for me. I was looking

for someone who, from a client’s point of view, would be easy to approach, who clients would feel at ease with to trust, to fit into

our community and would blend in with the staff team.I felt very proud to take part in this. It helped my confidence, made me feel valued and trusted as well as being a rare experience to have

been a part of.Thankfully on both occasions we were successful in finding appropriate candidates who are now a part of the fabulous

team at CASA.So we are all winners – yay!!”

RECONNECTING WITH PEOPLEWe can help you to rebuild relationships with parents, family members, loved ones and children.

Our family services help children, young people and their families and carers who are affected by parental alcohol or drug use. If you’re concerned that your substance use may be affecting someone else, we can support you to make the necessary changes. We offer age-appropriate support for children and young people affected by a parent or carer’s substance use.

If you’re worried about the effects of a loved one’s substance use on your family, we can help.

Sophie, aged 14, a CASA Family Service user said:

“I feel like I have a place to talk about stuff that most people don’t understand. They are like family, they listen, they

care and they will put in what is necessary if you need the support

and I trust them.”

“I have learnt tools, new skills and

strategies to help maintain my recovery; I feel my opportunities are endless and I have my self-worth back. My relationships have improved greatly. I couldn’t have

achieved this without the amazing support, care and dedication from the team at R3 and of course my peers and for that I am truly grateful. It has been extremely hard work, I won’t lie, but with commitment

and hard work you can change your life!”

Sean, R3

Getting helpIf you or a loved one needs help with drug or alcohol use, you can contact Blenheim on the number below or email us and we will refer you to your local service.

0207 582 2200info@blenheimcdp.org.uk

Interested in volunteering?Volunteer with us to help Blenheim make a difference. Find out more at blenheimcdp.org.uk/get-involved/volunteeringor call Blenheim Central Office.

Thank you to the service users who let us use their stories for this report. In the interests of privacy, all service user names have been changed.

Blenheim Central Office210 Wandsworth Road London SW8 2JUCharity No. 293959 Company No. 01694712

www.blenheimcdp.org.uk