Leading drug and alcohol charity WDP has teamed up with Booker Wholesale, the UK’s leading food and drink wholesaler, to offer its Capital Card users a wide range of essential items during the coronavirus pandemic, through donations of surplus non-perishable goods.

Users of the WDP Capital Card earn points by engaging in drug and alcohol treatment and can then usually spend their points on positive activities and products in their local community at our Spend Partners, such as cinemas, gyms or eateries. However, many Capital Card Spend Partners are closed due to the current lockdown, which is why this new collaboration is so important.

This new partnership with Booker Wholesale means that Capital Card users can place orders at their WDP service for an even larger range of vital everyday food items. Booker donates any surplus stock free of charge and then service users can pick-up their orders from a local locker or arrange a home delivery as part of the innovative Capital Card Shop on Wheels scheme. The new items available for service users will be pasta, rice, biscuits, cakes, soft drinks, crisps and fruit.

Yasmin Batliwala, Chair of WDP, said: “I am delighted that Booker Wholesale are supporting our service users in this way and especially during this difficult time. Receiving donations of surplus non-perishable items will further bolster the menu of options available to our service users. A big thank you to Booker Wholesale for their extremely generous contributions which will make a huge difference to our service users.”

For more information about the award-winning Capital Card®, visit www.capitalcard.org.uk.

Leading drug and alcohol charity WDP has partnered with Hermes, one of the UK’s largest parcel delivery companies, to provide its most vulnerable Capital Card users access to essential items during the coronavirus pandemic through a home delivery service.

Users of the WDP Capital Card earn points by engaging in drug and alcohol treatment and can then spend their points on positive activities and products in their local community at our Spend Partners, such as cinemas, gyms or eateries. However, many Capital Card Spend Partners are closed due to the current lockdown.

This innovative partnership means that service users who are currently unable to leave their place of residence, whether it be because they are self-isolating or if they have mobility issues, can place orders for essential items that they would usually ‘buy’ in their local WDP service’s Pop-Up Shops, such as toiletries and non-perishable items. Hermes will then deliver these orders to the service user’s door within one week, as part of the Capital Card ‘Shop on Wheels’ initiative. Whilst WDP services remain fully operational, social distancing guidelines dictate that the Pop-Up Shops cannot currently open on-site.

Hermes is generously providing delivery options in 11 different WDP service locations across Greater London and Cheshire West and Chester, meaning 10 packages per week per location can be delivered to service user homes.

Yasmin Batliwala, Chair of WDP, said: “We are excited to be partnering with Hermes to support our service users during these difficult times. Our Capital Card Team are doing everything they can to find new and innovative ways to support our service users, and this news is yet another example of their hard work and dedication and exemplifies everything that WDP is about. We welcome Hermes into the Spend Partner family and thank them wholeheartedly for enabling us to provide safe and secure access to essential everyday items for our most vulnerable service users without them needing to leave their homes.”

Sasha Law, Head Of Internal Comms & Engagement at Hermes, said: “We’re proud to be able to support the Shop on Wheels initiative which is a great cause and we’re pleased to be able to use our network to support some of the most vulnerable in society. Hopefully this support will help make a positive impact and enable WDP to continue their valuable work.”

For more information about the award-winning Capital Card®, visit www.capitalcard.org.uk.

About Hermes

Hermes, the UK’s consumer delivery specialist, provides flexible and affordable delivery options to home, work, ParcelShops and Lockers delivering more than 400 million parcels a year with a mission to be the UK’s carrier of choice. Hermes works alongside 80% of the UK’s top retailers including Next, ASOS and John Lewis. For more information, visit https://new.myhermes.co.uk/.

We are delighted to announce that our Havering substance misuse treatment service has been rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The CQC inspectors highlighted that “the service provided safe, effective and high-quality care” and that “staff consistently followed best practice concerning clients’ substance misuse treatment.”

The report also includes some excellent feedback from service users. The CQC inspectors reported that service users “found staff supportive and able to provide practical and emotional assistance”. Service users also said they felt “fully involved in their care and treatment” and have developed “strong therapeutic relationships with staff.”

Daren Mulley, Senior Commissioning Manager for London Borough of Havering, said: “In these unprecedented times, it’s been great to receive such good news which recognises your hard work and efforts to make the service safe, caring, effective and well led. I’d like to congratulate you all on the outcome of the inspection and say a big thank to you for continuing your work to provide a crucial service to some of our most vulnerable residents in Havering.”

Yasmin Batliwala, Chair of WDP, commented: “We are thrilled that the brilliant work of our staff and volunteers has been recognised in such a positive way. To hear such incredible feedback from both the CQC and our service users is incredibly rewarding to everyone at WDP. The services provided by WDP Havering are hugely important to the local community and we look forward to continuing to support our service users’ recovery and find even more innovative ways to reach out to those in need.

The areas of good practice that the CQC was particularly impressed by were:

• Staff understood the individual needs of service users and supported them to understand and manage their care and treatment.
• Service users were involved in the service in a number of ways, including at the monthly service user forum. Their feedback had led to the development of a men’s group, a weekly acupuncture session and Thursday coffee mornings.
• WDP’s reward card scheme for service users, the Capital Card®, incentivised service user engagement, where they can earn points by attending groups or engaging in treatment interventions and spend these points on fun activities in the local community.
• Staff described a respectful, supportive culture where they felt valued and motivated to provide high quality care and treatment.

To access the full CQC inspection report, please click here.

If you live in Havering and would like to talk to someone about your or a loved one’s drug or alcohol use, please contact us on 01708 747 614 or havering@wdp.org.uk.

Leading drug and alcohol charity WDP has teamed up with InPost, Europe’s only end-to-end parcel locker provider, to offer its Capital Card users access to essential items during the coronavirus pandemic, through 24/7 contact-free delivery to local InPost lockers.

Users of the WDP Capital Card earn points by engaging in drug and alcohol treatment and can then spend their points on positive activities and products in their local community at our Spend Partners, such as cinemas, gyms or eateries. However, many Capital Card Spend Partners are closed due to the current lockdown.

This exciting new partnership means that Capital Card users can place orders for essential items that they would usually ‘buy’ in their local WDP service’s Pop-Up Shops and pick them up from a local InPost locker, free-of-charge. Whilst WDP services remain fully operational, social distancing guidelines dictate that the Pop-Up Shops cannot currently open on-site.

Being able to access an InPost locker will mean individuals can pick-up their orders with no need to enter any shops or buildings, and with no interaction with others.

InPost are generously providing lockers in 11 different WDP service locations across Greater London and Cheshire West and Chester, enabling 10 packages per week per location to be picked up.

Yasmin Batliwala, Chair of WDP, said: “Yet again, this demonstrates the ethos of WDP in focussing on the specific needs of our services users by delivering innovative solutions in their care. It is a testament to the tireless efforts of our Capital Card Team, who thought outside the box to get the best for our service users under lockdown. We are absolutely delighted to be working with InPost in this way. We welcome InPost into the Spend Partner family and thank them wholeheartedly for enabling us to continue to support vulnerable individuals to conveniently access vital everyday items.”

Jason Tavaria, CEO of InPost, said: “Improving communities is at the heart of everything we do, this takes the form of reducing last mile deliveries and improving the environment, but we also support the distribution of goods to key workers and vulnerable people. We are delighted to be partnering with WDP to offer use of our lockers to their community and support them during this challenging time.

“InPost 24/7 lockers offer no queues or closing times when collecting your items. We continue to work hard to keep people connected during the pandemic; offering contact-free deliveries to maintain the movement of items & parcels at this difficult time.”

For more information about the award-winning Capital Card®, visit www.capitalcard.org.uk.

About InPost

InPost is aiming to change online shopping behaviour to create greener communities and more sustainable deliveries by reducing last mile journeys and emissions. It intends to grow its national network of automated lockers for the convenient collection and sending of parcels and returns to 6,000 by the end of 2022. For more information visit our website or follow us on Twitter.

WDP celebrated International Women’s Day (8 March) to shine a spotlight on the accomplishments of the incredible women at WDP.

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

This year’s theme is ‘Each for Equal’. The theme highlights the responsibility we all have to challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, each one of us can help to create a gender equal world.

WDP Harrow celebrated by holding a women’s coffee morning at one of WDP’s Capital Card spend partners, Nando’s UK. The restaurant provided delicious pastries and hot drinks for service users and staff.

The service also held an International Women’s Day event, where the group discussed gender violence and shared empowering messages with one another. Refreshments for the event were kindly provided by Pret A Manager and complimentary toiletries for the attendees were provided by Lush.

WDP’s Chair, Yasmin Batliwala, gave a powerful and moving keynote speech about the significance of International Women’s Day.

“It’s about recognising the importance of woman in an unequal world where everyone has a role to play in making the gender balance more equal.”

Batliwala explained how WDP’s ability to support women in their recovery attracted her to the organisation.

“WDP was relevant to the women we served and because they gave us their trust I knew this was the service where I too belonged.”

WDP Harrow’s Service Manager, Jaya Karira, also shared her thoughts on this year’s ‘Each for Equal’ theme.

“During our day to day lives, we often overlook the fact that equality is a mindset. However, it starts from within, equality can be achieved if the diversity, differences and qualities of women are truly valued.”

Today and every day, WDP will continue to celebrate the accomplishments of the incredible women who work and volunteer at WDP and will continue to strive for gender equality across the organisation.

WDP has joined forces with Storyhouse, an award-winning library, theatre, cinema, and cultural centre in Chester, to offer local people who access substance misuse services the opportunity to enjoy events and facilities available at this valuable community hub. It is the first partnership between WDP and a significant regional cultural centre.

Storyhouse will be enabling users of the Capital Card in Cheshire West and Chester to attend film screenings between Mondays and Thursdays at the Hunter Street venue.

The Capital Card is an award-winning reward card scheme which empowers WDP’s service users and helps them on their recovery journey. It rewards people for their engagement at their local service, through a simple earn-spend points system. They can earn points by attending appointments or engaging in treatment, and then spend their points on positive activities in their local community, such as the cinema or gym.

Yasmin Batliwala, Chair of WDP, said: “We are delighted to welcome Storyhouse into the Capital Card® Spend Partner family. We believe with the right support people can make long-lasting transformations in their lives to improve their health and wellbeing. Having such complementary values with Storyhouse, in being committed to create and offer opportunities for marginalised and isolated groups, means that we are extremely excited to work together. Being able to embrace opportunities in their local area such as this will help our service users to benefit from positive new social opportunities with their friends and family.”

Alex Clifton, Artistic Director at Storyhouse said: “We want users of the scheme to come to Storyhouse to enjoy themselves, to experience something fun. Whether that’s at an event in the cinema, discovering a new book or relaxing in our many spaces.”

For more information about the Capital Card®, visit www.capitalcard.org.uk.

About Storyhouse

Storyhouse is the UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre (UK Theatre 2019/20). Storyhouse is a progressive business whose activities include theatre production, library management, site-specific productions and festivals. It is creating a new model for a modern cultural organisation. It is already one of Chester’s principal visitor attractions and welcomes 3,000 visitors a day. The public library has the longest opening hours in the UK and its community programme reaches in excess of 150,000 individuals. It welcomes 1 million visits a year. Storyhouse has won the RIBA National, was highly commended at the RICS Award, shortlisted for the BBC’s People’s Building for the Decade and has been nominated for The Stage Awards.

Website: www.storyhouse.com
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Twitter: @storyhouselive
Facebook: www.facebook.com/storyhouselive
Address: Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR

We are delighted to announce that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a glowing inspection report for our Merton substance misuse treatment service. The overall CQC rating was ‘Good’ but the service was also scored ‘Outstanding’ against how responsive the service was to people’s needs.

The CQC inspectors highlighted that “the service had gone over and above in understanding the local community in Merton” and that “staff were exceptional in recognising and responding to the needs of the local population.”

The report also includes some fantastic feedback from service users. The CQC inspectors reported that service users “felt that they were always treated with kindness, dignity and respect by staff” and that “staff were friendly, polite and helpful in creating a positive and healthy atmosphere.” One service user in particular said that “the kindness and care was the best that they had ever received.”

Tobin Byers, Merton Council’s Cabinet member for Health & Social Care said: “This really is a local service to be proud of. It is providing real support to those who need and want to improve their lives, have a positive role in the community and have a healthier future.

“Tackling the stigma associated with substance misuse problems is critical and they deserve our support, and I’m delighted that the standard bearer for these services – the Care Quality Commission – has rated it so highly. Both staff at the council and those staff and volunteers at WDP should be proud of the service they’re providing.”

Yasmin Batliwala, Chair of WDP, commented: “We are extremely proud that the excellent work of our staff and volunteers has been recognised in such an overwhelmingly positive way. To receive such a first-rate report from the CQC and hear incredible feedback from our service users is incredibly inspirational to everyone at WDP. The services provided by WDP Merton are hugely important for the local community and we look forward to continuing to support our service users’ recovery and identify even more ways to reach out to those in need.”

Although there were many examples of good practice highlighted – including safeguarding, local partnership working and the staff team – the areas of outstanding practice that the CQC was particularly impressed by were:

• Encouraging service users to access the local community and activities within it.
• Employing a Tamil-speaking apprentice to provide specific group interventions in Tamil and providing written materials in Tamil and Polish, due to the large local populations of these groups.
• An in-house employment support programme with strong links to the local Jobcentre Plus, who hold a monthly drop-in session at the service.
• Providing a reward card scheme for service users, the Capital Card®, to incentivise service user engagement, where they can earn points by attending groups or engaging in treatment interventions and spend these points on fun activities such as the cinema or gym.
• The staff team winning an organisational award for going the extra mile for their service users.

To access the full CQC inspection report, please click here.

If you live in Merton and would like to talk to someone about your or a loved one’s drug or alcohol use, please contact us on 0300 303 4610 or merton@wdp.org.uk.

WDP has teamed up with the UK’s largest hospitality company Whitbread to offer people accessing substance misuse services the opportunity to take part in a monthly lunch club and reconnect with their local communities in a healthier way.

From January 2020, WDP service users in Cheshire West and Chester, and the London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Hackney, Harrow, Havering, Merton and Redbridge will be able to use their hard-won Capital Card points on a group outing to a local Whitbread restaurant each month. This offer also extends to service users at WDP’s residential rehabilitation facility, Passmores House in Harlow, Essex.

WDP staff will accompany a group of service users from each of these services so that they can enjoy a hearty main meal and a soft drink and learn different and healthier ways of navigating social surroundings, in a safe and welcoming environment.

The Capital Card is an award-winning reward card scheme which empowers and helps people on their recovery journey. It rewards service user engagement through a simple earn-spend points system, where they can earn points by attending appointments or engaging in treatment, and then choose to spend their points on positive activities in their local community, such as the cinema or gym.

Yasmin Batliwala, Chair of WDP, said: “We continually look to expand the range of opportunities available through our Capital Card scheme and are excited to have Whitbread join our Spend Partner family. These lunch clubs with peers provide a safe space for our service users to take part in a shared social activity that they may have felt not able or too anxious to do without support. It is also an opportunity for our service users to re-learn positive behaviours and how to interact more fully with their wider community. I would like to thank Whitbread for this invaluable partnership in helping our service users to embrace and benefit from new positive social activities.”

Phil Birbeck, Managing Director, Premier Inn & Restaurants UK, said: “At Whitbread we take huge pride in creating a safe and welcoming environment for all our guests and for a wide range of occasions. We are delighted to be partnering WDP in this innovative approach to rehabilitation. Our venues have always been the traditional social point out of the home and that remains as true today as it ever was.”

For more information about the Capital Card®, visit www.capitalcard.org.uk.

About Whitbread

Whitbread PLC is the owner of the UK’s favourite hotel chain, Premier Inn with over 800 hotels comprising almost 80,000 rooms and restaurant brands including Beefeater, Thyme and Bar + Block.

Outside of the UK, Whitbread is investing in more Premier Inn hotels in Germany, Ireland and the Middle East. Whitbread has particularly exciting expansion plans in the German market, it opened its first hotel in Frankfurt in 2016 and now has more than 35 further Premier Inn hotels in its secured pipeline in Germany. Whitbread has already committed more than £700 million of investment capital in Germany.

Whitbread is committed to being a force for good in the communities in which it operates. It’s sustainability programme, ‘Force for Good’ is focused on enabling people to live and work well and is built around three pillars of Opportunity, Community and Responsibility.

In the year ending February 2019, Whitbread PLC generated revenue of £2.0 billion and Underlying Profit before tax of £438 million.

Whitbread PLC is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100.

For more information about Whitbread, visit www.whitbread.co.uk.

We are delighted to announce that WDP has been successful in its bid to deliver a new drug and alcohol service in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

The new service will commence from 1 April 2020 and will be operational for an initial five-year term.

The service will be available to adults in Greenwich requiring help with substance misuse of any kind. It will be delivered from fixed hubs as well as in a variety of community settings across the local area.

The new service will have a strong focus on community, notably through our unique Capital Card, and will bring with it WDP’s recovery focus and commitment to working in partnership with the areas we serve.

Yasmin Batliwala, Chair of WDP said: “We are delighted to be chosen as the new provider of high-quality adult substance misuse services in Greenwich. In securing this new contract, WDP will be able to reach more people in need of our services; as part of this we are excited to be piloting a number of new digital approaches to expand the accessibility of the service. We are also very much looking forward to welcoming the new staff into the WDP family.”

We welcome the Health and Social Care Committee’s latest report (First report of Session 2019-20, Drugs Policy – HC 143) published today (23 October 2019) which calls for a radical new approach to the country’s current drug policy.

Its findings and recommendations mean that we could have, for the first time in many years, a policy which would be fit for purpose: one that deals with 21st century issues and gets to the heart of the matter.

A health focused and harm reduction approach would not only benefit those who are using drugs but would reduce the harm to and the costs for our society as a whole.

We also strongly support the Committee’s recommendation that a fundamental change is required to address the shameful number of drug-related deaths in the UK, which are some of the highest in Europe, particularly in Scotland.

Moving away from a criminal justice to a healthcare-led approach, with responsibility for drugs policy moving from the Home Office to the Department of Health and Social Care, is a no brainer.

We urge the Government to consult on the decriminalisation of drug possession for personal use from a criminal offence to a civil matter. Evidence shows that the decriminalisation of possession for personal use can not only reduce costs to our criminal justice system, but also allows for more investment in prevention and treatment, resulting in the saving of more lives and providing better protection for our communities.

A holistic, non-judgemental approach is essential if we are to properly address this issue once and for all.

Without significant investment into drug treatment, the number of drug-related deaths will increase, despite the fact that every single drug-related death is preventable.

Yasmin Batliwala, Chair

Read the full report from the Health and Social Care Committee.