We are one of more than 30 organisations that endorse the Alcohol Charter.

Read our blog about why we support this proposal on the Alcohol Charter website

One of the Charter’s 16 evidence-based policy proposals to achieve this is a call to:

• Provide and promote a ‘ring-fenced’ resource for alcohol treatment, early alcohol intervention provision and prevention services.
• Ensure local areas have adequate service provision for those with complex needs, especially those with both alcohol and mental health conditions. One way to achieve this is through assertive outreach and multi-agency partnerships.

The Alcohol Charter, produced jointly by the Drugs, Alcohol & Justice Cross-Party Parliamentary Group and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Harm, sets out effective and workable policies to reduce the damage to society caused by alcohol misuse.

We are excited to announce that our innovative Capital Card scheme has been shortlisted in the Digital Innovation category at this year’s Guardian Public Service Awards. These prestigious awards showcase projects, teams and individuals from across the UK making a real difference to people’s lives.

The Capital Card is a ground-breaking reward card scheme for users of WDP services. It rewards and incentivises their engagement through a simple earn-spend points system. Our service users can earn points by attending appointments or engaging in treatment interventions, and then spend these points on positive activities such as the cinema or gym – helping them on their recovery journey and empowering them to reconnect with their local community.

The scheme was launched in the London Borough of Hackney in 2017 and has since been rolled out to Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Brent, Cheshire West and Chester, City of London, Harrow, Havering, and Redbridge.

Yasmin Batliwala, Chair of WDP, commented: “I am delighted and proud that the Capital Card has been recognised by this heavyweight award body. It is yet another ringing endorsement of our pioneering scheme, which is truly leading the way in service user engagement across the substance misuse sector and beyond. I would also like to extend my congratulations to our hard-working Capital Card team. This shortlisting is well-deserved and a testament to their tireless dedication and creativity, as well as to the innovative technology that is continuously being developed to deliver ever-increasing benefits to our service users.”

For more information about the Capital Card®, please click here: www.capitalcard.org.uk.

For more information about the Guardian Public Service Awards please click here: www.theguardian.com/society/series/guardian-public-service-awards-2019

Leading drug and alcohol charity WDP is working with the UK’s largest discount diners’ club tastecard to provide people who access substance misuse services the opportunity to dine out at thousands of independent restaurants and high street chains across the country.

tastecard, a member of The Dining Club Group (DCG), will be giving a free three-month tastecard membership to users of the Capital Card, giving them access to the following amazing offers:

• 2-for-1 (or 50% off) food at 6,000+ restaurants
• Up to 40% off cinema tickets at Cineworld, Odeon, Vue and independent cinemas (all day, every day)
• Up to 50% off on days out that include attractions, aquariums, and theme parks.

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 service user engagement through a simple earn-spend points system, where 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: “Having tastecard on board and part of our Capital Card Spend Partner family is exciting news for our service users. We are looking forward to working together so our service users can access a wealth of dining and entertainment experiences – both locally and nationally. This is a great opportunity that our service users can take advantage of and I would like to thank the tastecard team for their extremely generous contribution to our scheme. It will help our service users to embrace and benefit from positive new social opportunities with their friends and family, as well as with their peers.”

Anwar Sultan, CMO of The Dining Club Group, said: “tastecard, the mighty black and green card, always knows where to take its members. Whether they want to save on food, cinema or days out; we’ve got plenty of discounts on offer. At tastecard, what’s important to us is that our members enjoy more experiences with their friends and family.”

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

About tastecard

tastecard is the UK’s largest discount dining membership, allowing its members to dine out more often and spend less money. Offering customers 2 for 1 meals or 50% off food at 6,000+ restaurants, 7 days a week, members can choose from some of the nation’s favourite big name brands as well as local independent restaurants.

For more information, visit www.tastecard.co.uk.

WDP and Chester Football Club are teaming up to give people who access substance misuse services the chance to obtain tickets for home matches at Swansway Chester Stadium.

This opportunity will be available through the Capital Card, a ground-breaking and award-winning reward card scheme which empowers WDP’s service users and helps them to bolster their recovery journey.

The WDP Capital Card rewards service user engagement through a simple earn-spend points system. They can earn points by attending appointments or engaging in treatment interventions, and then spend their points on fun activities in their local community, such as the cinema or gym.

From September 2019, Capital Card users in Cheshire West and Chester will be able to exchange their hard-earned points to attend Chester Football Club home games, which include:

• Leamington on 28 September 2019
• Alfreton Town on 9 November 2019

Chester Football Club are donating 20 tickets to each game as part of this pilot scheme and service users can ‘pay’ for these tickets with 30 of their Capital Card points.

Yasmin Batliwala, Chair of WDP, said: “We are delighted to be teaming up with Chester Football Club to give our service users such a fantastic opportunity. I welcome Chester Football Club into the Capital Card Spend Partner family and thank them for this extremely generous contribution. It will have a big impact on our service users in Cheshire West and Chester. I hope that we can continue to build on this pilot and work together to benefit not only our service users but also their local communities.”

Jim Green, Chief Executive of Chester FC Community Trust, said: “Chester FC is an inclusive, community club and we hope this new partnership with WDP will make a positive contribution to service users and their recovery. We are proud to be a spend partner for the Capital Card in Cheshire West and Chester and look forward to welcoming service users to a game this season.”

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

About Chester Football Club

Chester Football Club play in the sixth tier of English football. Owned 100% by the fans, Chester City Supporters’ Society Limited, the club are into their tenth season since reforming as a supporter-owned club. Chester FC has both mens and womens senior and youth teams, and the first team play their matches at the Deva Stadium.

Chester FC Community Trust uses the power of sport and appeal of Chester FC to improve and enhance the lives of people living in Chester and the surrounding areas. Established in 2013, we deliver high quality football and sport opportunities, education programmes, social inclusion provision, and health and well-being projects to people of all ages and abilities. The Trust was granted charitable status in 2017 by the Charities Commission.

For further details about the Trust, interviews or images contact chief executive Jim Green on 07512 355396 or email jim.green@chesterfc.com.