Community Voice is here!
Community Voice is Essex Recovery Foundation’s flagship event which gives people with lived experience of addiction the power to influence the future of recovery in Essex. This historic project is one of the first of its kind in the UK.
Essex Recovery Foundation was set up to give the power to shape and commission drug and alcohol services to the people who use them and in the process build a lively recovery community that de-stigmatises addiction.
While traditionally the council have worked alongside services to ensure they are meeting the needs of the recovery community, this influence is now being passed over to the very people it serves… the recovery community in Essex!
To bring this radical and innovative idea to life, Essex Recovery Foundation has been working alongside Essex County Council to develop a community forum which gives people affected by addiction the opportunity to make positive, radical and real changes to the recovery experience in Essex.
The forum has been aptly named “Community Voice”, where everybody has an important and equal role to play.
Community Voice will meet every three months to discuss what’s needed to improve recovery outcomes in Essex, to decide what resources are needed, and to allocate funding to services to make it all happen.
To capture a true and honest picture of the recovery experience in Essex, Community Voice wants to capture the diversity of experiences, ideas and feedback from across the county. While the event is open to anybody with an interest in influencing these life-changing services, Essex Recovery Foundation is especially keen to hear from:
People in active addiction
People in treatment
People in recovery from addiction
Friends and family of people affected by addiction
People who work for drug & alcohol services
Sarah Tinker, Radical Change Lead for Essex Recovery Foundation, says:
“Everybody has an important role to play in changing the culture of commissioning. We will make sure that this is a space where everybody’s voice is heard”
The first meeting has been scheduled for Friday 17th May from 1pm-4:30pm and will be held at Wat Tyler Country Park in Basildon. As well as ample opportunities for people to share their opinions and experiences, attendees will also be treated to an African drumming workshop, an introduction to Essex Recovery Foundation’s team of Community Researchers and a talk from the Voices of Recovery group.
You must register to attend.
