A WORCESTERSHIRE homeless charity has launched its first drop-in service at the Redditch Baptist Church.
As part of their Harm Reduction service, the team at Maggs Day Centre will offer clean works, Naxolone provision and training, BBV testing and a safe space to talk about alcohol and substance use.
The Harm Reduction team partners with homelessness, health providers, and other relevant agencies to engage people with services to address substance misuse and any health-related issue associated with substance dependency.
The team goes anywhere that a person experiencing homelessness needs support, provides various support, and works collaboratively to break down barriers to develop innovative and robust pathways to engage people and support our service users to adopt safer practices and reduce harm.
Lauren Ebeling, Harm Reduction Worker at Maggs Day Centre, said: “I was delighted that the Maggs team were invited to host a weekly drop-in service at the Redditch Baptist Church.
“Not only does this offer my service users a safe place to utilise the harm reduction services, but even if it’s just a safe place to come for a simple chat, this can make all the difference.
“I have built fantastic relationships with service users and made excellent progress, so this will be another positive stepping stone.”
Sgt David Roberts, from Redditch Safer Neighbourhood Team said: “Before the Maggs Harm Reduction team started working in Redditch, we had no meaningful outreach work in the town centre.
“The team have been able, through the skills they possess, to build up good relationships and trust amongst service users.
“Which has led to them being able to put our service users back on script quicker, reducing the need to offend, offer health advice and support for meetings with external agencies.”
“Lauren’s work at the new drop-in service and with our service users would fall apart without her enthusiasm and interpersonal skills.
“Without them in Redditch, we would have an increase in their offending and a reduction in supporting them to rehabilitate.”
The drop0in sessions take place every Thursday at Redditch Baptist Church.
Visit www.maggsdaycentre.co.uk for more information.
