What you need to know about Cuckooing

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What is Cuckooing?

Cuckooing is when a drug dealer or a gang takes over a vulnerable adult’s address for criminal purposes, usually as a site to supply, store or produce drugs from. Gangs will exploit an individual’s vulnerabilities in order to make a profit and avoid police detection.

Cuckooing is often seen as a part of County Lines criminality which involves drug gangs exploiting children and vulnerable adults.

Who is targeted?

The following individuals are sometimes targeted for cuckooing:

• Those who suffer from drug and/or alcohol addiction
• Those who are struggling financially
• The elderly
• People with mental health issues
• Individuals with learning disabilities

How does it start?

A gang member may begin by befriending the vulnerable adult – gangs will select members who are charming and manipulative in order for them to quickly build a rapport.

They will then offer the vulnerable adult something of interest to them, this could be a relationship, friendship, drugs and/or alcohol, money or clothing.

In exchange they may ask to ‘borrow’ a room, to store something or meet other ‘friends’ at the property. In some cases, the gang may make it clear that this is for criminal purposes, i.e. drug supply, or they may use an excuse as to why they want to use the property.

Gradually the ‘benefits’ will reduce and may eventually come to an end, and more and more people will come and go from the address.

The gang members may threaten the vulnerable adult verbally or physically if they try to put a stop to their criminal activity. They will also discourage family/friends and support workers from visiting the vulnerable adult’s address.

What are the risks of Cuckooing?

If drugs are found at the property it is likely the vulnerable adult, being a resident at the address, will be interviewed and/or arrested by the Police.

If an occupier allows gang members to use their property for drug supply, they may face a prison sentence and/or a fine.

However, if there is evidence to suggest that the adult is vulnerable and has been exploited by the gang, this will be considered when making charging decisions and safeguarding measures will be put in place.

Benefits could be lost and the housing provider may choose to evict the resident. Often, housing providers will begin by issuing a Closure Order on the address which can involve restricted access to others for up to six months. Usually, an agreement of who can attend the address will be put in place between the housing provider and the resident. These are a positive measure and can be used to help the resident gain control over their home again.

What to do if you know of someone that is being cuckooed?

We would like to support anyone that is a victim of cuckooing by working with partners to safeguard victims and identify the criminals.

It is extremely important that you keep us informed of any exploitation or criminality so that we can begin a multi-agency approach in tackling the issue.

If you know of someone who is a victim, there are a variety of ways you can get in contact with us:

• Inform a local Police Officer
• Attend your nearest Police Station
• Report online via the ‘report it’ page on the West Yorkshire Police website or speak to one of our colleagues via the online chat
• If you are a partner, through the Partnership Intelligence Portal
• Call 101
• Or, if you would like to remain anonymous please call:

 

 

Further support

The first step for those who are a victim of cuckooing is to talk to someone, this could be you, a family/friend or a support worker. There are also other services that can offer support for cuckooing and other issues:

For practical advice and support:

Citizen’s Advice Bureau – 03444 111 444

To talk through any issues or concerns:

Samaritans – 116 123 (free, 24/7) or email: jo@samaritans.org

Got a problem with drugs?

Contact us, The Basement Recovery Project and/or:
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) –https://ukna.org/
for more information and location of meetings or call their helpline (10am – midnight) 0300 999 1212

PARTNERSHIP INTELLIGENCE PORTAL

Are you an organisation/business that could help us understand the threat of serious and organised crime within our community?

Report information direct to the heart of West Yorkshire Police’s Intelligence function.
https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/partnership-intelligence-portal

 

This information is reproduced from the Leaflet “What is Cuckooing? Are you or someone you know at risk” from West Yorkshire Police and is supported by the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner, West Yorkshire.

Download a copy here -> CUCKOOING Trifold Leaflet

 

Danny’s Story

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We are grateful to Danny for writing and sharing his addiction recovery story with us.  We hope you find his story inspiring and it gives you the confidence to get in touch with us to see how we may be able to help you.  As we always say, we can’t make that call for you, but we can help you every step of the way after that.  If Danny can do it, you can do it!

“I’d lost all control over any substances that came my way. I’d take anything and everything. I lived in chaos wherever I went and all aspects of my life were impacted by my using and drinking. Ketamine was a big issue too and very quickly affected my physical health in addition to my already deteriorating mental wellbeing.” …

Read full story

 

Health and Wellbeing Resources for Families – Covid-19

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We know this is a worrying time for everyone.

Helping children and young people cope with the information and changes related to the Coronavirus can be a huge challenge. From school closures and social distancing to increased awareness of infection and hygiene, there is a lot for children and families to process.

This guide brings together trustworthy information and resources to support you and your family during these difficult times.  This information was provided by Healthy Futures Calderdale.

A PDF version can be downloaded here – COVID-19 HEALTH AND WELLBEING RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES PDF

Local health and wellbeing support

Calderdale Community MidwiferySupport from the Calderdale community midwifery teamFor non-urgent queries: 01422 261364

https://www.cht.nhs.uk/services/
clinical-services/maternity-services

Calderdale Public Health Early Years’ Service (PHEYS)Support from the Health Visiting Team, breastfeeding support, maternal mental health, and support in pregnancy and for children from birth to 5 years.To speak to a health visitor: 030 0304 5076

“Calderdale Health Visiting” on Facebook

Healthy Early Years CalderdaleAn online health and wellbeing guide for parents of children aged birth to five yearshttp://www.healthyearlyyears.co.uk/
Healthy Futures CalderdaleHealth and wellbeing advice, support, signposting and referral service from public health nurses for school-aged children and their families.

NEW Chat Health confidential secure text messaging service, launches 27th April 2020

To speak to a nurse: 030 3330 9974

“Healthy Futures Calderdale” on social media

Young people’s service: text 07480 635297 Parents and carers service: text 07507 332157

Safeguarding CalderdaleAdvice and support if you are worried about any adult or child.Multi-Agency Screening Team: 01422 393336

Out of hours Emergency Duty Team: 01422 288000.

https://safeguarding.calderdale.gov.uk/

Open Minds Partnership (the new name for Calderdale CAMHS – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)If parent/carers, young people or professionals have concerns about the emotional health of a young person, please contact the First Point of Contact01422 300 001

firstpointofcontact@calderdalecamhs.org.uk

https://calderdalecamhs.org.uk/

Calderdale Council coronavirus advice and updatesProvides links to information including financial support, food banks, mental health, domestic abuse and support for migrantshttps://www.calderdale.gov.uk/v2/
coronavirus/advice-and-updates
C & K CareersCareers advice and guidance for Calderdale

and Kirklees residents aged 13+

https://ckcareersonline.org.uk/

01484 213856 chat@ckcareers.org.uk

Staying well at home and what to do if your child is unwell

NHS 111 onlineOnline COVID-19 symptom checkerhttps://111.nhs.uk/covid-19/
NHS and Government adviceNHS coronavirus advice

Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you need to do

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/
coronavirus-covid-19

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Lullaby TrustProvides safe sleep advice and advice on coronavirus for if you are pregnant or have a young childhttps://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-
advice/coronavirus-and-caring-for-your- baby/
RCOGCoronavirus infection and pregnancy information for pregnant women and their familieshttps://www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-
research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-
pregnancy/covid-19-virus-infection-and-
pregnancy/
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and Healthier TogetherAdvice for parents during coronavirus on how to manage common childhood illnesses and when/where to seek medical adviceDownload PDF
UnicefAdvice on infant feeding and breastfeeding during the coronavirus outbreakWebsite Link
Institute for Health VisitingTop Tips for Parents: advice on looking after your new baby from when they are born to when they go to schoolhttps://ihv.org.uk/families/top-tips/
Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT)Preventing accidents in the homehttps://www.capt.org.uk/News/preventing-
accidents-in-the-home

Helping children and young people to understand COVID 19

The Children’s CommissionerChildren’s guide to coronavirus: aims to answer children’s questions, tell them how to stay safe and protect other people, and how to make the best of their time at homehttps://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk
/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/cco-childrens
-guide-to-coronavirus.pdf – PDF Download
Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation TrustCoronavirus fact sheet for childrenhttps://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/resou
rces/campaigns/101/resources/5093
BBC NewsCoronavirus: Keep it simple, stick to facts – how parents should tell kidshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51734855
BBC NewsroundCoronavirus: What is being done to tackle the virus?https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround
Coronavirus: a book for childrenFree digital book to help primary-aged children to understand coronavirus, illustrated by Axel Scheffler, the Illustrator of The Gruffalohttps://nosycrow.com/wp- content/uploads/
2020/04/Coronavirus-A- Book-for-Children.pdf – PDF Download
My Hero is You: how kids can fight COVID-19Free digital book to help primary-aged children to understand coronavirushttps://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2020/4/
5e8ecdba4/childrens-storybook-released- help
-children-young-people-cope-covid- 19.html

Responding to children and young people’s anxiety about COVID 19

ChildlineTelephone and online support for children and young peoplehttps://www.childline.org.uk/ 0800 11 11
Open Minds CalderdaleEmotional health and wellbeing information, support, advice and signposting for children, young people and families in Calderdale, including support around coronavirus.http://www.openmindscalderdale.org.uk/
Public Health EnglandGovernment guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreakhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/
covid-19-guidance-on-supporting-children-
and-young-peoples-mental-health-and- wellbeing
/guidance-for-parents-and-carers- on-supporting
-children-and-young-peoples- mental-health-and
-wellbeing-during-the- coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak
World Health Organisation (WHO)Helping Children Cope with Stress during the COVID 19 outbreakhttps://www.who.int/docs/default- source/coronaviruse
/helping-children-cope- with-stress-print.pdf – PDF Download

Bereavement support for children and young people during COVID 19

Child Bereavement UKSupports children facing bereavementhttps://www.childbereavementuk.org/ 0800 028 8840
Grief EncounterInformation and advice on supporting bereaved children, young people and families during the Coronavirus pandemichttps://www.griefencounter.org.uk/
young-people/ 0808 802 0111
Winston’s WishSupport for children and their families after the death of a parent or siblinghttp://www.winstonswish.org/ 0808 802 0021
Open Minds CalderdaleOpen Minds Calderdale Bereavement supporthttp://www.openmindscalderdale.org.uk/
bereavement-support

Looking after parent and carer wellbeing during COVID 19

NHS Every Mind MattersTips and advice to support your mental wellbeing while staying at homehttps://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/
coronavirus-covid-19-staying-at-home-tips
Citizens adviceCoronavirus: what it means for you, including information on what to do if you are worried about having less money because of coronavirushttps://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/health/
coronavirus-what-it-means-for-you
RelateAdvice and tips for helping your relationships stay healthy during COVID-19https://www.relate.org.uk/relationship-help/
covid-19-advice-and-information
The Lucy Faithfull FoundationConfidential helpline for anyone concerned about their or someone else’s behaviour0808 1000 900
Active CalderdaleIncludes ideas and resources to help you keep active during coronavirushttps://active.calderdale.gov.uk/

Staying safe online during COVID 19

ThinkuknowAdvice for children from age 4 upwards, and parents/carers about how to stay safe onlinehttps://www.thinkuknow.co.uk
Net AwareA guide to keeping children safe on social networks, apps and gameshttps://www.net-aware.org.uk/
Internet mattersPractical tips to help children benefit from the internet safely and smartlyhttps://www.internetmatters.org
Parent infoSupport for parents and carers to keep their children safe onlinehttps://parentinfo.org/
NSPCCOnline safety advice for parentshttps://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety

Support for children and young people with additional needs

Calderdale Local Offer for children with special needs or disabilitiesInformation on services and support in Calderdale for children and young people aged 0 – 25, with special educational needs and disabilitieshttps://www.calderdale.gov.uk/v2/residents

/education-and-learning/local-offer/send

ContactCoronavirus information for parents of disabled childrenhttps://www.contact.org.uk/advice-and-support/coronavirus-
information-for-families-with-disabled-children/
The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental HealthCoronavirus, and helping children with autismhttps://www.acamh.org/
National Autistic SocietyCoronavirus resources for autistic people and familieshttps://www.autism.org.uk/services
/helplines/coronavirus/resources
National Children’s BureauOpen letter from the Children’s Minister to children with SEND and their familiesNCB Open Letter Link Here
National Deaf Children’s SocietyCOVID-19 (coronavirus): support for deaf childrenhttps://www.ndcs.org.uk/covid-19-

coronavirus-support-for-deaf-children/

Things to do while staying at home during COVID 19

Government Department for EducationDetails of online education resources for home educationhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/
coronavirus-covid-19-online-education-resource
BBC BitesizeGovernment recommended daily lessons and resources for primary, secondary and post 16 pupils, including celebrity sessions!https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
Oak National AcademyGovernment recommended video lessons, across a broad range of subjects for every year group in primary and secondary schoolhttps://www.thenational.academy/
Calderdale Council50 things to do in Calderdale before you’re 5! A Free app with low cost and no cost activities for children from birth – 5 years oldhttps://calderdale.50thingstodo.org/app/os
Public Health EnglandActive Imaginations – ideas for exercise in the home for children aged 2 – 4 yearshttps://www.activeimaginations.co.uk/
Joe Wicks, The Body CoachDaily PE lessons for all ages 9.00-9.30amhttps://www.youtube.com/thebodycoachtv
Book Trust – Getting children readingFree online books and videos, games, win prizes, quizzes, and learn how to draw favourite charactershttps://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading
/have-some-fun
World Book DayStay at home ideas including audio books and craft ideashttps://www.worldbookday.com/
David Walliams – authorDavid Walliams reads a free story every dayhttps://www.worldofdavidwalliams.com
British Red CrossPower of kindness calendar: how children and young people can practise kindness every day during the coronavirus emergencyhttps://www.redcross.org.uk/get-involved/
teaching-resources/kindness-calendar
BBC CbeebiesThings to do indoors with your childrenhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups/
things-to-do-indoors-with-your-children
?collection=have-fun-at-home
Hungry Little MindsSimple fun activities for 0-5 year oldshttps://hungrylittleminds.campaign.gov.uk/
BBC Tiny Happy PeopleActivities and advice to help develop your child’s communication and language skillshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people
British Cycling: Ready Set RideHelping children to learn to ride a bike, including activity calendar and online videoshttps://www.britishcycling.org.uk/getinvolved
/article/20200325-getinvolved-Getting-the-most
-out-of-HSBC-UK-Ready-Set-Rid-0
Calderdale Library ServiceBooks are available for FREE by joining Calderdale library service. You can open an account for your child as soon as they are born, giving access to 3,000 eAudiobooks, 4,500 eBooks, and over 1,500 eComicsYou can join the library at https://www.calderdale.gov.uk
/v2/residents/leisure-and-culture/libraries/join-library.
BMW EducationSafe on the Streets animated road safety education for 7-11 year oldshttps://bmweducation.co.uk/safe-on-the- streets/
Google Arts and CultureTake virtual tours and discover new places across the world from your homehttps://artsandculture.google.com/

 

 

Getting Started with Zoom at TBRP

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As you will have heard, we are hosting numerous Zoom online meetings, not only for Social activities but Here & Now, SMART Recovery and even our Freedom Recovery Programme.

To find the timetable, please refer to our earlier post.  You MUST contact CHART Kirklees or Calderdale Recovery Steps and be registered with either service to obtain the Zoom ID’s and Passwords. Note: The Tuesday and Thursday Open meetings are for everyone and you can get details of these from CHART, CRS or by phoning TBRP.

Here are general instructions for downloading Zoom to your phone:

  1. Go to the Play Store (Android) or App Store (iPhones/iPads) and search ‘Zoom.’
  2. Click on ‘Zoom Cloud Meetings’ – download and install – skip any payments.
  3. Open the Zoom application and click on ‘Sign Up.’
  4. Add D.O.B., email address, first and last name and agree to the ‘terms of service.’
  5. Click ‘Next’.
  6. An email will be sent to the email account you used above, so you can activate the account. Check both your ‘Inbox’ and ‘Spam’ mailbox.
  7. Once you have received the email, click on the ‘Activate Account’ button.
  8. It will then take you to the internet and will ask if you are signed up to a school- click ‘No.’
  9. Add in all your details i.e. First and Last name and make a Password and press ‘Continue.’
  10. You do not have to ‘invite colleagues’ or ‘attend a meeting.’ Once you have made up a password, return back to the app you downloaded and click you have ‘Verified the email’/ ‘Sign In.’
  11. Enter your Email and Password and ‘Sign In’.
  12. It may ask you for a fingerprint ID if your phone allows it, click cancel or OK.
  13. Along the top of the Zoom App, there should be different tabs i.e. ‘New Meeting, Join, Schedule, Share Screen.’
  14. Click ‘Join’- and enter ‘ID’ of the group you wish to join on the Recovery Timetable.
  15. Once you have added the ID, click ‘Join’. It will then ask you for a meeting password. Again password comes under ‘PW’ of the group you wish to join.
  16. You should then be signed in to the meeting.
  17. You can leave at any point by clicking the ‘Leave Meeting’ button. You can ‘Mute’ and ‘Unmute’ yourself if you wish for people to hear you and can also ‘Start Video’ if you wish for people to see you.

If you have any questions or require further information, please call the office and we will try our best to help out.

Zoom is a great App and can be used to set up your own meetings with friends and family. The free version has limits: time (40 mins), number of attendees (100), though 1-1 meetings have no time limit.

The following links are helpful if you wish to host your own meetings:

PC, Desktop, Laptop: – Zoom Sign Up link

Getting Started with: – Android

Getting Started with: – IOS

Did you lockdown your drug use?

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Can you help with a survey about drug use?

We would like to find out a little bit about how coronavirus (COVID-19) is affecting drug use.

The link below is to a short, anonymous survey with mostly tick box questions which will take about 10 minutes to complete.

Many thanks for your help.

TAKE THE SURVEY

TBRP Covid-19 Response – Zoom Support

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As many of you will already know, we have had to close our doors for our regular recovery support programmes and social activities.

Over the last couple of weeks, we have been hosting a number of Here and Now and SMART Recovery meetings as well as some social fun via the Zoom online platform.

This has been a great success and we have received a lot of positive feedback.

As a result, we have increased the number of meetings for our existing/past clients and introduced two new open meetings for newcomers.

In addition, we will be starting our Freedom Recovery Programme online too for clients who are already engaged with our service.

If you are an existing or past client, you can contact a member of staff for details on how to gain access to the Here & Now zoom groups.

If you are new to the service and looking for general help, advice and support, our Tuesday and Thursday 1:15 pm open meetings are for you.

You will need to be registered with Recovery Steps (Calderdale) or CHART (Kirklees) in order to access the open meetings.

If you continue to attend the open group meetings and require further help, you will be invited to attend additional groups.

Our social meetings (highlighted) are open to all!

tbrp covid-19 timetable

> Download a PDF copy here.

You can keep up to date with the latest news, support services, online meetings etc. and offer and receive support by joining our community recovery support Facebook Groups, CalderdaleinRecovery and KirkleesinRecovery.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us or our partners at Recovery Steps or CHART.

If you need help installing Zoom, here is a useful article: Getting Started with Zoom at TBRP.

Don’t forget to LIKE our pages too:

The Basement Recovery Project Facebook page.

Calderdale in Recovery Facebook page.

Kirklees in Recovery Facebook page.

Marie’s Story

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We are grateful to Marie for writing and sharing her addiction recovery story with us.  We hope you find her story inspiring and it gives you the confidence to get in touch with us to see how we may be able to help you.  As we always say, we can’t make that call for you, but we can help you every step of the way after that.

“I first got drunk when I was about 13. A friend had got hold of a couple of litres of vodka and we were at another friend’s house sharing it around. I hated the taste but I loved the feeling it gave me. I drank enough to make me really poorly but it didn’t put me off. These one-off binges would happen every so often through my teenage years but it was when I started university in 2008 that my drinking really took off.” …

Read full story

 

Welcome to The Kindness Hub – Todmorden

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The Basement Recovery Project is pleased to announce the opening of our new hub in Todmorden – The Kindness Hub

The hub will officially open its doors for public viewing on March 6th 2020 between 1pm and 3pm. You are welcome to come along.

 

The Wellness Hub Todmorden Invitation

 

Todmorden Kindness Hub

Kindness: Believe there is good in the world

In the wet hills of Yorkshire, the community of Todmorden is at the forefront of a movement that is picking up momentum across a UK disillusioned with corporate business, government and cuts. It is neither hippy nor New Age but is made up of ordinary people, old and young, from both affluent homes and social housing. Call it a sharing revolution. Talk about community empowerment, social enterprise, co-operatives (it has various titles) but this asset-based approach leads to local members taking over the infrastructure of their community.

Having supported the development of the recovery community in Todmorden over the last few years we believe the next strategic step is to sustain a ‘grassroots’ hub offering vital and meaningful services anchored in the heart of the community. Our Kindness hub is a revolutionary venue that’s so much more than your usual community space. We hope to provide a truly welcoming, creative and intelligent space where people from all backgrounds and walks of life can potentially dine, hang out, socialise and relax.

Primarily we have a venue for our community cafe right in the heart of the Town centre that allows local people who are energetic, driven, optimistic, and aspirationally based to have a focal point for their activities. Our aim is to make a contribution to the local community based on the principles of caring and communitarianism. We will encourage participation in community life and ‘giving something back’ by making a commitment to community involvement and engagement.

Our space will be a welcoming, creative hub where people from all backgrounds and walks of life can meet, socialise and relax. The hub has a wider potential to offer a range of opportunities for people to support each other and develop, personally and socially. As well as hosting our therapeutic programmes we hope to build on our existing partnerships with local businesses, incredible edible, community arts providers and work closely with local artists, musicians, poets and performers to offer a wide range of entertaining, educational and inspirational social events. There will be an opportunity to develop social enterprise activity, giving people in the locality the opportunity to gain skills and experience, as well as access training and qualifications.

The project will create the opportunity for both the statutory partners and the recovery community to share space and offer a greater level of visibility with more flexible opening hours. Significantly, we will provide more dignity and discretion for those we support, allowing them to reconnect and in doing so hope to provide a sense of ownership in the building for the community we support.

TBRP Todmorden The Kindness Hub Todmorden Calderdale Kindness Hub Todmorden TBRP Todmorden Kindness Todmorden Kindness Hub The Kindness Hub Todmorden The Kindness Hub Todmorden

Running for your life – a couch to 5k review

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You will have seen The Basement Recovery Project message, “Freedom from Drink, Freedom From Drugs, Freedom from Addiction… Freedom from FEAR”  Our whole recovery programme is about this – Freedom.  Joshua J Marine said, “Challenges are what makes life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful“.  For many, giving up substances is filled with fear, even for those who are not physically, mentally and emotionally addicted, there is often a fear of giving something up.  Quitting after many years of substance use is a huge accomplishment, but it’s not the end goal.  The end goal is to turn your life around, find purposeful meaning.   We offer many routes for people to find purpose again.  Bernadette is a great example and we are proud of her achievements.  Here are a few words from her about the Couch to 5K programme with Kev.

The first time I went to the track to participate in the 0 to 5k programme I felt apprehensive. I had previously tried several times to complete the programme on the treadmill at the gym. And I had only got to week 3/4 before quitting. The track looked huge and intimidating. I nearly turned back to go home and I questioned my sanity, I wasn’t a runner. Runners don’t look like me, nearly 50 and overweight. But everyone was very welcoming, and I decided to stay.

After the warm-up. Kev and I started to run around the track. I struggled to even do one lap. I couldn’t ever imagine running around it without stopping, and I certainly thought that running around it 12 times to complete 5k was impossible. With encouragement from Kev, after 8 weeks of the programme I eventually completed 12 laps of the track, and it was a fantastic feeling. I later completed a Huddersfield park run and that was a perfect day. I had had my park run barcode for about 4 years but didn’t have the motivation to go. I was so happy to run 5k. I felt like a hero.

Best of all, my daughter said she was proud of me, which felt amazing because she hasn’t ever had an opportunity to feel proud of me before. Running has given me self respect, confidence, well-being and laughter. The highs I get from running beat any received from using a substance.

The friends I’ve made through running are genuine and supportive. My life has changed because of this programme. It has influenced many areas of my life. My nutrition has improved, I now eat more fruit and vegetables and drink more water because I want my body to be well enough to continue running for many years to come.

Kev is an amazing coach. He really looks after us all. His passion for running is infectious and his knowledge of all things running is vast. I couldn’t have achieved any of this without his mentoring.

I am very grateful.
Bernadette

Read more about Kev and the Couch to 5K in his own story: Running for Recovery.

New Suicide Bereavement Service

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A new service to support people bereaved or affected by suicide goes live on Monday (2 December) across West Yorkshire and Harrogate. The service is a response to the fact that people bereaved by suicide are more likely to suffer from severe depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, or even adopt suicidal behaviours themselves.

The West Yorkshire and Harrogate Suicide Bereavement Service will provide support through one to one peer support, peer support groups and advocacy.

The new service, an extension of the Leeds Suicide Bereavement Service, is central to West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership’s plan to improve bereavement support, while it works to reduce the numbers of suicides too.

Support on offer, which will enhance suicide bereavement support services across the region, will include practical advice and signposting to other much-needed services, for example, counselling or financial advice.

A number of workshops are running throughout December and are open to all, irrespective of a coroner’s conclusion. People will be able to self-refer to the service or be referred by other people such as funeral directors, police, coroners, or NHS staff across West Yorkshire and Harrogate.

Additional support will also be available to staff affected by suicide in the course of their duties; for example health, social care or emergency service staff. Help will also be available to people who have been bereaved historically yet feel they may benefit from peer-led support.

Yorkshire and Humber has one of the highest suicide rates in the country. West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership is driving a collaborative approach to reduce suicide and improve services. It is working towards reducing suicide by 10% across the region and by 75% in targeted areas.

Referrals can be made by visiting www.wyhsbs.org.uk or by calling 0113 305 5800. Practitioners will be based in Bradford, Harrogate, Huddersfield and Leeds but meeting locations will be flexible. Support groups will begin in December at the following locations:

• Kirklees group: Thursday, 5 December, 6pm-7.30pm at Support to Recovery – S2R CREATE SPACE, Brook Street, Huddersfield, HD1 1EB

• Bradford group: Friday, 6 December, 6pm-8pm at Mind in Bradford – KenBurgh House, 28 Manor Row, Bradford BD1 4QU

• Calderdale group: Wednesday, 18 December, 6-8pm at Halifax Fire Station, Skircoat Moor Road, King Cross, Halifax, HX1 3JF

• Craven group: Wednesday, 18 December, 6-8pm at Settle Victoria Hall, Kirkgate, Settle, BD24 9DZ

• Harrogate group: Monday, 9 December, 6pm-8pm at Mind in Harrogate – Acorn Centre, 101A Station Parade, Harrogate HG1 1HB

• Wakefield group: Wednesday, 11 December, 6-8pm at Lightwaves Leisure Centre, Lower York St, Wakefield WF1 3LJ

People bereaved by Suicide in Leeds are able to access the linked Leeds Suicide Bereavement Service, funded by Leeds City Council. Referrals can be made by visiting www.LeedsSBS.org.uk or by calling 0113 305 5803. Leeds drop-in group is first Tuesday of every month, Civic Hall in Leeds City Centre, 6-8pm.

Rob Webster, CEO Lead for West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership and CEO for South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said:

‘As someone personally affected by suicide, I understand the impact it can have on individuals, families and other people too. This service will provide essential help to those facing one of the hardest issues to face. This is something that I hope becomes less needed as we reduce suicides through our other work to help more people’.