Cheshire Police News: Substance abuse centre commended

Substance Misuse Support Centre commended by Commissioner

A support centre for those suffering from the impact of drug and alcohol misuse has received praise from Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, John Dwyer who called it "a lifeline for some of Cheshire's most vulnerable residents".

WDP has been providing services for over 30 years and now has three centres within Cheshire: Chester, Northwich and Ellesmere Port. As well as providing advice and treatment for their referrals, WDP also offer services on mental and sexual health, smoking cessation and support for young people.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, John Dwyer, said:

"The services that I have seen here at WDP today is truly commendable. As well as the immediate help available to people who come into the service, the additional guidance such as mental health programmes are crucial to the long-term support of their service users.

"These services could be a real lifeline for some of Cheshire's most vulnerable residents and it is crucial that those in need know they can access the support when they need it."

During the visit, WDP introduced the Capital Card service which they have utilised. This enables service users to build points as they attend the treatments that support their recovery and improve their health and wellbeing. The points can then be redeemed for rewards such as college courses, cinema tickets, eating out or personal hygiene and beauty treatments.

David Targett, Area Director at WDP said:

"We were delighted to host this visit and provide a tour of our Chester hub and discuss our shared priorities. Our service, known locally as New Beginnings, delivers high-quality and personalised care and treatment for adults and young people.

"We believe with the right support people can make long-lasting transformations in their lives to improve their health and wellbeing. During this visit, we showcased the many different ways we can support local residents who are worried about their own or someone else's alcohol or drug use.

"We were really pleased to receive such good feedback from our guests about the help we can offer and the positive impact our service makes in local communities across Cheshire West and Chester."

Councillor Val Armstrong, Cheshire West and Chester Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health said:

"WDP has been providing substance misuse treatment services for young people and adults in Cheshire West and Chester since 2019.

"They have continually delivered good outcomes for our residents- particularly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic when service delivery was extremely challenging.

"This visit was a great opportunity to showcase and celebrate the work of the service and partner playing their part to help residents live longer, healthier and happier lives."

John Dwyer added:

"WDP are providing a crucial support network across Cheshire, one of my priorities is protecting the vulnerable and at-risk residents of our county and it is always great to connect with organisations who also share this priority.

"It was a very productive visit and I am looking forward to supporting the team and seeing WDP go from strength to strength."

If you live in Cheshire West and Chester and would like to talk to someone about your or someone else's drug or alcohol use, please contact WDP on 0300 303 4548 or cwac@wdp.org.uk for free and confidential support. You can also visit wdp.org.uk/cheshire-west-and-chester for more information and to register for help online.

For more information please contact Kate Harrington-Lambert on kate.harrington-lambert@cheshire.police.uk or 07815 674817

Image caption: Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner David McNeilage and WDP representatives David Targett and Jane Murphy.

Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner

01606 364000

Email: pcc@cheshire.police.uk