Sunny Dhadley
Service User Involvement Team, UK
Title: Effective Involvement of Those With Lived Experience of Addiction in Strategy, Policy & Practice
Biography
Biography: Sunny Dhadley
Abstract
SUIT is widely recognised as a model of best practice in the UK for the involvement and influence of those with lived experince of addiction, in relation to addiction treatment evaluation, intervention and role modelling. Established in February 2007, the project initally held a remit of advocacy and consultation. Throughout the process of consultation and continual dialogue, the project grew organically to then enhance the service offer, based on 2 main factors – 1) The experiences of those that use substances and 2) The inability of different systems to effectively offer services that met the need of those that use substances.
SUIT have demonstrated that with little comparative funding, but with a high level of innovation that the needs of those with addiction issues can be met in a holistic manner, by making best use of resources and community empowerment measures. In 2016/17, SUIT received 2.4% of the drug/alcohol treatment local budget, with this SUIT supported 1072 vulnerable substance users and delivered 4266 one to one support sessions, making 5283 interventions that covered 72 areas of need (e.g. mental health, unemployment, homelessness, indebtedness etc.). Furthermore, SUIT worked with 486 individual companies, organisations and resources to meet individual need – each intervention cost was £24.74. Outside case management, SUIT deliver training and consultancy projects, organise community and recreactional events and are strategic influencers.
The volunteer programme developed by SUIT was awarded the highest accoldade avaiable in the UK for community organisations, the Queens Award for Voluntary Service – equivilent to MBE.