Buckinghamshire celebrates

Tuesday 22nd January 2013

On Tuesday 22nd January 2013, SMART celebrated the launch of it's  new, improved service for people with drug and alcohol issues across Buckinghamshire.   The service was opened by Councillor Tricia Burchley at SMART’s offices in Albion House, Albion Street, Aylesbury.

The new service will offer improved and expanded services for the Buckinghamshire community including:

• Drop in services for advice and support up to six days a week
• Access to additional help making a new life away from drug and alcohol such as education training, employment
• A mentoring scheme offering training and work experience to mentors, often recovered drug and alcohol users, who in turn are giving extra support to current service users in rebuilding their lives
• A wide range of group support sessions such as, alcohol awareness, offending behaviour and parenting support
• A mobile outreach service (a specially kitted out bus) offering drop-in support in outlying areas such as Buckingham, Chesham and South Bucks (to be launched soon)
• Access to accommodation advice and support
• Support to encourage service users to remain in treatment
• Needle Exchange scheme

SMART will also be continuing to: 

• help people whose lives have become unmanageable through their use of serious drugs, and are caught up in the criminal justice system
• work with hazardous and harmful drinkers in the criminal justice system – this service is designed to address the growing problem that links drinking with offending
• an education programme run to support people previously involved with drugs or alcohol to move on to education, employment and a positive future.

SMART’s Service Manager Toby Mallowan says: “This service will encourage people with substance use problems to engage and remain in treatment. The aim of this service is to be a hub, bringing wider services together to give people the opportunity to make significant changes in their lives for the better. ”

Anyone in Buckinghamshire who needs help can:

• Call a SMART worker in Aylesbury 01296 337717 or High Wycombe 01494 474804
• Email info@smartcjs.org.uk
• Visit our services in Aylesbury and High Wycombe see here for drop-in times
• Find out more here