@changegrowlive.bsky.social
As a national health and social care charity, we support people with challenges including drugs and alcohol, housing, justice, employment, and smoking. Our support is free and confidential 💜
‘Transparency builds trust. Not perfection.’
We’ve committed to showing our work as it happens & problems as we’re solving them.
Russell Booth, our Head of Strategic Comms & External Affairs, writes about our fresh approach in March’s @ddnmagazine.bsky.social:
viewer.joomag.com/ddn-march26-...
For #InternationalWomensDay, we are sharing our latest blog from Nic Adamson, Deputy Chief Executive at @changegrowlive.bsky.social and Chair of the Women’s Treatment Working Group tinyurl.com/5n6vcf8w
This year's Managing Addictions in Primary Care conference celebrated 30 years of bringing together substance use services & primary care.
Clinicians, people with lived experience & partners across health & substance use services reflected on progress & how support can continue to be strengthened 🤝
People seeking work are often reluctant to talk about their issues with substances & job centres don’t always have the framework to help them access the support they need.
Our DWP Peer Mentoring Service is a life-changing initiative bridging this gap:
www.changegrowlive.org/news/dwp-pee...
For International Women’s Day we want to highlight the pioneering IRIS Project run by our River service in Liverpool, meeting women where they are.
Read more about the inspiring service supporting some of Liverpool’s most marginalised women:
#GiveToGain #IWD2026
Our Head of Strategic Comms & External Affairs, Russell Booth, will be speaking about reframing reputation as part of the @charitycomms.bsky.social Strategic Communicators’ Conference.
Join for a day of ideas, discussion & inspiration 💭
📅 Thurs 12th March
www.charitycomms.org.uk/events/leadi...
Join @collective-voice.bsky.social Women’s Treatment Working Group’s webinar for International Women’s Day.
Chaired by our Deputy Chief Exec Nic Adamson, hear how women are shaping our residential detox & rehab services.
📅 11th March at 12pm
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/84067e...
"You have to meet people where they are, literally and emotionally.”
Read about the IRIS project, a pioneering service for sex workers that's designed around women's lives and brings together a wide range of different services, all under one roof: www.changegrowlive.org/news/iris-pr...
In 2025, the Hep C Provider Forum’s combined social media activity reached over 161,000 people & generated more than 2,200 clicks - each a potential step towards testing & treatment.
By working together, we can reach more people & provide compassionate, evidence-based care to those who need it.
Hear from voices across London’s recovery community in the next London Recovery Network webinar ✨
Hosted by @collective-voice.bsky.social, the webinar will take place on Tuesday 3rd March 👇
Join the team from River, our Liverpool service, at the Managing Addictions in Primary Care conference.
We’ll be at our stand on the 26th & 27th February. Stop by & see how we can help you support people with their drug & alcohol use 🤝
Learn more:
www.rcgp.org.uk/learning-res...
#MAPC #MAPC30
We’ve been working with #Havering Council to create a campaign across various channels including print, digital and out-of-home advertising 📣
This is one of our ads on a bus shelter raising awareness of our fantastic drug and alcohol services in the area.
We’re here whenever they’re ready 💬
Paula McGowan @oliverscampaign.bsky.social, speaks to the Believe in People podcast about her son Oliver: www.youtube.com/watch?v=M80I...
An autistic young man with a learning disability, Oliver’s tragic death led to the introduction of The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training.
#OliversCampaign
We recognise that LGBTQ+ people face many health inequalities. We’re working on making sure that all our services provide a person centred and tailored approach so every Change Grow Live service throughout the UK can provide specialist support for the LGBTQ+ community 💜🏳️🌈
During National HIV Testing Week, we’re raising awareness of how we're supporting the @who.int goal to end HIV as a public health threat by 2030.
34,543 people accessing our services were tested for BBVs in 2024/25
Read about this international commitment:
www.who.int/observatorie...
Our upcoming Insights newsletter examines small changes that can make big differences in the criminal justice system.
The sooner we can connect people into treatment, the faster we can stop the revolving door of short prison sentences.
Sign up here:
www.changegrowlive.org/about-us/new...
The team at our Stirling-based service were delighted to welcome @mareetodd.bsky.social, Minister for Drugs & Alcohol Policy & Sport in Scotland, earlier this week.
They discussed key interventions, challenges & the Minister expressed her commitment to harm reduction and drug death prevention.
A new outfit can mean many things. Confidence for an interview. Warmth for someone sleeping rough. Reducing stigma for parents in recovery & their loved ones.
In Nottingham, our volunteers created a free boutique that’s breaking stigma & restoring pride:
www.changegrowlive.org/news/the-bou...
KJ was at university when their ketamine use began affecting their finances, relationships, studies and health.
After a referral to Change Grow Live, they’ve now been sober for five months.
Read KJ’s story:
https://www.changegrowlive.org/believe-in-people/kjs-story
We’re proud to have been re-accredited with the Investing in Volunteers award! 🌟
Achieving this demonstrates how much we value our volunteers and invest in providing an outstanding volunteer experience.
Find out more about the award:
https://investinginvolunteers.co.uk/
#IiVUK
Our new strategy is built around a simple idea: helping more people, sooner.
Though the idea is simple, the challenge is substantial.
Read more on our website:
www.changegrowlive.org/news/help-mo...
It's been another year of positive action & collaboration towards eliminating hep C.
Executive Medical Director, Prun Bijral, discusses prevention, testing, treatment & our achievements.
Read our Hep C Report 2025:
indd.adobe.com/view/ab7b6ab...
In a society where hypermasculinity is deeply ingrained, many young men struggle to engage with traditional support services.
Our In your Corner programme offers a fresh approach by focusing on a healthy, positive vision of masculinity:
www.changegrowlive.org/advice-info/...
@turningpoint-uk.bsky.social @collective-voice.bsky.social @waythrough-uk.bsky.social @phoenixfutures.bsky.social @cranstoun.org @notsaintsuk.bsky.social @shpcharity.bsky.social @wsup-woolwich.bsky.social
Book your place on the #LondonRecoveryNetwork’s Autumn webinar to hear about the power of recovery through creativity ✨
Taking place on the 27th November, you'll hear from guest speakers across London’s diverse recovery community.
Register here: londonrecoverynetwork.org.uk
Our 2025 annual report highlights how we’re working to ensure that health is a right, not a privilege.
We've focused on reaching people sooner, addressing stigma and improving deliverability & accessibility. Read about the impact this has had:
https://www.changegrowlive.org/news/annual-report-2025
Our Board of Trustees will gain 2 new members: Victoria Steele & Angelene Woodland.
"Their experience & passion will strengthen our leadership & help reach more people, in more communities, in the years ahead." - Sue Killen, Chair of the Board
Read more: www.changegrowlive.org/news/welcomi...
This #TrusteesWeek, we're celebrating the invaluable contributions made by our trustees & the impact they have on our work.
We spoke to Trustee Dr Caroline Shuldham about her recent visit to our St Helens service & its thriving, welcoming community space:
www.changegrowlive.org/news/trusted...
When Dragos came into contact with Change Grow Live, he was sleeping rough in Leeds.
Our Leeds Street Outreach Service supported him to secure accommodation, navigate complex paperwork, rebuild his health & plan a brighter future.
Read Dragos’ story:
www.changegrowlive.org/believe-in-p...
Today’s figures show a continued rise in deaths related to drug-poisoning, with 5,565 deaths in England & Wales in 2024.
Without urgent action, drug related deaths will continue on the same trajectory, with more lives lost & families shattered:
www.changegrowlive.org/news/urgent-...