Feature Feature 1434

29% of prisoners say 31% of prisoners say Estimated patient they have a drug it is easy to get drugs contacts by problem on arrival to in prison1 InspireBetterHealth prison1 staff in November 2017

We’ve snatched an hour in a meeting them, so they'll tell us more things.” Moving forward room at the prison’s health centre. But it’s a difficult line to walk. “The There’s a real sense from the pair that In their own words It’s a simple space, with a small table flipside is that, while they’re telling the qualification has been a long time pushed against one wall and a me things they might not tell staff, I coming. Unbeknownst to either one, handful of chairs for us to sit on. still need to convince them that it’s the both Pete and Mannie had voiced their On the media: Display cases containing models of professionals who’ll actually be able to ambitions to the prison for mentoring "They never show the reality diseased lungs and illegal substances help them,” Mannie reflects. Being a training, and highlighted the need lean against another wall. Out in the good peer mentor is about supporting for skills like these among the prison of the alcoholic – shaking corridor, prisoners wait good naturedly people to make their own choices population. What’s incredibly clear is and wanting a drink when to be seen. about how they get help. “But the job the pair’s desire to give something back he wakes up first thing in the Mannie and Pete are here already, isn't done until someone is in recovery. to the community in which they live, morning. They always just and greet Fiona and Penny warmly. To me, nothing else matters." both inside and once they’re released. show the good times.” Pete The group is soon busy catching up, Their new roles involve going to each Pete is up for parole in February. Mannie asking Fiona if she’s brought wing and chatting to the guys – not In the future, he hopes to be a drug On addiction: her highlighter (“We always called her trying to force anything, but simply support worker and art therapist, the teacher,” Pete grins, “She’d help giving them an understanding of specialising in supporting people who "Addiction doesn't discriminate. us with our work and highlight the bits substance misuse and its impact. Pete are in active addiction and recovery, Rich or poor, male or female where we were going wrong.”). uses his own experiences of addiction the homeless, and ex-forces. He’s been – it makes no difference." – including in prison People worry that you busy working with Mannie A difficult line to walk – to show people that the Probation Service The shadow of addiction is everywhere an alternative exists. can’t tell healthcare to find a placement, "I know how it is to be in that in prison. Substance misuse and crime “It's just about being staff things because enrol on a college constant struggle; the vicious are often so intertwined in the lives of kind, considerate, you’re going to get in course and find circle of coming in and out of prisoners that it’s difficult to see where caring and not trouble, whereas I live somewhere to live. prison. Before, I never thought one issue ends and the other begins. confrontational. Just here – I’m a prisoner “It's all set up,” he there was any chance of “My life outside was ruled by drugs a support, really." myself. “ says. “It's up to me changing. But now I know and alcohol,” Pete, who’s originally While Mannie now to do it." there is – and I can help others from Cumbria, reflects. “I was doing doesn’t have Pete*, peer mentor As for to do the same." Pete Inside job: beating a lot of bad things out there, fighting personal experience InspireBetterHealth, and committing crime. I spent most of of addiction, he has dedicated himself Penny and Fiona plan to extend the my life in the army, but since I left all to becoming a counsellor since being programme to other prisons in the On mentoring: I’ve done is keep coming in and out of inside. Prison has really opened his partnership over the coming year, addiction in prison prison. I was constantly struggling with eyes to substance misuse and the including HMP Leyhill and the women’s “It's going to be a challenge. drugs and alcohol, and it was just a lot sadness that comes with it. “I wanted prison at Eastwood Park. “This was the You're challenging cultures of chaos.” to do something to help,” he says. first time we’ve run the qualification, – even out in the community, Some prisoners will continue this The pair let prisoners know about the so it’s fair to say it’s been a huge that's hard. You have to choose cycle of addiction in prison, and others services available – including the 12 learning curve for us,” Fiona says. your battles and hold on to Offenders at Wiltshire’s t’s a clear, bright late-summer time when drug use in prisons is Health, AWP and Hanham Health, may even start to ‘use’ for the first time. Step recovery programme, art therapy But, for her and Penny, being able to your victories.” Mannie morning and I’m meeting Fiona often in the news, I’m eager to find a local GP provider – which runs the But there’s a deep mistrust of authority and mental health support – and provide learners with such practical HMP Erlestoke are being Spence, Bristol Community Health’s out how the pair will be using their healthcare service at HMP Erlestoke, figures which often prevents people refer them to the people who are best and tangible skills has made it all worth "I think the most important given expert training so IEquality and Diversity Coordinator, new expertise. along with four other prisons in Bristol seeking help. "I try to work as best as placed to help. it. “It’s so important that people with thing is not thinking you're and Penny Stanbury, Involvement On the drive over, Penny and Fiona and South Gloucestershire. I can with everyone,” Penny reflects. "It's just about listening to what they lived experience get the opportunity to better than someone else. No- they can offer qualified Coordinator for Avon and Wiltshire chat amiably, catching up on this and “But, like it or not, I wear a badge and it say and guiding them in the right support others, particularly within our one likes being told what to do, support to peers struggling Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust that. It’s clear they’re genuinely excited Through the gate changes the balance of power.” direction,” Mannie says. “If I don't know prison services. We can’t wait to deliver especially in prison." Pete with substance misuse. (AWP), for a slightly unusual road trip. to be returning. "When we arrived for Tucked away in the quiet, chocolate- Pete agrees: "People worry that it then I'm sure someone else will, the course again.” They’ve invited the first session, box village of the same name, HMP you can't tell healthcare staff things because it's all about communicating." On the way out, I’m struck by the Nicola Rodgers reports. me to join them There were no everyone was so Erlestoke began life in the 18th century because you're going to get in trouble, They work closely with the healthcare blossoming flower beds and carefully on a visit to HMP barriers; we were all reserved,” Penny as a stately home and country retreat whereas I live here – I’m a prisoner team to remind people about manicured birch trees which sit proudly Erlestoke in Wiltshire on an equal footing – remembers. But for the-then MP of Devizes. It was later myself. We're on the same level as appointments and check in with between the endless fences and block About InspireBetterHealth to meet Mannie and just how peer mentors by the afternoon it used by the government’s undercover them afterwards. work buildings (“They cut them like Pete* – two prisoners should be.” had all changed: Special Operations Executive during The mentors will also feed into the that so they don’t block the cameras,” InspireBetterHealth is a partnership who, with Penny “Everyone was the Second World War, before being substance misuse team's weekly someone says). But instead of looking of local providers – Bristol and Fiona’s support, Penny Stanbury, Involvement talking and laughing. badly damaged by fire in 1950. Today, meetings to ensure the service is stark, the effect is the opposite – it Community Health, Avon and have recently trained Coordinator – AWP There were no it’s a category C jail, housing up to supporting the right people. Any reminds me of the country house that Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership to become peer barriers; we were 524 prisoners. prison is a challenging environment to once existed on the prison site. NHS Trust and Hanham Health mentors in substance misuse. all on an equal footing – just how What strikes you as soon as you work in, and priorities for the services Behind the intimidating face of the – working in five prisons across The qualification is run by the Royal peer mentors should be. It's not very arrive at the prison is the level of which are based here often have to institution, and in spite of the unique Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Society for Public Health (RSPH) and is often you can be in a room and just be security: the enormous pairs of double change. But everyone involved with the challenges the services working here Wiltshire. We provide a complete, equivalent to a GCSE. It explores the yourself, especially in prison." gates; the list of items you can’t bring in programme is committed to not only face, there really is something special integrated service covering reasons people misuse substances, “We all had a commitment to learning (perfumes, USB sticks, aerosols – even see it through to the end, but to actively flourishing here. physical healthcare, mental the personal and social consequences from each other,” Fiona agrees. “In chewing gum); the rigour with which create opportunities for Mannie and Above: healthcare, health promotion and Mannie with Penny Stanbury * Name has been changed Opposite: of addiction and, perhaps most my experience, that doesn't happen visitors are signed in and out. The staff Pete to use what they’ve learnt on a substance misuse support. Fiona Spence who, 1 Centre for Social Justice, 2015 together with Penny, led the peer importantly, teaches the practical skills very often.” The qualification was here carry clusters of keys, and are daily basis. Find out more at mentor programme and knowledge to support people run through InspireBetterHealth – a constantly opening and securing gates inspirebetterhealth.org.uk. affected by substance misuse. At a partnership between Bristol Community as they move through the grounds.

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