Local MP attends project
open day

2012-01-20 Events

Gordon Birtwistle, Liberal Democrat MP for Burnley and Padiham, attended an open day at the Inspired! Recovery Academy in Burnley, a pioneering new service for people tackling drug and alcohol problems.

Since opening its doors in November 2011, the Academy has been running groups, courses and activities with the aim of giving people the skills to get back on their feet. These cover areas as diverse as IT, cookery, and gardening, as well as motivational groups and specific meetings for men and women. In the next few weeks, it will start offering a walking group and maths and English courses.

The Academy is closely linked to the local Inspire treatment service, which provides tailored support that reduces the harm caused by drugs and alcohol, enabling those affected to live independently and play a positive role in the community.

The Inspired! Recovery Academy is almost entirely run by volunteers and peer mentors, individuals who have overcome substance misuse themselves and have since undergone training that will allow them to use their experiences to support others.

"I am delighted to lend my support to the inspired service in Burnley," commented Gordon Birtwistle MP. "The work they do is inspiring and it is great to know that there is a dedicated service for those people in the town who are vulnerable and need support. Drug and alcohol misuse can ruin lives, the work that Inspire carries out in Burnley helps to turn lives around for the better. I hope the service continues to grow in Burnley to help the people who need it most."

"The Inspired! Recovery Academy has only been open since November but it's already having an incredible impact on the local community," said Wendy Harker, recovery practice and quality assurance lead at CRI. "The two projects support not only the recovery of individuals but the wider community, reducing anti-social behaviour and the impact of substance misuse in Burnley and the wider area."

Inspired! Recovery Academy in partnership with theSWITCH http://www.burnleyswitch.org.uk, a local volunteering charity.

Seema Khistaria

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