Addiction and Recovery Covid-19 Response Fund: Funded organisations

Collective Voice is pleased to announce that 20 grassroots VCSE organisations will receive funding from the Addiction and Recovery Covid-19 Response Fund, administered by us on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Health and Social Care.

The fund was announced last month to support smaller organisations delivering additional or adapted drug and/or alcohol support necessitated by the Covid-19 crisis. We received an incredible response, and our panel were blown away by the quality of applications. This also drove home once again the obvious substantial need in the sector, which continues to work tirelessly to support those in need but which has been hit hard by the current situation.

Our panel had to make some very difficult decisions, only being able to fund around one in every four applications received. Many organisations have missed out on funding, and we wish we could have supported more. We will continue to make clear to government the huge challenges facing the sector, and the need for further funding to support more than just the initial 20 organisations.

Our panel wanted to ensure the final funded portfolio represented all stages of the recovery journey, drew on the expertise of every region of England and met the needs of groups hit especially hard by the pandemic. This includes BAME groups (through organisations Al-Hurraya, BAC-IN, and Inner City Life), women (through the Oasis Project), and families/young people (through Footsteps 2000, PROPS North East, and Cumbria Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service).

We were very happy to see applications from many organisations founded and led by those with lived experience, and are delighted to fund Red Rose Recovery, Build on Belief, and Dear Albert amongst others.

We’re also very happy to have funded organisations at every stage of the recovery journey, from outreach to peer-support and from residential support to mutual aid. Druglink and Boscence Farm Community have been funded to support their residential work whilst UK SMART Recovery has received funding to tailor its mutual aid approach to the challenges brought by the pandemic. Community Led Initiatives, Freedom Community Alliance and Nightingales Recovery Café are three community charities which will each receive funding for practical support to keep people with drug and alcohol problems safe during Covid-19.

Many organisations, such as The Living Room, are offering innovative digital adaptations to their services which have the potential to engage people both in and out of treatment well beyond the immediate crisis. Others are supporting recovery during Covid-19 through innovative forms, such as theatre (Outside Edge Theatre Company), horticulture (The Rhubarb Farm), and radio production (Gaydio CIC).

These organisations will be providing blogs, vlogs or photos on their progress throughout the funded period, and we will continue to keep you updated as the sector adapts and evolves to meet the challenges faced.

Note: details of awards

The following organisations have been funded for additional or adapted work to support people with drug and/or alcohol problems necessitated by Covid-19.

1. Al-Hurraya has been funded £9,650 for staffing and IT equipment for Covid-19 adapted culturally-specific counselling and mentoring service.
2. BAC-IN has been funded £25,000 for 1:1 support, online group support, and out of hours support line.
3. Bosence Farm Community has been funded £25,000 for staffing, PPE, and repurposing of young people’s residential unit.
4. Build on Belief has been funded £13,437 for PPE and provision of online activities and delivery of peer support, befriending, and other support.
5. Community Led Initiatives has been funded £8,380 for PPE and IT equipment for delivery of day-to-day activities.
6. Cumbria Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service has been funded £20,425 for telephone support, staff equipment, and online delivery.
7. Druglink has been funded £14,565 for residential and day centre staffing.
8. Footsteps 2000 has been funded £16,300 for staffing and IT equipment for listening, information and support services.
9. Freedom Community Alliance has been funded £6,900 for staffing and IT equipment for delivery of day-to-day support services.
10. Gaydio CIC has been funded £9,990 for media skills training/development for LGBT+ people with drug or alcohol problems.
11. Inner City Life has been funded £8,500 for staffing and IT equipment for support and befriending services.
12. Nightingales Recovery Café has been funded £11,710 for IT equipment and housing support.
13. Oasis Project has been funded £24,907 for staffing, creche and delivery costs for gender specific support.
14. Outside Edge Theatre Company has been funded £24,929 for operational, activity and ongoing pastoral care support costs.
15. PROPS North East has been funded £12,703 to adapt its CRAFT intervention model around Covid-19.
16. Red Rose Recovery has been funded £18,949.00 for PPE, IT equipment and staffing to deliver peer-support, training, volunteering, and employment opportunities.
17. The Rhubarb Farm has been funded £6,897 for staffing and IT equipment costs for horticultural project with people in recovery.
18. The Living Room has been funded £17,693 for online counselling-based therapy services.
19. Dear Albert has been funded £24,698 for staffing, operational costs, and IT equipment to support delivery of 1:1 and groups activities.
20. UK SMART Recovery has been funded £22,955 to adapt and promote its mutual aid model during Covid-19.