Substance Use team visit strengthens partnership working

Our Substance Use team, Andrea Nightingale (Substance Use Lead) and Grace Lindsay (Tobacco Harm Reduction Officer) recently visited Alderney. The Commission works across the Bailiwick, to empower, enable and encourage healthy living. 

Post Covid, it’s fantastic to have the opportunity to travel and meet those we work with across the sea. Andrea and Grace met with PC James Taylor to discuss drug and alcohol use in the community, as the more we learn about this, the more we can help with funding and initiatives. 

The team met with Dr Hunt, to share the new Quit Genius app so that the Alderney population can be signposted effectively via GPs, without having to travel off island. They also shared Count14 resources such as posters, alcohol measuring cups and unit calculators, for all to collect from the surgery.  

Next, the team met with the Alderney Deputies at the Island Hall, this was a brilliant opportunity to build on relationships and Andrea and Grace were encouraged with their knowledge and enthusiasm on the initiatives we discussed; Count14, youth support and logistic challenges faced in Alderney. 

The team then went to the school, St. Anne's, and had a productive meeting with the Deputy Head and Teachers, discussing what matters to the students of Alderney, how drug and alcohol education is progressing there and ideas for diversionary activities for young people outside of school. 

Next on on their busy list was meeting Lisa from Alderney Mind, who shared some unique challenges faced by islanders. Hearing this directly is very helpful for the Commission’s work, and Andrea and Grace discussed the overlap of substance use and mental health. 

The final place on the journey was the youth club, Les Butes, where Andrea and Grace were so pleased to engage with the young people and hear about how they would like more to do at weekends. We’re working in partnership with the Youth Commission to develop ideas shared on this trip, and look forward to working towards some really positive outcomes together.