Our close links with other Lifeline North East services in Newcastle and Middlesbrough has allowed joint research to explore the initiation into injecting behaviour by utilising our POWER (Peer Organised Welfare, Education and Research) volunteering programme and a peer education model.

Harm minimisation extends further than the individuals who use our services. Following a number of local reports about needles being found, needle stick injuries and suspected overdoses, we have been working to develop a training package to incorporate safer sharps handling, needle stick procedures and basic life support.

NEWCASTLE

The Harm Minimisation Service provides an open access service incorporating needle exchange, support, advice and information, medical interventions, BBV testing, Hep B vaccinations, tier 2 assessments, safer injecting, wound care and general health promotion and a training base for volunteers.

In the last year we have delivered training, advice and support to Residents Associations and a range of community projects.

In Newcastle, Lifeline has become the lead organisation in developing and consolidating harm minimisation throughout the city with the support of the Safer Newcastle Partnership. The service continues to develop with training and development planned for Pharmacy Exchange Schemes, Rapid Response Teams and other professionals.

Outlook in Newcastle provides a programme of activities and has a high rate of self-referral. Activities include sport/fitness, via gym and swim sessions and our great football team, graffiti art, DJ sessions. Our programme constantly changes in response to feedback from service users.

MIDDLESBOROUGH

Middlesbrough have continued to provide the Tier 2 Harm Minimisation Service, the ECLYPSE project and have a Senior Community Drugs Worker working with Community Interacters establishing drug related initiatives Middlesbrough wide. We have established the Parent and Carer Helpline with Interacters and facilitated partnership work with PADA and developed links to involve Interacters in partnership organisations dealing with young people, the Harm Minimisation service, ECLYPSE and Youth Inclusion Projects.

The Harm Minimisation Service, including Needle Exchange, uses outreach sites engaging with some of the most vulnerable clients in the evening. We have sex worker specific drop-ins, homeless drop-ins and other clinics operating. We have initiated Safer Clubbing and Overdose focus groups, which are facilitated with other agencies. We have trained volunteers and supported them to compliment work undertaken in all sites.

This year ECLYPSE secured premises. Training to professionals is underway as well as continued outreach work with young people around diversionary activities and drug education/prevention on both drugs and alcohol. The Peer Interacter Programme has been established and Middlesbrough Substance Prevention Standard is in its developmental stage.

Isabella Graves and Rachael Robertson