On International Overdose Awareness Day (31 August), local charity WithYou is highlighting its innovative approach to reaching people in Grimsby struggling with drugs and alcohol: bringing support directly to food banks, homeless shelters, and the streets – anywhere vulnerable residents feel most comfortable.
The outreach team works alongside partners including Rock Foundation, We Are ONE Foundation, and Women’s Aid, to identify people who have gone ‘off the radar’ and connect them with help where they are.
Crucially for overdose prevention, the team offers needle syringe provision, and lifesaving naloxone training.
Staff carry naloxone – the overdose-reversal drug – and have trained food bank workers and community volunteers how to administer it, creating a network of overdose prevention across the area.
Brian, WithYou outreach worker in Grimsby, said, ‘There’s never a day we don’t go somewhere and identify someone who needs some support or advice. I’m passionate about it. It’s not just a job. Even members of the public ask us what we’re doing when they see us helping clients and by the end of the conversation, I’ve trained them to administer nasal naloxone.
‘It’s helping to remove stigma and educate the wider community on the vulnerability of some local people and the support that’s available to help.’
The outreach team often works from community hub Harbour Place, where clients can access multiple services including WithYou’s prescribers, dental care, The Hepatitis C Trust workers, stop smoking services, and a hairdresser – all under one roof.
Clare, WithYou outreach worker in Grimsby, said, ‘We can meet potential clients wherever they feel most comfortable – at their doctor’s appointment, at the food bank, or in community spaces like Harbour Place. It makes the most vulnerable in society realise that someone does actually care. That little “hello” or a cup of tea from our flask sometimes makes someone’s day.’
Sam Palmer, food bank manager at the Rock Foundation, said, ‘Having the service doing weekly drop ins in our community hub is extremely useful for our clients to engage in a relaxed setting for substance misuse support. I feel this is extremely beneficial to us and the community.
‘Our collaboration involves working closely with clients to understand their needs, expectations, and feedback. It is a mutual relationship that encourages open communication and trust, ultimately leading to better outcomes and client satisfaction. Clare and Brian are so accommodating and a pleasure to work with!’
Many clients lack phones or stable housing, making traditional appointment-based support difficult to access. The outreach model allows workers to pass messages for clients between services, and co-ordinate care for people who need multiple types of support.
At WithYou, we understand not everyone wants to or feels ready to access traditional services. We provide a person-centred approach to support people to meet their goals with compassion and respect, meeting people wherever they are in their recovery journey.
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