At Change Grow Live, we were thrilled to be part of the DDN Conference again this year, themed ‘Stronger Together’. We were proud to play a significant role in an event that brought together service providers, national organisations and individuals with expertise and lived experience to share ideas and celebrate the power of collaboration.
The event was a dynamic blend of inspirational speakers, interactive sessions, and engaging debates, along with a variety of other activities that enriched the experience and highlighted the collective passion for improving substance treatment services.
Throughout the day we handed out information and guidance about our services and harm reduction initiatives, but we also took the opportunity to engage with other organisations and discuss upcoming projects. It reaffirmed our commitment to involving service users at the heart of everything we do, and to bringing together voices from across the sector.
Our own deputy chief executive, Nic Adamson, was a key speaker (see page 17), delivering a powerful message about the importance of meaningful service user involvement (SUI). Nic highlighted that SUI is not just a nice-to-have part of what we do – it’s an essential element of our work.
At the heart of Nic’s presentation was the argument that SUI doesn’t just improve services – it saves lives. One clear example of this is the peer-to-peer naloxone distribution programme. Opiate overdoses remain the leading cause of preventable deaths among users, and by putting naloxone in the hands of those most at risk through peer networks, lives are being saved.
Our commitment to service user involvement goes beyond naloxone distribution. Several other initiatives – such as our veteran support working group – have demonstrated the tangible benefits of working alongside people with lived experience. This group, led by veterans who have experienced substance use, helped us sign the Armed Forces Covenant and develop pathways that have increased veteran engagement with our services by 87 per cent.
As Nic put it, ‘It’s the right thing to do, it’s the reason for our existence, it should be
our DNA and heartbeat.’ She emphasized how involving people with lived experience improves outcomes for individuals, enhances services, and helps direct scarce resources to where they are most needed.
Nic also paid tribute to Bernie Carr, a passionate advocate for service user involvement who spent 14 years working with Change Grow Live. Bernie was instrumental in establishing our national lived experience group, where he tirelessly supported efforts to make services more inclusive and effective.
The conference wasn’t just a celebration of what has been achieved, but a call to action for what still needs to be done. Looking ahead, we’re committed to doing more. We know that we don’t have all the answers, but we believe that by working together, we can make a real difference.
All of us at Change Grow Live look forward to continuing this journey, and we are already preparing for the next chapter of collaboration and growth in 2025.
We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the organisers and to our dedicated team who attended and supported the event, highlighting the collective effort that made the day a success.
We’re dedicated to ensuring that everyone has a voice, that stigma is challenged, and that lives are transformed – and we believe that the best way to achieve this is through collaboration and partnership. As a sector, we can achieve more together than we can apart.
Jinna Sidhu is marketing and communications lead at Change Grow Live