Change Grow Live
LightNews LightNews
banner
changegrowlive.bsky.social
Change Grow Live
@changegrowlive.bsky.social
72 followers 42 following 36 posts
As a national health and social care charity, we support people with challenges including drugs and alcohol, housing, justice, employment, and smoking.

Our support is free and confidential 💜
Posts Replies Media Videos
changegrowlive.bsky.social
KJ was at university when their ketamine use began affecting their finances, relationships, studies and health.

After a referral to Change Grow Live, they’ve now been sober for five months.

Read KJ’s story:

https://www.changegrowlive.org/believe-in-people/kjs-story
"My worker listened to what I had to say, but also challenged my beliefs and encouraged me to find a new mentality." quote in white text on a pink background with a blue quotation mark in the top left corner
December 3, 2025 at 10:00 AM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
We’re proud to have been re-accredited with the Investing in Volunteers award! 🌟

Achieving this demonstrates how much we value our volunteers and invest in providing an outstanding volunteer experience.

Find out more about the award:

https://investinginvolunteers.co.uk/

#IiVUK
Four people standing outdoors in casual clothing, engaged in conversation under trees on a clear day.
November 27, 2025 at 10:30 AM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
Our new strategy is built around a simple idea: helping more people, sooner.

Though the idea is simple, the challenge is substantial.

Read more on our website:

www.changegrowlive.org/news/help-mo...
Our new organisational strategy: helping more people, sooner written in bold white text on a purple background
November 26, 2025 at 1:59 PM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
It's been another year of positive action & collaboration towards eliminating hep C.

Executive Medical Director, Prun Bijral, discusses prevention, testing, treatment & our achievements.

Read our Hep C Report 2025:

indd.adobe.com/view/ab7b6ab...
November 24, 2025 at 8:57 AM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
In a society where hypermasculinity is deeply ingrained, many young men struggle to engage with traditional support services.

Our In your Corner programme offers a fresh approach by focusing on a healthy, positive vision of masculinity:

www.changegrowlive.org/advice-info/...
Pink shield emblem with the phrase 'In Your Corner' over a colorful graffiti wall background.
November 19, 2025 at 10:32 AM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
Book your place on the #LondonRecoveryNetwork’s Autumn webinar to hear about the power of recovery through creativity ✨

Taking place on the 27th November, you'll hear from guest speakers across London’s diverse recovery community.

Register here: londonrecoverynetwork.org.uk
Panel discussion at London Recovery Network event with two seated participants and one speaker at podium on stage.
November 17, 2025 at 10:44 AM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
Our 2025 annual report highlights how we’re working to ensure that health is a right, not a privilege.

We've focused on reaching people sooner, addressing stigma and improving deliverability & accessibility. Read about the impact this has had:

https://www.changegrowlive.org/news/annual-report-2025
Young woman with curly hair standing outdoors, next to text reading 'Believe in people. Change Grow Live Annual Report 2025' on a purple background.
November 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
Our Board of Trustees will gain 2 new members: Victoria Steele & Angelene Woodland.

"Their experience & passion will strengthen our leadership & help reach more people, in more communities, in the years ahead." - Sue Killen, Chair of the Board

Read more: www.changegrowlive.org/news/welcomi...
Woman with shoulder-length blonde curly hair wearing a sleeveless red dress against a blue background. A woman with dark curly hair tied up wearing gold hoop earrings and a patterned red, black, and white top against a plain light background.
November 6, 2025 at 10:01 AM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
This #TrusteesWeek, we're celebrating the invaluable contributions made by our trustees & the impact they have on our work.

We spoke to Trustee Dr Caroline Shuldham about her recent visit to our St Helens service & its thriving, welcoming community space:

www.changegrowlive.org/news/trusted...
Logo for Trustees' Week with the tagline Celebrating, supporting and inspiring trustees in blue, pink, and purple text alongside two stylized speech bubble icons.
November 4, 2025 at 10:30 AM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
When Dragos came into contact with Change Grow Live, he was sleeping rough in Leeds.

Our Leeds Street Outreach Service supported him to secure accommodation, navigate complex paperwork, rebuild his health & plan a brighter future.

Read Dragos’ story:

www.changegrowlive.org/believe-in-p...
Man with short brown hair and a trimmed beard wearing a black t-shirt against a plain white background.
October 20, 2025 at 9:04 AM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
Today’s figures show a continued rise in deaths related to drug-poisoning, with 5,565 deaths in England & Wales in 2024.

Without urgent action, drug related deaths will continue on the same trajectory, with more lives lost & families shattered:

www.changegrowlive.org/news/urgent-...
Bold white text on purple background reading 'Urgent action needed to halt continued rise in drug-related deaths'
October 17, 2025 at 9:06 AM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
The latest Women's Rough Sleeping report shows 54% of women reported sleeping somewhere that isn't included in traditional rough sleeping counts.

Read this year's report with partners @shpcharity.bsky.social, @solacewomensaid.bsky.social, & @crisis-uk.bsky.social

indd.adobe.com/view/6adb800...
Worn wooden bench with pink backrest displaying the question 'How do we sleep at night?' against a colourful, graffiti-covered wall.
October 10, 2025 at 9:04 AM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
Chris Henniker, Manager for our Young Person’s Service in Manchester, shares the service’s response to the lack of guidance on vaping.

Read about how they’re equipping parents & professionals to better support young people in an ever-changing landscape:

www.changegrowlive.org/news/eclypse...
Eclypse Manchester tackles support gap around vaping and young people
October 9, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Reposted by Change Grow Live
waythrough-uk.bsky.social
The London Recovery Network has officially launched! 🎉

Last week, over 250 people came together at Conway Hall to celebrate recovery, connection, and community across London.

@changegrowlive.bsky.social @turningpoint-uk.bsky.social @notsaintsuk.bsky.social @collective-voice.bsky.social
Picture of crowd gathering at the launch of London Recovery Network
October 7, 2025 at 12:55 PM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
Read Deputy Chief Executive Nic Adamson’s response to yesterday’s tragic attack and the rising division across our country:

www.changegrowlive.org/news/holding...
Holding on to our humanity written in bold white text on a purple background
October 3, 2025 at 3:05 PM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
Want expert analysis on what really matters in drugs, alcohol, and criminal justice?

Sign up for email updates and get sharp commentary, insider insights, and need-to-know developments, straight from the experts in the sector.

https://www.changegrowlive.org/about-us/newsletter
Bold white text on purple background, 'Sign up for expert analysis on drugs, alcohol, and criminal justice.
October 2, 2025 at 9:00 AM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
The early outcomes from our pilot Level 2 Recovery Worker Qualification are promising ✨

Built on professional standards and compassion, this qualification supports volunteers’ career aspirations while strengthening the support we offer.

Read more: www.changegrowlive.org/news/pilot-r...
Our Head of Volunteering and Placement, Chris, is presenting into a microphone in front of the cinema screen, and pointing.
September 18, 2025 at 4:35 PM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
We’re thrilled to celebrate our first graduates from our pilot Level 2 Recovery Worker Qualification 🎉

Follow the graduates on their learning journeys, and witness their resilience, growth and achievements in this new documentary film: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARby...
The journey to graduation: Level 2 Recovery Worker Qualification
YouTube video by Change Grow Live
www.youtube.com
September 11, 2025 at 3:28 PM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
Last week we attended the #StopTheDeaths conference in Glasgow, joining voices from across policy, practice, & experience to encourage conversation, drive change, & make an impact.

Our services in Scotland & England are committed to supporting harm reduction & preventing drug-related deaths.
A woman stands behind a table filled with informational pamphlets, health supplies, and recruitment flyers at a recovery service booth with motivational posters in the background.
September 4, 2025 at 9:02 AM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
“This is probably the biggest public health crisis for people who use drugs in the U.K. since the AIDS crisis in the 1980s."

The @wsj.com details the huge risk that nitazenes pose, featuring our Exec Director, Vicki Markiewicz (full article behind a paywall):

www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Stronger Than Fentanyl: A Drug You’ve Never Heard of Is Killing Hundreds Every Year
Ultrapotent synthetics, mostly from China, are easy to smuggle and mix into heroin, recreational drugs and gray-market pharmaceuticals.
www.wsj.com
August 15, 2025 at 8:01 AM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
Join us at the #StopTheDeaths conference, hosted by Scottish Drugs Forum.

Timed to mark International Overdose Awareness Day, we’re proud to have a stand at Scotland’s largest drug-related conference.

View the full programme for both days here: sdf.org.uk/get-involved...
Announcement of Change Grow Live's exhibition stand at the Scottish Drugs Forum's Stop the Deaths Conference in Glasgow, August 2025.
August 13, 2025 at 9:11 AM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
Yesterday evening's Newsnight featured a segment on the potent effects of nitazenes.

Vicki Markiewicz, Exec Director of Change Grow Live, spoke about the catastrophic effects of nitazenes & how the drug treatment sector is responding.

Watch from 20:25👇

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Two women seated on a grey couch engaged in a lively discussion with a vibrant purple and white abstract background behind them.
August 12, 2025 at 1:27 PM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
Team member Elly Mortimer sits down with host Matt Butler in the latest episode of the Believe in People podcast, run by ReNew in Hull.

Hear Elly share her insight & expertise from over 30 years working in harm reduction, with a focus on eliminating hep C 👇

www.believeinpeoplepodcast.com/elly/
71 | Elly Mortimer: Three Decades in Harm Reduction – Hep C, Learning, Listening & Leading
Elly returns for her third appearance on Believe in People to share insight from over 30 years working in harm reduction, with a focus on eliminating Hepatitis C. S…
www.believeinpeoplepodcast.com
August 4, 2025 at 9:12 AM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
Occupational therapist, Jess Bhikha has embedded occupational therapy practices into our Coventry service offering with significant success.

Read about how she has supported over 100 individuals with complex needs:

www.changegrowlive.org/news/how-can...
How can occupational therapy support people with complex needs?
August 1, 2025 at 9:00 AM
changegrowlive.bsky.social
We’re proud to have supported the @hepctrust.bsky.social parliamentary reception earlier this month.

The event celebrated the progress that has been made towards eliminating hepatitis C and marked the launch of the latest report - Sustaining Success:

www.hepctrust.org.uk/blog/2025/07...
New report published: Sustaining Success: Principles to achieve and maintain hepatitis C elimination in England - The Hepatitis C Trust
Today sees the publication of the final report of the Hepatitis C Elimination Maintenance Strategy Group, coordinated by HCV Action. SUSTAINING SUCCESS: Principles to achieve and maintain hepatitis C ...
www.hepctrust.org.uk
July 31, 2025 at 9:01 AM