Issue - meetings
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Meeting: 28/09/2023 - Council (Item 230)
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public.
Decision:
A presentation was received by the Council from Laura Hyde, Chief Executive Officer at Resolve.
Minutes:
Audio recording – 10 minute 29 seconds
The Chair advised that he had invited Ms Laura Hyde, Chief Executive Officer at Resolve, to make a presentation to Council as one of his chosen charities for the Civic Year. Ms Hyde thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided a presentation for Members, which included that:
· The primary aim of Resolve was to help service users, move to a manageable and positive lifestyle where they could contribute and enhance their community.
· They ran a free substance misuse service with sites in Letchworth and Welwyn.
· They provided high quality, abstinence based, drug and alcohol treatment, with an end goal of total abstinence.
· They assessed the needs of the client and provided day services including group and individual therapy.
· They offered 1 to 1 counselling which had been proven to help addiction particularly to alcohol.
· They were due to commence an evening support group after feedback from clients, so support could be offered to those with daytime employment.
· They also provided support for the families and carers of their clients.
· Ideally each client would attend two 90 minutes sessions a week, and a monthly catch up with their key worker.
· Initially clients had a 16-week programme that could be repeated. However repeated reattendances were discussed and assessed.
· They provided confidential, professional counsellors.
· They supported loved ones and clients with their physical health and mental health needs, leading to their clients being self-reliant.
· Their biggest advocates were their clients who lives they had turned around.
· Last year 122 clients used the Letchworth based service.
· This year they had an average of 40 clients per month and received about 13 referrals monthly.
· Last year the cost of the Letchworth service was £165K, mainly due to salaries and clinical supervision.
The following Members asked questions:
· Councillor Adam Compton
· Councillor Val Bryant
In response to questions Ms Hyde stated that:
· There was a lack of support within the Royston area, The Living Room provided some cover for this area.
· When a referral come through for a client from Royston or the Southern Rural area they endeavoured to help, but were often hindered by transport issues.
· Public transport was limited within these areas, clients had to rely on family and friends, although Letchworth train station was very close to the Resolve office.
· Further information on the number of clients and their transport issues for the Royston and Southern Rural areas could be provided outside of this meeting.
· Across the two sites the majority of referrals came from the Stevenage area.
· Royston clients may have access to Cambridge or Hertford sites.
· The clients and staff desired to break all stereotypes, but recovery was tough.
The Chair thanked Ms Hyde for her presentation.