Bristol Drugs Project issue call for volunteer harm reduction staff

Bristol Drugs Project issue call for volunteer harm reduction staff

Posted on: 24 Aug 2021

The Drop team will be setting up shop at Love Saves The Day, Tokyo World, Motion and Lakota in the coming weeks.

 

The Bristol Drugs Project have issued a call for volunteers to get involved in a harm reduction service at upcoming club and festival events, offering help and advice to attendees as part of a new on-site outreach service.

 

Organised by The Drop, the BDP's dedicated harm reduction team, staff will be setting up at Love Saves The Day, Tokyo World, Motion and Lakota in the coming weeks, encouraging healthy, open discussion on drugs and safe use of substances.

 

Applications for nine-month volunteer positions are open now and can be found here, with training set to commence in early October.

 

 

Pioneered by nationwide non-profit The Loop, on-site harm reduction services at festivals and club events allow attendees to make more informed choices about the drugs they're using, as well as providing up-to-date advice regarding substances of concern.

 

Facilities have become a far more common sight at UK festivals and venues in recent years, with The Loop setting up drug-testing spaces at Parklife, Boomtown and The Warehouse Project among other major events since 2014.

 

An independent report into on-site drug testing at Love Saves The Day 2018 recorded a 12% decrease in people using the festival's welfare services across the weekend compared to previous years, and a total of just 30 attendees out of almost 50,000 seeking assistance due to drug-related issues.

 

Speaking to 365Bristol at their pop-up testing facility in Stokes Croft in 2018, The Loop co-founder Fiona Measham said:

 

“If we bear in mind that drug-related deaths are at the highest they’ve ever been in the UK with high purity undoubtedly a contributing factor, having a quarter of people going out and taking smaller quantities of drugs after using our service can certainly be considered a positive impact.

 

“Both the Love Saves The Day team and the British Red Cross believed that we played a direct part in reducing the number of drug-related problems at the festival by being on-site, and that’s what it’s all about.”

 

 

Launched in June 2020, The Drop is the Bristol Drugs Project's dedicated festival and club harm reduction team, established to offer support and advice at venues and events citywide.

 

Ahead of a busy Autumn season, The Drop are on the lookout for volunteers to help deliver an effective service, offering essential training for anyone who signs up. 

 

Festival Outreach Volunteers will be expected to work between two and six hours per week, often on evenings and weekends, and will be involved for a minimum of nine months.

 

More information and a full application pack can be found via the Bristol Drugs Project website. The team are available over the phone on 0117 987 6000 or via email to answer any questions or queries regarding the role.

 

Alternatively, to follow news and updates in the coming weeks, find The Drop on Twitter.

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Article by:

Matt Robson

 

Editor - 365Bristol.com & LOUD Magazine
 

Matt is a Journalism graduate and writer, passionate about supporting Bristol music, art and independent business. Get in touch via email at matt@365bristol.com.