Double Impact Services, the drug and alcohol recovery charity, has been awarded £479,805 in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, to be used over a period of four years.
The funding will support people in Nottinghamshire with alcohol and drug issues.
It comes as welcome news to the charity, who have worked in the county for the past 17 years and have provided a lifeline for people throughout the pandemic through their online and telephone-based services.
The new service, called ‘Recovery Links Nottinghamshire’ will build on this experience and will offer a combination of web-based and telephone information and support, guided peer support groups and connections to community-based support.
Recovery Links Nottinghamshire will provide a remotely delivered, information and support service for the residents of the whole of Nottinghamshire from its physical base at the Double Impact building on St John St, Mansfield.
As the new service develops, the aims of the project will develop, to include guided recovery groups, personal development training, volunteer training and pathways into work experience and employment.
Steve Youdell, Director of Operations for Recovery Links Nottinghamshire, said: “We are very excited that we can move forward with our plans for supporting people with alcohol and drug issues in Nottinghamshire.
“Last year, we were very fortunate to receive emergency funding, not only from the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport, which was distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund, but also the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and the Police & Crime Commissioner’s office.
“It has funded vital support for local people throughout the pandemic.
“The pandemic has had a big impact on people’s mental health and, unsurprisingly, using alcohol and other substances has been one way for many to cope.
“This new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund has meant that we could adapt our original plans for the new service in light of what we’ve learned over this past year.
“We believe that this new service will meet the increased demand for information and support.
“The funding has meant that we can provide the accessibility, which people not only expect, but really need, especially in large rural locations like Nottinghamshire. We’re very grateful to players of the National Lottery for raising the funds for this project.”
Nicola Thurbon, Senior Head of Regional Grant Making for the Midlands at The National Lottery Community Fund, added: “We are pleased to be funding Recovery Links Nottinghamshire, so it can meet an increase in demand for its service due to the pandemic. Thanks to National Lottery players, who raise £30 million each week for good causes across the UK, people with alcohol and drug issues across the county will continue to benefit from the group’s recovery services.”
A small, socially-distanced gathering of volunteers, press, media, funders, partners and other local stakeholders (TBC) will be invited to help us launch the service on:
Thursday 1st July at 11:30 at
Double Impact Nottinghamshire
18-19 St John St
Mansfield
NG18 1QJ
Light refreshments will be served.
