A new art exhibition by residents affected by alcohol where visitors can also hear stories of recovery is to go on show as part of this year’s national Alcohol Awareness Week, from November 18-22.
Supported by both Brighton & Hove City Council and CRI Health Promotion Team (Drugs and Alcohol), the show in Jubilee Library lobby features art and stories by people who have been affected by alcohol. Visitors will be able to hear directly from those actually affected during the show.
These include people who have been supported by Sussex Partnership Foundation NHS Trust’s Community Alcohol Team, Brighton Housing Trust, Equinox,12-step fellowships; AA and Al-Anon, CRI, ru-ok?; the city’s specialist service for under 18’s, and Brighton Oasis Project; Brighton and Hove’s women-only service.
Poster displays promoting the week will also be featured in GP surgeries, Children’s Centres and Pharmacies, while workshops will run in the city’s Access to Music College and health promotion stands will be at both sites at City College. Both Universities support the event, and Health Promotion will be working in partnership with the Safer Roads Partnership at Sussex University on Thursday. Several workplaces have engaged with health promotion activity over the week too, and there will be a Health Promotion stand at Barts House on Tuesday.
The event comes as figures show at least 350 went through city treatment services in the last year, including 204 people who successfully met their treatment goals with CRI (alcohol) Brief Intervention Service as well as Brighton Oasis Project working with over 100 women.
As of August 30, 470 individuals were in structured treatment in just one service Sussex Partnership Foundation NHS Trust’s Community Alcohol Team.
Cllr Rob Jarrett, chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “We work with organisations across the city to provide help and support to residents whose lives are affected by alcohol and some of the stories of recovery are inspiring.
“This show is part of Alcohol Awareness Week and will help to get people thinking about alcohol how it affects us as individuals, families, communities and society.
“By encouraging people to have conversations about alcohol we hope to look more closely at our relationship with alcohol.”
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