Prisons join to promote recovery

PRISONERS and staff at Warrington’s two prisons – Risley and Thorn Cross – have taken part in a week of activities promoting recovery.
The borough council’s drug and alcohol action team (DAAT) worked alongside the prisons and CRI to arrange activities, including health promotion, through a holistic person centred approach, and there were stalls promoting alcohol awareness, recovery, family support, user forums, therapeutic communities, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and rehabilitation.
The prisons had open days and members from the DAAT and Cllr Pat Wright, the council’s lead member for health, wellbeing and adult services, visited the prisons to take part in the events.
CRI is responsible for delivering an integrated substance misuse treatment service called “Pathways to Recovery” at the prisons and is commissioned by the DAAT.
Both prisons also held their own versions of a recovery walk to coincide with the National Recovery Walk which took place this year in
Birmingham.
Thirty prisoners from Thorn Cross and 20 from Risley took part and covered several miles on the day by walking, running, rowing and cycling in the gyms and within the prison grounds.
A special graduation ceremony also took place during the week to celebrate the prisoners who had completed CRI’s Foundation of Recovery programme, which is going from strength to strength.
Cllr Wright said: “There is some fantastic work being carried out in both establishments and it’s great to see services like this being promoted.
“The DAAT and CRI work closely together to support and help people beat their addictions and are committed to delivering valuable services which can help turn lives around.”
Shirley Riley, deputy director for CRI said: “Our ambition for Warrington prisons was to create equitable services to those offered in the community that enable recovery, the only difference being ‘the wall’. Whilst it is still early days, we are really pleased with the progress being made.
“It was great to see individuals who had turned their lives acting as positive role models and sharing their experiences with the prisoners, inspiring them to make positive steps to change.”