Landmark for city support service

Thousands helped over last five years

SOCIETY: A drugs and alcohol service which has had an “immeasurable” impact in supporting some of the most vulnerable people in Leeds is marking five years in operation.

More than 6,000 people have left Forward Leeds having achieved their treatment goals since the service was set up in July 2015.

A DRUGS and alcohol service which has had an “immeasurable” impact in supporting some of the most vulnerable people in Leeds is marking five years in operation.

More than 6,000 people have left Forward Leeds having achieved their treatment goals since the service was set up in July 2015.

In the last financial year, 201920, Forward Leeds supported 2,000 people for alcohol issues alone – as many people as were seen by similar services in Sheffield, Liverpool and Manchester combined.

One of those, Nick Davies, has just marked 500 days sober after a 20-year battle with alcohol.

He had taken part in detox and counselling at Forward Leeds in the past, but relapsed last year after the break up of his marriage and was “drinking 24 hours a day”.

The actor, from Weetwood,

Leeds, told The Yorkshire Post: “It was my last chance. My GP said to me, ‘the next time I see you, I don’t want to be writing out your death certificate’”.

That was in February last year. He went into a detox treatment programme, and while waiting for a place at rehab, immersed himself in all the support Forward Leeds could offer – and he has not had a drink since.

“I was embarrassed, and worried about going back with my tail between my legs and the team thinking I’d let them down because they’d helped me before, but they accepted me with such warmth and never treated me like a failure,” he said. “Without a doubt, without them, I wouldn’t be here now.”

Forward Leeds is part of a partnership of organisations, including Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, BARCALeeds and St Anne’s Community Services and led by Humankind. Since it began, 12,000 people have been referred into the service.

Humankind operations director for Leeds, Lee Wilson, said: “That is the equivalent of one in every 50 adults in Leeds being helped in some way by Forward Leeds during in the last five years.

“The positive impact on family and friends is immeasurable. The service has just had its best ever year and this is down to the hard work of our staff.”