People with long-term alcohol problems are learning to prepare
meals together – thanks to a new project that addresses the poor
nutrition and social isolation often linked to alcohol misuse.
Feeding Recovery is being delivered in Swansea and Cardiff, by
Barod and the Nelson Trust, organisations who support the long
term recovery of people affected by substance use, who are
ready to make positive changes to their lives.
At a visit to a project in Swansea, the Minister for Mental
Health and Wellbeing , met people attending a
cookery class and found out more about how the project is helping
them regain control of their lives and remake social connections,
as part of their recovery from alcohol misuse.
She said:
“Feeding Recovery is one of a range of schemes to encourage
people to take part in positive activities and reduce social
isolation. The project is about more than just alcohol, it offers
a model for services supporting people facing a range of
challenges and obstacles in their lives.
“Getting involved in group activities such as cookery classes can
make a huge difference to people's recovery.”
Caroline Phipps, Chief Executive at Barod said:
“It's been a privilege to welcome the Minister today to share our
research into the relationship between food and those accessing
support at Barod's drug and alcohol service. We want to thank
everyone who took part in the research for sharing their
experiences so openly.
“By working together, we can ensure people on their recovery
journey from alcohol and drugs receive the holistic, person
centred support they need to rebuild their health, wellbeing and
futures.”
The project is supported by Alcohol Change UK who have received
over £7,000 of Welsh Government funding to expand the project, in
addition to their £150,000 annual grant.
Feeding Recovery forms part of Barod's wider recovery programme,
which provides support, information and advocacy to those who are
vulnerable and marginalised as the result of their own or someone
else's drug or alcohol use, to improve their physical, social and
emotional well–being.
Andrew Misell, Director for Wales at Alcohol Change UK said:
“We know that many people who use alcohol heavily long-term don't
eat enough, as alcohol pushes other things aside in their lives.
There is great work going on at Barod in Swansea and the Nelson
Trust in Cardiff to help people using their services to eat more
and better food and make new friends over shared meals.
“With funding from the Welsh Government, Alcohol Change UK have
been able to find out what the key ingredients of successful
cooking and eating sessions are.
“We've brought all those lessons together in the Feeding Recovery
Handbook, which is available free-or-charge in English and Welsh
on the Alcohol Change UK website, for anyone to use. We hope it
will encourage more local services to realise what a big role
food can play in people's journey to recovery.”
As well as the Swansea based cooking classes, the Welsh
Government funding enabled expansion of the scheme in Cardiff, at
the Nelson Trust's centre for vulnerable women, effectively
doubling the size of the project.
Notes to editors
- To help reduce alcohol related harm and support people to
drink responsibly in Wales, a Minimum Unit Price for Alcohol was
introduced in March 2020.
- The Welsh Government's consultation on the future of minimum
unit pricing in Wales, which ended on 29 September, includes a
proposal to increase the minimum price per unit of alcohol to
65pu, which would align with Scotland.
- The four UK Chief Medical Officers' guidelines for men and
women is that to keep health risks from alcohol low, it is safest
not to drink more than 14 units a week.
- The ‘Feeding Recovery'
Handbook has been created thanks to £7,000 of Welsh
Government funding provided to Alcohol Change UK, setting out
guidelines for other services on how to run successful
activities.
