Young Addaction Bucks

Young Addaction Buckinghamshire works with young people (up to the age of 19) residing in the Buckinghamshire area, who are affected by their own, or someone else’s, substance misuse (which includes alcohol). They work in partnership with the BSCB and the Buckinghamshire Children and Young People's Trust.

The service consists of three separate teams:-

The Specialist Team work one to one with young people experiencing issues with substances. The young person is referred into the service and is allocated to the worker who best meets their individual needs. The meetings with the client can be at home, in youth clubs or anywhere the young person feels comfortable. Within a session, many areas may be addressed, including the young person’s self esteem and their feelings in relation to their family, housing, offending behaviour etc. These subjects are often very closely linked to the young person’s substance use. Two of the workers in the Specialist Team are link workers with Bucks Social Care, providing a smooth transition of appropriate referrals into the Addaction service.

The Family Team works with families where substance misuse has impacted on all, or a number of, family members. This work incorporates the family as the key element in the treatment and provides support for individuals with substance misuse. Drugs and alcohol can put a strain on family relationships. Feelings of disapproval, and of being let down are typical, as is worrying about the effects of substances. Addaction’s family service helps to recognise the difficult and painful feelings that are typically generated by such situations.

The Targeted Team works in partnership with the District and County’s Community Safety Teams, the Police and local community groups. The team addresses issues which may be related to anti social behaviour in relation to alcohol, drug use and cigarettes. The main aim is to refer young people into other support services, which may include Young Addaction’s Specialist or Family teams. The Targeted team also meet and work with young people on the street or in organised sessions run by other agencies, such as youth centres.

All Young Addaction workers are fully trained in safeguarding procedures, and adhere to the BSCB training programme.

For more information about Addaction, you can visit their national website http://www.addaction.org.uk or contact the Aylesbury office direct on 01296 331933.

Service Manager – Jonathon McDonnell
Email: aylesbury@addaction.org.uk
Tel: 01296 331933 .