Change Grow Live - Kirklees

With both hepatitis B and hepatitis C, you might not have any symptoms, or you may experience mild flu or fever, tiredness, no appetite, and vomiting.



It’s best to get tested and our team are here to support you every step of the way. Give us a call on 01484 353333.



If it isn’t convenient for you to visit our service, you can get tested and treated for hepatitis at a range of places. Visit The Hepatitis C Trust who will be able to support you.

This World Hepatitis Day we want to remind you how easy it is to get tested and treated for hepatitis.



The hepatitis test is as simple as a prick of your finger – and that's it!



You’ll get your results in 1 – 2 weeks and whatever they are, we are here for you 💜



Treatment for hepatitis has come a long way and now consists of a tablet a day for 8–12 weeks with minimal side effects.



Our team are here to support you every step of the way. To discuss getting tested or treatment, give us a call on 01484 353333 and we will be in touch.

If you take drugs by injecting them, you’re more vulnerable to infections and using unclean needles can pass on viruses like hepatitis.


Although sharing needles is a common way for hepatitis to be passed on, it’s not the only way. Hepatitis is passed on through blood or other bodily fluids so you can get hepatitis from:


- Sharing other drug related items such as spoons, water, filters, and notes and straws for snorting.

- Sharing personal care items such as a toothbrush, razor or hair clippers.

- Engaging in chems*x

- Having rough or a**l s*x with someone that has hepatitis

- Getting tattooed or pierced with dirty equipment that hasn't been sterilised



Our friendly team are here to help you stay safe. To discuss treatment, testing, vaccination for hepatitis or our free needle exchange, call us on 01484 353333.

Today is

‘Schizophrenia’ comes from Greek words meaning 'split' and 'mind', which probably explains why it often gets confused for ‘split personality’.

This however, is not true.

Schizophrenia can affect each individual differently. Some may develop hallucinations such as hearing voices or seeing things other people don't. Others may experience delusions like the thought they are being followed or that everyone is out to get them.

If you are struggling to keep on top of your mental health please speak to your key worker, and they can help to support you or signpost you towards the help you need 💜

Today is 💚

If you ever feel like you are at breaking point please give Samaritans a call on 116 123.

Remember, you are never alone 💜

We are currently hiring a new Integrated Care Lead

This is a newly created role to build collaboration with our partners across the Integrated Care System.

You’ll need to understand the footprint and key priorities of system partners as well as utilise excellent relationship building skills to develop system wide working to address health inequalities. Ideally with a background in the NHS, you’ll bring an understanding of partners priorities, gaps and opportunities and work collaboratively within the healthcare system to promote joint working and the benefits that specialist substance misuse services can bring.

You can apply for this role using the following links:

https://careers-changegrowlive.icims.com/jobs/14106/integrated-care-lead/job

https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/U0080-24-14106

Would you like to join our team? We currently have a couple of roles we are looking to hire for:

Recovery Coordinator - Non Opiates Team
https://careers-changegrowlive.icims.com/jobs/14339/recovery-coordinator/job

Recovery Coordinator - Family Team
https://careers-changegrowlive.icims.com/jobs/14355/recovery-coordinator/job

Recovery Coordinator - Navigator
https://careers-changegrowlive.icims.com/jobs/14379/recovery-coordinator---navigator/job

Next week brings our first Family Fun Day of this summer ☀️☀️☀️

Please join us on Wednesday 31st of July at Ravensknowle Park for a day of activities and fun for all ages ⚽️🏏👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

We can't wait to see you there💜

We have our next Service User Involvement Forum on Wednesday the 24th of July.

This will be held at our hub on Wellington Street in Dewsbury from 2:00pm.

Help us shape the service you use!

Naloxone is a lifesaving, overdose reversal drug. It can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose while you wait for emergency help to arrive.



The effects of naloxone don’t last very long, so it’s important to always call 999 and ask for emergency help when you use it.



Anyone can use naloxone in an emergency. For example, if someone uses op**te drugs or other drugs that could be contaminated with synthetic opioids, naloxone can help save a life.



If you'd like a naloxone kit, visit or get in touch with your local service. A trained member of staff will give you a kit and teach you how to prevent and manage opioid overdoses. Naloxone training can take as little as 10 minutes.



Come and speak to us about getting trained up to use naloxone. Give us a call on 01484 353333 or email [email protected] , and someone will be in touch.

We are currently recruiting an Outreach Worker to work as part of the team delivering psychosocial interventions to service users across Kirklees.

If you think this role is suited to you, and you want to join a dedicated team, please apply using the link below:

https://careers-changegrowlive.icims.com/jobs/14266/outreach-worker/job

Nitazenes are a new synthetic opioid and are often hundreds of times stronger than he**in and at least as potent as fentanyl. They have led to accidental overdoses and deaths around the country as your drugs might look the same, even if they are contaminated with nitazenes.



If you plan on using opioids, here are some signs of an overdose to look out for so you can keep your friends safe:



- Loss of consciousness

- Shallow or absent breathing

- Snoring or loud rasping

- Blue or grey lips and or fingertips



Call for an ambulance immediately if someone overdoses and give them naloxone.


Nitazenes have also been found in non-op**te drugs so be aware of the above signs and symptoms when using any illicit drug.


For more information on how to keep yourself and others safe, you can visit our website:



https://www.changegrowlive.org/drugs-contaminated-synthetic-opioids-advice-staying-safe-nitazenes

The UK drug market has changed in recent years with the arrival of nitazenes and other synthetic drugs. Nitazenes are synthetic opioids that are often hundreds of times stronger than he**in and at least as potent as fentanyl.



If you plan on using drugs, use this information to keep yourself and your friends as safe as possible:


⏱️Go low and slow: start with a quarter hit of a new supply and wait to see the effects
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Don’t use alone: Make sure someone you trust is present and has a couple of naloxone kits to hand
💊 If using with others it's best if only one person uses the drug first and uses a smaller dose, waiting for the peak effects to pass
🍺 Don't mix drugs: Using more than one drug increases your risk of overdose, this includes mixing with alcohol
🧍‍♀Look after your friends: Look out for the signs of an overdose, e.g. loss of consciousness, shallow or absent breathing, ‘snoring’ or loud ‘rasping’, and/or blue or grey lips or fingertips
🤳Call for an ambulance immediately if someone overdoses and give them naloxone.
🏠 Ask for nitazene testing strips at your nearest Change Grow Live service



Find out more about keeping yourself and others safe from nitazenes:

https://www.changegrowlive.org/drugs-contaminated-synthetic-opioids-advice-staying-safe-nitazenes

There have been accidental overdoses and deaths of people across the country from he**in and other drugs that have been mixed with nitazenes.



Nitazenes are made in labs and mimic the effects of natural opioids such as he**in. They are often hundreds of times stronger than he**in and at least as potent as fentanyl. Nitazenes have been found in he**in but also in other drugs such as benzos.



Your drugs may look the same, even if they are contaminated. We can provide you with testing strips to see if nitazenes are present.



For more information on the testing strips, or to get advice and support, give us a call on 01484 353333 and someone will be in touch.

We were Kumon Y’all family fun day on Saturday and had some really meaningful conversations about drug and alcohol addiction.

Family and friends, concerned about loved ones, are often overwhelmed with how to best support those affected by addiction. Our COPE sessions are ideal for loved ones affected by someone else's substance use.

To find out more information please contact 01484 353333 or email [email protected]

If you're worried someone you care about is drinking too much, talking is one of the most important ways you can help them.

But having these conversations isn’t always easy, so we’ve put together some tips and advice to help with this:

https://www.changegrowlive.org/advice-info/family-friends/drinking-drugs-how-to-talk-to-someone



To learn more about the support we offer to friends and family, give us a call on 01484 353333 or email [email protected] and we will be in touch.

If you’re excited about watching the Euros with friends or family but trying to drink less, this can be difficult but don’t let it stop you having fun.



Take a look at our tips so you can make positive changes without missing any of the action:

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Talk to friends and family so they can support you

🍹 Try switching to lower alcohol drinks, and drink slower.


🥤 Alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

⚽ If you start having cravings, try to distract yourself

❤️ Don’t feel guilty about any setbacks

Give us a call on 01484 353333 to talk about the support available. You are not alone 💜

Alcohol can be a big part of the sports we love, what we do socially and feature heavily in our favourite TV shows or films.



It can affect us more than we realise. Cutting back can help us:



⚡ Have more energy

🥴 Feel less hungover

👩‍🤝‍👩 Strengthen our relationships

😊 Improve our mood



If you want to change your life, we're here to help. Visit our website for some tips on cutting down or quitting alcohol: https://www.changegrowlive.org/advice-info/alcohol-drugs/alcohol-advice-stopping-drinking-reducing



You can also get in touch with us by calling 01484 353333 or email [email protected] to see how we can support you.

Today marks the start of Alcohol Awareness Week and this year’s theme is Understanding Alcohol Harm.



As alcohol can play a large role in society and in our lives, it can be easy to forget the harm it causes. This can be physical harm to your body, harm to your mental health, or the impact it may be having on your relationships with loved ones.



Throughout the week we’ll be sharing information to get people thinking about their drinking.

If you're worried about how much you're drinking, try our alcohol quiz to help you understand your drinking habits:



https://changegrowlive.org/advice-info/alcohol-drugs/alcohol-drinking-levels-quiz-self-assessment

Please keep an eye out for us at tomorrows Deighton Carnival 💜

If you need advice about yours or a loved ones drinking or drug use, please come over and say hello 👋

This week is Love Your Lungs Week 2024

Smoking To***co and other substances can seriously affect the health of your lungs. If you are starting to notice any of the symptoms below:

- Shortness of breath, particularly when you're active
- A persistent chesty cough with phlegm – some people may dismiss this as just a --- "smoker's cough"
- Frequent chest infections
- Persistent wheezing

you could be suffering with COPD, and we advise you to visit your GP.

Across the school summer holidays we are hosting two family fun days 🥳

We are hoping to make this year our biggest yet, if you and your business would like a stall at one of both of the days please contact Fazila on [email protected] or 07833 280113

Reyt Proud

Last Saturday we attended the Kirklees Pride event, we had a brilliant time despite the weather trying its best to dampen the spirits.

It was so lovely to see so many amazing people celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community 💜

"There is an assumption that Muslims don’t drink. But all the factors that can make anyone turn to alcohol – social norms, peer pressure, trauma and stress – apply to Muslims too."

Here is a fantastic article on how alcohol issues can affect anybody:

https://alcoholchange.org.uk/blog/as-a-muslim-i-found-myself-even-more-susceptible-to-alcohol-harm

We are here to support anybody struggling with issues surrounding drugs and alcohol use. Please contact us via email, telephone, online referral form or by simply dropping into one of our hubs.

Eid Mubarak to all who celebrate it💜

Everyone at Change Grow Live Kirklees wishes you a happy and peaceful Eid ul-Adha.

Today we’ll be at Huddersfield Pride! So come and say hello, we’re looking forward to meeting you!

This week is Men's Health Week.

On Fridays, Kirklees in Recovery run a group called Man Cave, a space where men can discuss any issues they may be facing in life. With the rise of suicides in the male population, it's never been more important to open up and talk.

Donuts are included. 🍩🍩

Today, Danny will be at Storthes Hall.

This is a safe and confidential space to discuss any concerns around yours or a loved ones drug or alcohol use.

For more information please contact Danny directly using the contacts provided 💜

It’s Volunteers’ Week! 💜

Our volunteers are amazing, and we couldn’t do what we do without them.

We would like to say a massive thank you to all of our volunteers who have helped over this last year and all the work they have done.