Cyrenians Connect (360G-SCVO-a13N2000002ty5fIAA)

We will take a harm reduction approach to delivering digital inclusion across two of our projects. These projects currently provide 1:1 support to people in transition from institutions. The two projects are:our Visitor Centre at HMP Addiewell which sees approximately 250 liberations per year. The prison itself is a ‘learning’ prison accommodating approximately 800 adult tried and unconvicted men. At least 50% of the prison population have or have had addication issues. 94% have suffered trauma and have had adverse early experienceds (ACEs) which significantly increase the likelihood of addictions in later life. -our Hospital In-reach project which prevents people from being discharged from hospital in Edinburgh into homelessness. This service supports around 200 people per year. 77.5% of those supported by this project are known to have an addication. Both leaving prison and leaving hospital have been identified as transition points where people are particulalry vulnerable. This critical transition often results in individuals being left to ‘sink or swim’ – with ‘sinking’ being almost inevitable if those transitioning have become isolated from friends, family, the wider community and support services, have no home or support structures to return to and are digitally excluded. This is also a critical period in which the significant proportion of those we support who use drugs are more likely to resume or increase their usage in order to cope with the anxiety, uncertainty and adversity of trying to navigate their way through support services that can feel hostile, unreceptive and triggering.Both of these services aim to connect those in transition to the support they need using a person-centred, trauma informed and harm reduction approach. Although access to digital devices and the connectivity this affords is an important element of the transition supported by both projects, we have only tentatively begun to develop this aspect. We currently give out free Vodafone SIM cards (via their Charities Connected scheme) and basic (not smart) phones when we can. (We have given out 478 SIMs in the past 18 months). We are excited by the prospect of working with Digital Lifelines to increase our learning around how to improve people’s connectivity in a more substantial way and by so doing improve their life chances. Johann Hari’s statement that the opposite of addication is not sobriety but connection is relevant to all of our relationship-based approach. We are really keen to be part of a pilot that explores how increased resources to provide better digital connectivity can enhance the support we offer. If successful, we would offer Addiewell participants 2-3 sessions whilst in prison to familiarise them with the technology and to work with them to identify what needs it could help them meet. On liberation, we would offer 2-3 follow up sessions, in person or remotely, enabling us to help them trouble-shoot and enabling the collection of evaluation information during the course of the 12 month project.Similarly with Hospital In-reach, we would offer 1-3 introductory support sessions in hospital and 3-6 sessions in the community again enabling us to trouble-shoot and collect evaluation information over the 12 month period.All of our work incorporates the principles of a harm reduction approach. Harm reduction is grounded in justice and human rights. We focus on positive change and working with people without judgement, coercion, discrimination, or requiring that people stop using drugs as a precondition of support. And we ensure that people with a history of using drugs have a real voice in designing the types and frequency of support we offer.