Aurora Project Lambeth is a registered charity in Stockwell. The project works with substance and alcohol users in the borough to provide them with support in their recovery. Aurora has close links with the many other services for substance users in the borough which are provided by the council, NHS and various charitable organisations but is itself an entirely independent operation. The project has only been up and running for two years but already is seeing some very positive results. The project was founded two years ago by a group of members of the Lambeth Service Users Council. The directors of the organisation have all been through treatment themselves and have seen the need for non-medical support for people in recovery from substance and alcohol use. A survey of service users in the area confirmed that this was something that was lacking within the system and that a service of this kind would be very much welcomed. There was an absence of any support to help bridge the gap between receiving medical care to combat their physical addictions and reintegrating with society and living a substance free life. Aurora Project Lambeth takes on clients who have been referred by their doctor or key worker. The project only works with those who are already in treatment and actively working to overcome their issues. Clients present with a variety of issues. Medical intervention works to break physical dependence but cannot tackle the many and diverse related issues. Clients often come to Aurora hoping to meet new people who are going through or have been through similar experiences. For many of them, social isolation is a huge part of the problem. Issues with substance use often can mean that people’s relationships with family members and friends suffer and sometimes disintegrate altogether. For many people in recovery, they also have difficulty in separating themselves from people who, even if they do not intend to, can enable a lifestyle that they wish to dissociate themselves with. The challenges of breaking a destructive cycle of substance or alcohol use are infinitely more difficult to face without that stable support network in place. Leaving a chaotic or unhealthy lifestyle behind and trying to start again presents many daunting challenges. Trying to reintegrate in society can seem like an insurmountable task when it means having to face a number of issues that have been neglected and when they have been left to accumulate, together can seem overwhelming. It can be hard to know where to start or what support is available. Many clients at Aurora Project Lambeth are dealing with financial issues, problems with debts, and confusion or instability over benefits they may be receiving or would be entitled to. Many are in unsuitable or unstable housing situations. Some are dealing with legal issues. Mental health can have suffered greatly and been compounded by substance use and social isolation. These all present huge challenges, especially if someone is having to face them alone. This is where Aurora Project Lambeth comes in. Aurora recruits volunteer peer mentors, all of whom have been through recovery themselves. No prior experience is required as all the necessary training is provided by Aurora Project. The only stipulation is that they have been in recovery for a period of at least six months. Volunteers receive thorough training in mentoring. This includes learning about listening, building trust, communication, and boundaries. There is also a strong focus on setting and working towards goals with a client. When the challenges facing someone are so numerous and so tough, it is easy to feel overwhelmed or defeated by life. Volunteers encourage their mentees to set smaller, specific, and achievable goals within a set time frame with a view to working towards larger objectives. This helps to break things into manageable chunks and to recognise achievement on the way to reaching the bigger targets of what their client wants from their life. Ultimately the goal of Aurora Project Lambeth is that today’s client will go on to become tomorrow’s volunteer peer mentor and as such can continue to receive support from the project. Ongoing support is provided to volunteers as they continue their mentoring journey. As well as the initial training, ongoing additional training is provided in areas such as drug awareness and overdose training. Volunteers also attend group supervision sessions with psychologists who specialise in this area to ensure that their own emotional wellbeing is not suffering. Volunteers also meet regularly with Jenni, the Services Delivery Manager at Aurora, who is always available to support and advise. Volunteering provides the opportunity for learning and personal enrichment and means that volunteers have work experience and a reference when they are applying to other voluntary or paid roles. In addition, Aurora Project can support volunteers in gaining a Diploma in Health and Social Care. One of the fundamental principles of Aurora Project Lambeth is that people in recovery have a lot to offer to their communities. This is something that founder Paul Lennon is really passionate about demonstrating and it is essential to the spirit of the project. Here founders and volunteers are all proving the validity of this mission statement daily. By engaging in volunteering activities and using their own personal experiences to help others in a similar predicament, volunteers at Aurora Project Lambeth are successfully deconstructing the stereotype that substance and alcohol users are a constant burden on society.
