This Pathways of Chesterfield blog explores the importance of partnership working in recovery support, highlighting how collaboration with local organisations, specialist services and community groups helps create more opportunities, improve access to support and empower people on their recovery journey.
Recovery is about more than overcoming substance use challenges—it is about building healthier lives, stronger communities and brighter futures. At Pathways, we believe that working closely with partner organisations helps us provide the best possible support for the people we work alongside. Whether that’s as referral partners, joint working or offering easier access to services for our clients.
Recently we have been utilising the Recovery Hub in all of these ways. Our team has been attending more networking events and building relationships with agencies across a range of support including stop smoking services, other recovery projects, domestic abuse partners and the Community Connectors in our area.
By offering access to the services such as the stop smoking team, at our recovery café, we have been able to support group members to consider their health and explore the benefits of switching to vaping or joining a stop-smoking programme.
David Lilley and Elastic FM have been helping our music group produce a radio show. While radio production is not a specialist skill within our team, partnering with Elastic FM has enabled participants to learn new skills, share their experiences and grow in confidence. It has been inspiring to see people develop their voices and tell their stories through the medium of radio.
We’ve got more partners coming to deliver services in future groups as well as coming to meet the people we work with and show them what other services are available to them. We’re looking at getting a budgeting specialist to do a few workshops at our well-being group, upskilling people and empowering them to take control of their finances, something the participants have requested.
Working with specialists from partner agencies will help us to offer the refugee group we’re developing.
Our aim is to create a welcoming “one-stop-shop” where people can access a wide range of support in one place. By continuing to build strong partnerships across the community, we can offer more opportunities, remove barriers to support and help people achieve their personal recovery goals.
Pathways to Recovery supports people at every stage of their recovery journey, including those experiencing homelessness or facing barriers to change. Through a range of groups, activities and peer support opportunities, the project helps individuals build confidence, develop new skills and take positive steps towards recovery and a healthier future.