A SERVICE which supports young people with drug and alcohol addiction in the town will now be run by Barnsley Recovery Steps.
The Barnsley Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service will provide easy-to-access advice, information and support for anyone under 18 or family members supporting a young person who is experiencing issues around drug or alcohol use across the borough.
The service will continue to be free and confidential - and the council has confirmed they will continue to work with a wide range of established organisations to ensure the transition is smooth.
It’s hoped the service will help youngsters across the borough who have issues with drugs and alcohol.
Between 2019 and 2021, the latest figures available, a total of 119 deaths in Barnsley were linked to alcohol - and 95 were caused by drugs.
The service aims to ensure locals do not get to that stage.
Anna Hartley, executive director for public health and communities, said: “Through Barnsley Recovery Steps, Humankind has been providing substance misuse support service to adults in Barnsley for some time now.
“Their proven track record and experience in the area will help us expand on the existing service, creating an all-age offer and a single point of contact for those who need support.”
Carly Speechley, executive director for children’s services, added: “We are happy to announce the expansion of our partnership with Humankind to deliver crucial support services to children and young people in Barnsley, making support friendly, unjudgmental and accessible.
“Every young person will have a care plan which they will design alongside their worker to ensure that it addresses their strengths and needs.
“We remain committed to providing services that meet the needs of local people and work with our partners to deliver it to local communities.”
Sam Higgins, Humankind’s operations director for South Yorkshire, said the service will help youngsters when they need it most.
She added: “Having one integrated drug and alcohol service for all ages across Barnsley is a huge asset for the area.
“Bridging the young people’s service into Barnsley Recovery Steps allows us to further embed ourselves in local communities and provide a bespoke drug and alcohol service to people of all ages when and where they most need it.
“For young people who transition to the adult service, there will be benefits in terms of continuity of care and consistency of high-quality support.
“The Barnsley Children and Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service will focus on ensuring ease of access for children, young people and their families, by engaging with a range of stakeholders such as educational settings.”
