Our projects
SUIT – Service User Involvement Team
SUIT is Wolverhampton’s drug and alcohol service user involvement team and has supported vulnerable adults in the city for over 15 years. The peer-led advocacy service that has been developed has won multiple awards and was recognised as a European model of good practice by the Street Support Project (EU) in January 2019 and by the BeTrAD EU (Better Treatment for Ageing Drug Users) in 2018.
SUIT received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2014 for “training recovering addicts and empowering those that are suffering from addiction to move forward with their lives, contributing positively to themselves and society as a whole”.
SUIT assists service users with the following:
- Accessing clinical support services/ SMART group services.
- Benefits support and advice on entitlements. PIP/UC/ESA/JSA.
- Advocacy, championing the rights of vulnerable adults within the local community.
- Form filing – PIP/UC50/ESA/Housing/Job applications.
- Housing support and homeless issues.
- Access to IT facilities – UC journal/internet.
- Telephone Support.
- 3rd party referrals to organisations such as RMC and Changing lives.
- Debt advice and setting up payment plans.
- Job searches and CV writing support.
- Education/Training advice.
- Buddy support, mentoring, one-to-one and group work.
- Signposting to other relevant partner organisations within the local community.
- Outreach support – home visits if necessary.
Contact SUIT for further info
The service is based at the Wolverhampton Voluntary & Community Action.
Face-to-face and telephone appointments are available along with limited drop-in spaces on a daily basis.
Tel: 01902 328 983
Mobile: 07458 300 113
Email: suit@wvca.org.uk
Follow SUIT on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.
Website: suitrecoverywolverhampton.com
What we do…
Referrals
To request a referral form or for more information, simply email us at suit@wvca.org.uk.
Advice and guidance
We offer advice, guidance and support to
both service users and associated vulnerable adults within Wolverhampton. We cover areas such as: substance misuse, education training and employment, treatment options, career pathways, recovery motivation, peer support, signposting etc.
Education, training and employment
We source and signpost relevant ETE
opportunities that are tailored to the needs
of each individual to support their recovery
programme. Each individual’s recovery is
autonomous and we will work closely with each service user to ensure their goals and ambitions are met. We collaborate with Recovery Near You, Dudley College, TOPPS training, St Giles Trust, Job Change, local job centres, BBO Bridges programme, Talent match and Wolverhampton social prescribing, Welfare rights service, City of Wolverhampton Council.
Strategic involvement
Strategic involvement is key in ensuring that service user’s views are not just heard, but acted upon. We therefore train, encourage and support service users to attend local, regional and national strategic meetings so that their voices can make a difference to themselves and others around them. This is a key driver within our organisation.
Recreational activities
We offer a limited range of physical and
recreational activities that aim to support and improve mental and physical well-being, as well as improving social networks. We collaborate with community partner organisations such as the Wolves Foundation Head 4 Health programme, Shaw Trust and Wolverhampton University to ensure that these activities remain available to our services users. We are always looking to expand our range of
activities within the local community.
Volunteering
SUIT offer specific volunteering opportunities for those that can demonstrate stability within their life and recovery. In addition, we offer opportunities for anyone directly affected by addiction whether this is a family member, carer or friend. SUIT volunteers are supported with a relapse prevention plan, regular supervision, relevant training to obtain qualifications to achieve their personal goals and long term rehabilitation.
Following an induction at the SUIT office,
training will be provided both internally and externally. Opportunities include facilitating groups, providing one to one support, and offering information and guidance. In addition, volunteers may be able to support the delivery of services at New Cross Hospital, Recovery Near You (RNY) at the Recovery Hub and Clinical treatment services at Pitt Street alongside other outreach opportunities and the community.
All potential volunteers ideally need to be 6
months substance-free, but will be assessed
on application.
Please speak to our volunteer
co-ordinator for more information.
The Service User Involvement Team (SUIT)
is a project that sits within Wolverhampton
Voluntary & Community Action (WVCA).
All paid staff and volunteers who work at SUIT have personal and first-hand lived experience of drug and/or alcohol abuse.
SUIT supports Recovery Near You in the delivery of group recovery sessions, training sessions and community events.
Contact SUIT for more info
Tel: 01902 328 983 / 07458 300 113
Email: suit@wvca.org.uk
Website: suitrecoverywolverhampton.com