Peer Mentor Steven is nominated for Butler Trust Awards!

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16/05/2012

The Butler Trust Annual Awards recognise outstanding dedication, skill and creativity by people working in prisons, probation or youth justice settings across the UK.

Awards and Commendations are given for work with offenders or staff over a sustained period (usually at least 12 months) which has had a positive impact in any of the following areas:

management and care of offenders;
health and well-being of staff;
crime reduction and other public benefits

Steven’s role at DISC was initially as a service user rep, acting on behalf of Leeds service users at a variety of meetings, events and forums. Steven also gave presentations to the board of trustees, Senior Management Team and multi agency meetings. Steven set up a weekly drop in for service users to enable them to have an opportunity to develop and discuss the service. Steven then progressed to become a peer mentor within the Leeds Community Drugs Partnership where he now runs a successful weekly art group for substance users in recovery, a high number of whom have come from prison. Steven devised a 6 weekly rolling lesson plan and was supported in applying for funding for 6 months, which he was obviously successful in gaining. The group has been nominated and short listed for an award and receives regular positive feedback from the attendees as to how it benefits them in their recovery. Steven and the art group were recently featured in the DDN.

Steven has given endless hours of his time to DISC and its service users. Steven runs the art group every week and despite it being advertised to run until 1pm Steven often stays beyond this and extends the group when attendees ask. Steven also runs information sessions to service users, he promotes services to people and has peoples recovery at the for front of his mind in everything he does.

Steven has two prisoners from HMP Everthorpe in his group at the moment along with other ex offenders / ex substance users. People who attend Stevens group find him an inspiring individual and look up to Steven and what he has achieved and then follow this up by continuing to attend his group and more often than not achieve a goal of their own, for example signing up to become a peer mentor to inspire others as Steven has inspired them.

“It has given me a positive focus and constructive way to spend my time with other people who have been through the same as I have”. Steven engages individuals in non drug / crime related activities which in turn promotes their recovery towards reducing re offending and substance use "For those few hours I never once through about drugs, normally that's all i think about".

Steven commits endless hours of his time to DISC and has recently been successful in gaining a place on a Fine Art degree, despite this Steven has stated he will still continue to run the art group for DISC around his degree. Steven often speaks in staff forums as a live case study to an individuals recovery and the reality of recovery. Steven has been a huge asset to DISC and our work and we hope to see him continue to inspire and support others in their recovery journey.

For further information about our Awards, please visit our website www.thebutlertrust.org.uk or contact the Butler Trust office - t: 020 8688 6062, e: info@thebutlertrust.org.uk.

Volunteering peer mentors butler trust

Butler Trust Awards