Following a competitive tender process, Wokingham Borough Council is pleased to announce that Cranstoun has been awarded the substance misuse service contract to borough residents. The contract is for five years and has been running since 1 April 2021.
Cranstoun will deliver the drug and alcohol recovery service for adults, including their families and carers, in the borough. The adults service will remain located in Station Road and will be known as Cranstoun Wokingham. The children’s service will be known as Here4YOUth and will work with young people up to the age of 18. There will be a presence in education settings, youth offending, children’s centres, and a number of other partners where they will co-locate.
For over fifty years, Cranstoun have provided a wide range of services across England, including community-based substance misuse services, supported housing, domestic abuse services and specialist services for young people, families, and carers. Cranstoun will bring a wealth of specialist knowledge and experience to the substance misuse contract, delivering high quality, effective help to those in need.
Executive member for adult social care and public health, Cllr Charles Margetts said: “On behalf of Wokingham Borough Council, I would like to welcome Cranstoun as the new substance misuse service provider. Substance abuse is a priority area for the council and in recognition of this and increasing demands on services, funding has been significantly increased. We work with our partners to protect and safeguard our children, young and vulnerable people, offering quality care and support at the right time.”
Service manager at Cranstoun, Vikki Lake said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the contract to deliver the substance misuse in Wokingham Borough. We offer free, non-judgemental advice and information, specialist treatment, and recovery support to adults and young people across the borough. Our mission is to empower and support people to make positive changes and we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to live healthy, safe and happy lives.”
Cranstoun's services
Cranstoun will provide a range of free services and confidential advice to help and support adults who would like to change their alcohol and/or drug use. The services include assessments, information and advice, one-to-one sessions, structured group talks, prescribing services and drug testing, detox and rehabilitation support, harm reduction, access to mutual aid e.g. AA and NA, community outreach, health and wellbeing checks, alongside a companion app ‘Breaking Free Online’.
Promotional campaigns throughout Wokingham Borough
With the ending of restrictions, Cranstoun is embarking on a series of promotional campaigns, ‘how much is too much’, around Wokingham Borough, focusing on alcohol consumption post-lockdown. In June, a banner was displayed in Broad Street, Wokingham for two weeks and will be present again in August for two weeks in Denmark Street, Wokingham, with posters displayed at local and neighbouring train stations, GP surgeries, some hairdressers and leisure centres.
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