A pioneering art project aimed at diverting people away from substance use and into support services is on display in Kirkby Town Centre.
The project, led by Merseyside Police and Change Grow Live (CGL) Knowsley, showcases the creative talents of people engaged with drug and alcohol treatment services to provide an outlet to support their recovery journey.
Since it was first launched in Wirral last year more than 100 people taking part in the project to date.
The exhibition is now on display in the unit opposite B&M in St. Chad’s Parade in Kirkby Town Centre.
To deliver the exhibition Merseyside Police has worked with CGL, the drug and alcohol treatment and recovery service within Knowsley and some of the people who use this service.
The results are inspirational art pieces encompassing the recovery journey and how it feels to experience addiction and the associated stigma.
The art initiative is part of project ADDER (Addiction, Diversion, Disruption, Enforcement and Recovery) – which sees Merseyside Police receive government funding to support projects across the region, including Knowsley.
Participants are provided with all the equipment needed to produce a piece of artwork and are given a range of options including pencils, pastels, oil paint, acrylic paint, felt pens or anything else they want to create their artwork.
Workshops take place with local artists, who pass on their skills to participants. Police officers regularly attend the workshops with substance misuse workers to maintain consistent engagement and support the artists to address their addictions while exploring their creativity. The artwork ranges from drawings to paintings, sculptures, poems, and photography.
Inspector Alan McKeon, Prevention Hub, said: “Referring users into treatment services helps to break the business model that drives the illegal drugs trade and therefore helps protect vulnerable people.
“In 20 years of operational policing, this has been the most rewarding piece of work I have been involved in. It has demonstrated the importance of preventative work to reduce harm in our communities. A visitors’ book left in the gallery has received over 200 comments, many from visitors who were suffering with addiction and have now been inspired by We’ve Got HeART to seek help.
“This project has enabled hard to reach offenders to address their substance use which was the root cause of their offending and often problematic behaviours. It truly shows the value of prevention and addressing the root causes of problems, not the symptoms of it. In addition, We’ve got HeART has also identified some very talented artists who would otherwise have been overlooked.”
The local policing team has maintained contact with the artists, many of whom have transformed their lives having engaged with drugs, alcohol, and mental health support services.
One such artist is Amanda Murphy from Knowsley, who recently appeared alongside Insp McKeon on BBC Crimewatch Live to discuss the project.
Amanda said: “I was working with Change, Grow, Live as I was using alcohol as my crutch which led to my mental health getting worse and worse.
“Taking part in this project has helped me gain some clarity in my mind and become more focused on my recovery. It has meant fewer distractions for me and allowed me to make the best of my recovery with Change, Grow, Live and not fall into criminality as so many people in my position can do.”
Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “It’s brilliant to see this innovative project going from strength to strength.
“While enforcement is crucial in the fight against drugs in our communities, if we can reach users and help them to break the cycle of addiction, the knock-on effect can be far greater. We can prevent crime from happening in the first place and help vulnerable people to have a much better quality of life, while also taking away the market for the criminal gangs who peddle these substances.
“By building a close relationship with local hostels and taking a problem-solving approach, Diane and Alan have identified a unique way to reach people who would never normally engage with the police. This is helping those individuals to get the support they need to tackle their substance misuse and the issues which has led to offending.
“By doing so, they are genuinely changing lives for the better, while also making our communities healthier and safer. That’s an amazing achievement and I’d like to thank and applaud them for the difference they are making.”
The ‘We’ve got HeART’ project featured on BBC Crimewatch Live on Wednesday 9 October.
Find out more about the recovery support available from CGL Knowsley here.