The Lighthouse, part of Horizon, have been busy improving their awareness activities to spread the word about the substance misuse services available across Blackpool.
The team have created a portable stall to attend local events and community spaces that’s interactive, interesting and memorable. Their aim is to make more people seek support from The Lighthouse and Horizon through fun activities.
Recovery Practitioner, Duncan Swan, said: “A year ago, we were just handing out leaflets and showed people an old liver in a jar – it wasn’t engaging enough to get our message out there”.
Instead of just ‘leaflets and raffles’, the team now offer an experience for people to remember. This includes their on-point ‘Drunk Darts’ competition, which uses beer googles to impair vision and simulate drunkenness, before competitors take their aim at the board to bag the best prizes.
How it’s going so far
Alcohol Awareness Week, which took place in early July, saw Duncan and the team heading out to venues across Blackpool with their newly improved awareness activities.
Their visits included GP surgeries, Grange Park Community Centre, The Harbour and Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
Duncan said: “We’re proud of what we do and the results we’re getting. Raising this awareness means more people will come to The Lighthouse.
“It’s all about education and it’s always a great feeling when we see people realise their past is now behind them. Alcohol Awareness Week was just the start. Now we’ve got the stall, we’re ready to go – we can be proactive and offer our advice when it’s needed”.
The team are already booked to attend other events, including a Department of Working Pensions conference taking place next month.
As well as overhauling their activities, Duncan and the team have also helped make things more digital by creating content for TV screens. This helps the team present more information about the services they provide in a more accessible and engaging way.
Going forward, Duncan and the team want to keep adding more fun elements to their offering to ensure their stall is always the most memorable at every event.
Their good works hasn’t gone unnoticed either. Event organisers from Blackpool’s ‘Spring into Spring’ wellbeing event earlier this year, proudly named The Lighthouse stall the best of the event.
The Lighthouse is located on Dickson Road, providing a wide range of alcohol recovery services. They also provide a range of other services, including bloodborne virus testing, and partner advice sessions (including Shelter offering housing information and guidance).
They are part of Horizon, which is Blackpool’s substance misuse service who provide support for all Blackpool residents on alcohol, drugs and sexual health.
Duncan concluded: “Once people are through the doors, the scariest bit is over. We’ll always provide a warm welcome and give people the help they need, when they need it.”
To learn more about recovery services provide by The Lighthouse and Horizon, please visit horizonblackpool.uk
