Parish moves to bring addiction support closer to residents
Stirchley and Brookside Parish Council has agreed to investigate setting up a local recovery fellowship aimed at people struggling with alcohol and drug misuse, after councillors raised concerns that the nearest support services are several miles away.
The decision, taken at a meeting on Tuesday at the Sambrook Centre in Telford, was unanimous and authorises the parish clerk to carry out further research into how a fellowship might be established and run in the area.
Councillors said the move responds to pressures created by the cost-of-living crisis and high levels of deprivation in parts of the parish, which they believe have contributed to more residents turning to substances.
"We are in an area that has high levels of deprivation. The cost of living crisis has forced more people into a level of poverty," said Councillor Tammy Wood, who chairs the council.
Councillor Wood told the meeting that people who decide they want to change often have nowhere nearby to turn. She argued that even services based in the town centre can be too far for some residents.
Another councillor, James Anderson, who has also offered his services as a counsellor, said he sees the related problems daily and wants to build a support network to prevent people failing alone.
- Both Councillor Tammy Wood and Councillor James Anderson have volunteered to act as counsellors for any new service.
- Councillors cited links between substance misuse and crime in the parish as part of the rationale for local provision.
- The parish clerk has been authorised to research options for establishing a recovery fellowship based in Stirchley and Brookside.
Practical steps and local context
At present, councillors say the nearest support is approximately three miles away, a distance they believe discourages some residents from accessing help. The proposed fellowship would be centred on a community hub in Stirchley, where councillors say there is space and local engagement to make an impact.
Speakers at the meeting framed the proposal as both a public-health and community cohesion measure: providing early-stage counselling and peer support to reduce harm, while also aiming to tackle associated anti-social behaviour tied to substance misuse.
No firm plans or funding proposals were tabled at the meeting; instead councillors instructed the clerk to examine practicalities, including potential locations, governance, safeguarding and how any service would connect with existing statutory and voluntary providers.
| Councillor | Ward | Role offered |
|---|---|---|
| Tammy Wood | Stirchley | Volunteer counsellor / Chair of council |
| James Anderson | Stirchley | Volunteer counsellor |
Councillors stressed the importance of non-judgemental local support. "Who are we to judge why people turn to alcohol when that is perhaps all they have," Councillor Wood said, emphasising compassion and the need for accessible interventions.
Supporters of the idea told the meeting they want to develop a community-led model that can offer regular, easily accessible sessions, peer groups and signposting to clinical treatment where necessary. There was also discussion of links with crime prevention, with councillors noting a recognized connection between substance misuse and local offences.
The parish clerk now faces the task of drawing up an options paper. That will likely include exploring partnerships with existing charities, funding streams, volunteer training and the safeguarding measures required for anyone offering counselling in a community setting.
If the research proves favourable, the council will be in a position to recommend next steps at a future meeting, which could include seeking grants, identifying premises and developing a staffing or volunteer plan. For residents of Stirchley and Brookside, the initiative represents a grassroots attempt to deliver nearer and more immediate help to those seeking to recover from addiction.
