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| Change Grow Live | |
|---|---|
| Name | Change Grow Live |
| Formation | 2003 |
| Type | Charity |
| Purpose | Substance misuse treatment, criminal justice, homelessness support |
| Headquarters | Bristol, England |
| Region served | England, Wales |
| Leader title | Chief Executive |
| Staff | ~2,400 |
Change Grow Live
Change Grow Live is an English and Welsh voluntary sector organisation providing substance misuse treatment, criminal justice services, homeless support and recovery services. Founded in the early 2000s, it operates across urban and rural areas and works with statutory bodies, third sector organisations and local communities. The charity delivers clinical and non-clinical interventions aligned with public health, social care and criminal justice objectives.
The organisation traces roots to merger activity and service reconfigurations in the early 21st century that involved local charities, NHS services, and civic actors in Bristol, Gloucester, Cardiff and other locations. Its expansion intersected with commissioning reforms under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and with shifts in policy from the Department of Health and Social Care, Public Health England, and devolved administrations in Wales. Growth included consolidation of specialist services formerly run by independent providers, collaborations with probation services following changes from the Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014, and responses to national strategies such as the Drug Strategy 2017 and subsequent frameworks.
Services encompass harm reduction, opioid substitution treatment, needle exchange, psychosocial interventions, residential rehabilitation, supported housing, and aftercare. Program delivery often involves partnerships with clinical teams from the NHS, referral pathways with the National Probation Service and coordination with local authorities such as Bristol City Council and Cardiff Council. Outreach programs engage with populations affected by homelessness linked to initiatives like Rough Sleeping Initiative schemes and collaborations with organisations such as Shelter and Crisis. Workforce roles include nurses, recovery coaches, psychologists and peer mentors trained to work with comorbidities including mental health conditions linked to services provided by NHS trusts like University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust.
The charity is governed by a board of trustees and executive leadership accountable to regulators including Charity Commission for England and Wales and health commissioners within NHS England and local health boards in Wales. Governance structures reflect sector standards promoted by umbrella bodies such as Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountability (note: for sector practices) and reporting expectations under statutory frameworks like the Care Act 2014 where relevant. The senior team liaises with criminal justice leaders at bodies such as the Ministry of Justice and regional directors in the National Health Service.
Funding streams combine contracts from local authorities, clinical commissioning groups previously administered by bodies such as NHS England, grant funding from trusts and foundations like National Lottery Community Fund, and commissioning frameworks tied to initiatives by the Home Office and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Strategic partnerships include joint working with national charities such as Turning Point, St Mungo's, Centrepoint, and academic collaborations with universities including University of Bristol and Cardiff University for evaluation and research.
Evaluation of services has used mixed-methods research, routine outcome measures and service-user feedback mechanisms. Outcomes reported to commissioners include reductions in drug-related harms, improved housing status, and decreased offending, assessed alongside public health indicators tracked by Public Health England and local public health teams in councils such as Birmingham City Council and Liverpool City Council. Research collaborations with academic centres have produced service evaluations consistent with evidence syntheses from organisations like the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the Centre for Mental Health.
The organisation has faced scrutiny during commissioning transitions and contract retenders where providers such as Turning Point and local independent suppliers have competed for services. Criticism has arisen from service users and advocacy groups including Release and local campaigners over changes to access, continuity of care and the commissioning processes overseen by bodies like Clinical Commissioning Groups. Debates have referenced wider sector controversies involving austerity measures linked to policy decisions by the UK Government and accountability discussions involving regulators such as the Care Quality Commission.
Notable initiatives have included city-level campaigns to reduce overdose deaths through naloxone distribution aligned with programmes promoted by NHS England and public health campaigns supported by Public Health Wales; partnerships with criminal justice diversion initiatives promoted by the Ministry of Justice; and local homelessness projects coordinated with organisations like Shelter and St Mungo's. The charity has participated in national dialogues on substance use policy that involve stakeholders such as Home Office ministers, academics at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and advocacy groups including Addaction.
Category:Charities based in England Category:Drug and alcohol organisations in the United Kingdom