2024-03-31-annual-report

Ballymena Substance User Support Group (Working Name PA. U.SE.) Chairpersons Annual Report For The Year 202312024 on behalf of the Trustees I am pleased to say that this year lias been another both busy and positive for the PAUSE group. In the aftennath of the pandemic we have seen our attendances start to increase significantly, and extend a warn] welcome all new members of the group. Of COUTse the down side of this increase of activity may be reflective in some way of the increase of addiction problems throughout the community. It does for us however mean that more and more people are engaging in t￿ent and support. That can only be a good thing. The group tends to be demograph1c￿lY older and so life's age related health issues continue to be ddt with. As always we place a great deal of emphasis on treating the whole person. not just the addiction. We spend a lot of time looking at health related issues with particular attention to the mental health aspect of addiction. We ty to promote and create a different mindset about quality of life and personal happiness. Our volunteers have as always, been enthusiastic, energetic and generous with their time and patience. I thank them onex more for all their hard work. It seems as the pandemic rec¢d¢s and statutory services resources are stretcheiL as mentioned before, the demand we are experiencing has increased quite Si￿lfiCant1y. Referrals to our group have increased shatply and we see each week the effects perhaps that the last few years have had on the whole issue of addiction. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the National Lottery Community FuniL for their continued support of our projects. Without their support we would find it extremely difficult to continue the work we do within the community and indeed at the level we provide. I would also like to thank the North Area Community Network who also provides fantastic suppor¢ both through Inforn￿tiOn and signposting to various community issues and events that are relevant to our program of supwrt. I would like to also extend the gratitud¢ of all our group members who have regained their health and their place back in the community family as a r¢sult of this support. As long as we treat each other with patience, respect and understanding and we continue to see each other as people with huge potential and tslent which deserves to be appreciated, I think we can look forward to another y&gr of growth and learning under these difficult times. Thank you all, John Keenan (Chair PAUSE - Ballymena Substance User's Support Group) on behalf of the Trustees)