This Year PROPS North East celebrates 25 years of carer support across Newcastle and North Tyneside.
A celebration was held on 18th November at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle. Den Wilkins, PROPS’ Chair of Trustees, started with the business end of the day, the PROPS North East and Positive Practice Partnership AGM.
Den then opened the Celebration with a brief history of the service
Where we Started.
PROPS North East, previously known as Newcastle PROPS, was founded in 1997 by a group of local women from the Scotswood area of Newcastle who were primarily supporting their adult children who were using heroin. Initially forming a peer support group that met around the kitchen table in one of the women’s homes.
That woman was our founder Val Clark. Val sadly is no longer with us, but she has left a legacy that has lasted 25 years and is still going strong.
Milestones Along the Way
In 2001, the project became a charity and established a city-wide service and in 2003 PROPS was awarded a Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award for Service to Local Communities. This was followed in 2005 with a Local Heroes Award from the Home Office, in recognition of the work of Val Clark.
In 2007 we began to deliver services in North Tyneside and have retained our commissioned contract to the present day.
In December 2009 we received the Home Office ‘Tackling Drugs’ ‘Drug Team of the Year’ finalist award, and from this we have become known nationally as an exemplar of ‘best practice.’
Positive Practice Partnership, PROPS’ trading arm, was created in 2010. Positive Practice Partnership delivers training nationally to professionals supporting carers and families struggling to manage substance use within their families.
In 2011 PROPS adopted the CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) model. This is a psychosocial intervention with its roots in behavioural and developed and researched by Dr. Robert J. Meyers. Dr Meyers has been in the field of addiction for over 40 years, the majority of these at the University of New Mexico. He is currently the Director of Robert J. Meyers, Ph.D. & Associates and a Research Associate Professor Emeritus in Psychology at the University of New Mexico’s Centre on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Addiction.
In April 2012 Newcastle PROPS became an Incorporated Company with its new charity name and number, which is of course PROPS NORTH EAST.
Dr Robert J Meyers agreed to be Patron of PROPS North East in 2014 endorsing Positive Practice Partnership as the only organisation to deliver all of the Community Reinforcement Approach Interventions throughout the UK.
Personal Stories
One past Young Carer and an Adult Carer bravely told stories of their personal journey with PROPS North East through difficult period of their lives; balancing looking after themselves and other family members while supporting the substance user to make positive changes to their behaviours.
Thank You
Thanks were given to all of the staff members and volunteers who have worked for the charity over the previous 25 years.
Also, the people who have the faith in PROPS and demonstrate this by funding the service and its projects were acknowledged.
This ranges from personal donations from carers, funding and grants. Newcastle City Council which has commissioned our service for over 20 years and North Tyneside Council which has commissioned our service since 2007, Community Foundation who have awarded core funding for projects as well as grants to support the team and our carers. Pavers, who chose to recognise PROPS as a local charity to grant respite money to and Chris and Sue Jobe from the Star Fund.
Also, Arnold Clark and Lloyds foundation and many others. On the day PROPS North East received a donation from Eastern Star Ladies. Without this financial backing PROPS wouldn’t be celebrating 25 years of carer support.
Thank you to all of the carers and families we’ve worked with over the years. You are truly respected for your commitment and care in supporting your family members through what is undoubtedly one of life’s difficult journeys – addiction.
We can’t forget Simon and Steve, The Cell Mates, who provided live music throughout the event.
And…. to everybody who has helped PROPS North East serve the carers and families across Newcastle and North Tyneside since 1997, THANK YOU
