Open Road Vange

01/06/2026

💙We’re proud to work in partnership with Ess*x S*xual Health Service and their incredible initiative, The Umbrella Project, which provides discreet and confidential care packages for people involved in s*x work.

Last week, they dropped off their latest batch of care packages, helping to ensure individuals can access essential health, safety, and wellbeing support without judgement or barriers. We’re grateful for the compassion, professionalism, and dignity that this project brings to our community.

S*x workers often face significant stigma, discrimination, and social isolation, which can prevent people from accessing healthcare, reporting violence, or reaching out for support when they need it most. Stigma does not protect people — it increases harm.

Everyone deserves access to healthcare, safety, respect, and confidential support, regardless of their circumstances or background. Projects like The Umbrella Project are so important because they meet people where they are, offering practical support alongside human kindness and dignity.

Reducing stigma starts with conversations, education, and treating people as people first. Support services work best when individuals feel safe enough to access them without fear of shame or judgement.

A huge thank you again to *x S*xual Health Service and The Umbrella Project for the amazing work they continue to do in supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

01/06/2026

💙✨ Volunteers Week Spotlight – Carey ✨💙

As part of our Volunteers Week celebrations, today we want to shine a light on our incredible volunteer counsellor Carey 👏

Carey brings a huge amount of lived experience to his role and is currently celebrating 7 years in recovery — using his journey, compassion and understanding to support others who may be facing similar struggles.

Having volunteered with us for an amazing 4 and a half years, Carey is currently our longest serving volunteer, and the impact he has had on both clients and staff over that time has been incredible.

Carey supports a number of clients each week through counselling, providing a safe, honest and supportive space for people to open up and begin working through difficult experiences. His empathy, honesty and integrity are qualities he openly describes as core values within his life and recovery — and anyone who meets Carey can immediately see those values in action.

Outside of client sessions, Carey is always present within the team room offering encouragement, emotional support and positivity to both staff and volunteers alike. He is someone people naturally gravitate towards because of his calm, genuine and caring nature.

Carey, thank you for everything you bring to the service, the recovery community and the people around you. You are a wonderful human being and we are incredibly grateful to have you as part of the Open Road family 💙👏

Please feel free to leave some positive comments for Carey below and help us celebrate everything he contributes 👇💙

01/06/2026

💙Friendly Volunteer Faces on our front desk to get kick off Volunteers Week.

01/06/2026

Volunteers Week is here 🌟

This week, we’re proud to celebrate Volunteers’ Week—a time to recognise the dedication and compassion of those who give their time to support others.

At Open Road Vange, our volunteers are at the heart of what we do. They help keep our services running, support individuals affected by substance misuse, and bring kindness, understanding, and hope into our centre every day.

Across the week, we’ll be sharing daily stories and shout-outs to highlight the incredible contributions our volunteers make.

Join us in celebrating the people who make a real difference. 💙

29/05/2026

💙 Today in Relapse Prevention we took part in a reflective group where we saw accountability, honesty and self awareness around understanding and managing our emotions.

💚 Recovery is not just about stopping a behaviour or substance — it’s also about learning to understand ourselves more honestly. One of the biggest parts of that process is learning to recognise and manage our emotions.

Many relapses do not begin with the substance or behaviour itself. They begin much earlier, with emotional discomfort that goes unnoticed, avoided, or misunderstood. Stress, anger, shame, loneliness, frustration, boredom, anxiety, and even excitement can build up quietly over time. When we lack emotional awareness, we can end up reacting automatically instead of responding consciously.

For many people in recovery, substances or unhealthy behaviours became a way to escape, numb, control, or avoid emotions that felt overwhelming. If we do not develop healthier ways to recognise and regulate those emotions, the risk of relapse becomes much higher. The relapse often starts emotionally before it starts physically.

Self-awareness is important because it helps us notice the warning signs early. It allows us to ask questions like: What am I feeling right now? What triggered this feeling? What do I actually need? Am I tired, stressed, isolated, resentful, or overwhelmed? When we slow down enough to understand what is happening internally, we create space to make healthier choices.

Emotional regulation does not mean never feeling difficult emotions. It means learning how to sit with emotions without being controlled by them. It means learning that feelings pass, urges pass, and discomfort can be managed safely without returning to old coping strategies.

Recovery grows stronger when we build emotional honesty, self-awareness, and healthy coping skills. The more we understand our emotions, the less power they have over our decisions. And the more connected we become to ourselves, the more protected we are against relapse.

29/05/2026

Volunteers’ Week is just around the corner! 💙

From June 1st–7th, Open Road Visions will be celebrating the incredible people who give their time, energy, and compassion to support our work.

Our volunteers play a vital role in helping our centre run smoothly—whether it’s supporting day-to-day activities, offering a listening ear, or helping create a safe and welcoming space for those on their recovery journey.

Throughout the week, we’ll be sharing daily posts to recognise and thank these amazing individuals who make such a difference in the lives of others.
To all our volunteers: we see you, we appreciate you, and we couldn’t do what we do without you. 💙

Stay tuned as we shine a spotlight on the people behind our work!

🗣️ Know one of our volunteers? Leave them a message of thanks below 👇

28/05/2026

💚Garden Progress

🍓🎃☂️ Massive shout out to 3 of our supporters Marilyn, Trevor and Tony for the donation of Strawberry Plants, Pumpkin Plants and a new Umbrella for our main garden.

🙏 Also a massive thank you to our superstar volunteer Julian for his continued dedication and hard work that he puts into this project everyday. We appreciate you so much 💙

27/05/2026

📌 Please see newly revised group schedule with recent changes to Resilience Group and Creative Arts.

Please speak to your recovery worker for guidance on what group best suits where you're at on your journey.

27/05/2026

⚠️ 3 confirmed overdoses in Centre of Ipswich evening of 21/05/22026. Naloxone administered.

Testing of substances at scene are being fast tracked by Suffolk Police.
Suspected contaminated He**in, with potential contamination of co***ne.

The safest option is not to take drugs that are not prescribed for you. However, if you choose to use substances, please follow these harm reduction tips:

✅Go Low and Slow - Start with a very small amount (e.g., a quarter hit) of any new supply. Be cautious about the source and substance.

✅Do Not Use Alone Always have someone with you who is equipped with Naloxone. When using with others let one person test a small dose first.

✅Avoid Mixing Drugs Combining substances, including alcohol, greatly increases overdose risk.

✅Look After Your Friends Watch for overdose signs: • Loss of consciousness • Shallow or absent breathing • ‘Snoring’ or loud rasping sounds • Blue lips or fingertips.

✅Be Ready to Act Call an ambulance immediately if someone overdoses. Administer Naloxone if available—multiple doses may be needed for op**te overdoses. Ensure you have enough Naloxone on hand.

26/05/2026

A reminder that the Resilience Group / Creative Arts Workshop day and time swap starts this week.

📢 Importance Notice

From W/C 25/05/2026 Resilience Group and Creative Arts group will be swapping days. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have called.