What is SOVA?

Our Project

SOVA and the Essex Drug and Alcohol Partnership project was established in early 2005. The project is managed by Alison Battersby. The aim of the project is to recruit, train and manage a team of volunteers to be available to work with substance misusing clients and / or their families as part of the Essex Drug Interventions Programme. Volunteers are not expected to undertake or replace the work of the staff. Equally they are not expected to perform tasks for which professional training is required. e.g. counselling. However, they can take part in a wide range of tasks that compliment and enhance the work of staff, such as collecting the client on his / her release from prison, helping them find work, meeting with them for a chat, going along to activities directed by the staff (gym, college courses), taking them to appointments, assistance of the delivery of the fast track prescribing program and any tasks and activities that staff may identify. SOVA is also working alongside the Triangle Tenancy Scheme provided by Nacro. It is the aim to provide every client who is housed under this scheme with a SOVA volunteer mentor to visit the client weekly, help set up home. SOVA is also working in HMP Chelmsford, mentoring the DIP clients, at the direction of Essex DIP staff based at the prison. Volunteers working on the project are reimbursed for any reasonable out of pocket expenses. Mileage is also paid.

Contact Details

SOVA is based at: 54 New Street, Chelmsford, Essex. CM1 1GP. 

Telephone: 01245 255648 Fax: 01245 255650

Click here for a map

Alison Battersby can be contacted on:
(mobile) 07811 357379
email: alisonbattersby@aol.com

Interested in Volunteering?

If you are interested in volunteering on any aspects of the Drug Interventions Programme, as mentioned above, please contact Alison as above. We shall arrange for an information pack and application form to be sent to you. Upon receipt of your application, we shall then arrange an informal interview. Once you have been accepted, you will then need to attend a six week training course, usually held in the evenings at 54 New Street, Chelmsford between 6pm and 9pm. You will then have a post course interview and any problems and queries can be discussed further. Two referees and a CRB check will also need to be completed. SOVA does not discriminate against anyone with a criminal record. More information can be found on the SOVA website: www.sova.org.uk

Time To Give

This successful service is commissioned by the Essex Drug and Alcohol Action Team with the aim of breaking the destructive cycle of committing crime to fund drug use. Volunteers help in all sorts of ways ranging from helping to fill in job application forms, to taking offenders to appointments or simply meeting up for a cup of tea and a chat. 

Chris shares his experience of volunteering with SOVA, “I work within Chelmsford Prison. One thing I am realising is that at my age, I could be doing something more relaxing such as sitting in an armchair reading the paper, but I find that meeting the offenders and giving them some time, just for them, brings a smile to their faces”. He continues “When talking with them, I realise that I may have been the first person that has done that. From a young age the only friends they may have had are drug dealers or drug users and the other people that they have met are people in authority such as the police. They find it strange when they realise that I am not someone official, I am just me. When I leave them I often get a warm hand shake and a thank you, for me this is payment enough and makes it worthwhile.  So if my kindness and understanding plants a good seed in them then it can only be a good thing and my time supporting these offenders isn’t wasted.”

Knight In Shining Armour

The programme is commissioned by the Essex Drug and Alcohol Partnership (EDAP) and works with users of Class A drugs, such as Heroin and cocaine, who's offending may be motivated by their drug use, with the aim of breaking this destructive cycle.

"I am lucky enough, to have been given an opportunity, to be the first person in the chain of others in the Essex drug treatment system to help make a difference to lives of drug users. My role as a SOVA volunteer (Supporting Others through Voluntary Action), is mainly to pick clients up when they are released from prison or from their homes and take them to their appointment at the drug treatment centre, for what can be the hardest day of their life.

When I got my first call, the enormity of the job rapidly became a reality. To say I was nervous would be an understatement. Although I thought I was well prepared, I was wrong. I had no idea in truth what to expect. After all it's a junkie. My expectations were shot to pieces when I saw this scared young man get in my car with his life in tatters and looking to me to help him turn his life around.

I had not a clue what to say to him. Thankfully that wasn't a problem, once he got started. Paul was his name and for the first time, he could talk and someone would listen to him. A novelty for him I reckon. He started telling me how drugs wreck lives. The course you complete to become a volunteer with SOVA although very comprehensive, could not prepare you for the real thing. After all, like most people, I had never met anybody addicted to heroin before. Paul went on to tell me first hand how all his friends and family were not in his life anymore, sick of his lies, cheating and stealing. He truly had hit rock bottom.

It's not until you have a few moments to reflect, that you realise what you have done. A fellow human being asks for your help, and you are there to give it to them. It's a really touching, magical experience. Although my times on the lifeboats were truly great days, this was different, much more personal. You find that you form a bond with your client. He became a mate that you want to see beat the addiction of heroin.

We all need that little leg up from time to time. We have all made mistakes in life and have our faults. Addiction to heroin is an illness, not all of us are strong enough to say NO. We all need to remember that and thank our lucky stars we haven't fallen victim to the evils of drug misuse, it really is the last place on earth they want to be too.

Each time I get that call, the chance to be the first chain in the link; it's an honour I will treasure."