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Suffolk Tackles Root Causes of Crime and Care Crises
1 Mar
Summary
- Hackathon event in Suffolk aimed to prevent entry into criminal justice and social care systems.
- Drug addiction survivor shared how early mental health support could have aided his recovery.
- Charity Iceni faces record waiting lists amid rising demand for substance misuse support.
Organisations across Suffolk convened for a 'Power of Prevention' hackathon, initiated by High Sheriff Gulshan Kayembe. The event, held recently, focused on identifying proactive strategies to prevent individuals from entering the criminal justice and social care systems.
The hackathon emphasized sharing best practices and incorporating the lived experiences of those affected by addiction, poverty, and disadvantage. Brendan Borrett, who overcame drug and alcohol addiction with support from the charity Iceni, stressed the importance of early mental health intervention for successful recovery.
Brian Tobin, chief executive of Iceni, highlighted the organization's increasing workload and record waiting lists, citing the 'horrendous' figures of child poverty in Suffolk and the UK as a key area requiring earlier social interventions.
Community groups, such as BME Suffolk Support Group, also participated, underscoring the value of inter-agency collaboration for sharing expertise and providing timely support. The High Sheriff concluded the event by expressing hope that the gathered insights would inform strategic priorities for navigating future funding and service cuts.
