Last week, members of the Maggs team attended Take Drugs Seriously, a community event in Bromsgrove that brought together professionals, people with lived experience, and local residents to explore how drug use and drug policy affect families and communities.
Held at Burcot Village Hall and organised by Transform Drug Policy Foundation, the evening created space for honest, often difficult conversations — and a shared recognition that behind every statistic is a human story.
Why these conversations matter
Across Worcestershire, we see first-hand how substance use intersects with homelessness, mental health, trauma and poverty.
Events like this are important because they shift the conversation away from judgement and towards understanding.
Speakers shared deeply personal experiences — from families who have lost loved ones, to professionals working on the front line of policy and healthcare. What came through clearly was this:
Lasting change comes when we listen, understand, and respond with compassion.
What harm reduction looks like in practice
At Maggs, harm reduction is a core part of how we support people experiencing homelessness and vulnerability.
It means recognising that change doesn’t happen overnight — and that keeping people safe in the present is essential to supporting them into a more stable future.
Our Harm Reduction work includes:
- Providing needle exchange and safer use advice
- Distributing naloxone to prevent overdose deaths
- Supporting access to treatment and recovery services
- Delivering community outreach sessions across Worcestershire
- Building trusted relationships that open the door to wider support
This work is practical, non-judgemental, and grounded in meeting people where they are.
A shared responsibility
The Bromsgrove event highlighted something we strongly believe at Maggs — that creating safer communities is a shared responsibility.
It requires collaboration between charities, healthcare providers, policymakers, and local people.
It also requires a willingness to challenge stigma.
Because stigma can prevent people from seeking help.
And without support, people are left at greater risk.
Our role in Worcestershire
Through our hub-and-spoke model, Maggs delivers harm reduction support both within our centres and out in the community — including across North Worcestershire.
By working alongside partners and attending events like this, we ensure our services remain responsive, informed, and connected to the communities we serve.
Moving forward
We’re grateful to the organisers and speakers for creating such a powerful and thought-provoking space.
These conversations are not always easy — but they are necessary.
At Maggs, we remain committed to ensuring that:
- People are supported without judgement
- Lives are protected through practical interventions
- And everyone has access to hope, wherever they are on their journey
Find out more
If you’d like to learn more about our Harm Reduction work, or support what we do, visit:
👉 www.maggsdaycentre.co.uk
