Charter of Rights – Improving Lives Effecting Change

The Charter of Rights for People who live with and experience issues around substance use is about to be launched.

10 December marks Human Rights Day, with its 2024 campaign theme “Our rights, our future, right now” focusing on how human rights are a pathway to solutions, particularly in times of crises – an opportune moment to reflect on our strategic partnership in support of the National Collaborative over the last two years.

Two years in the making, the Charter of Rights for People who live with and experience issues around substance use, is about to be launched.

The Charter has been developed through extensive consultation with people affected by substance use, and with people responsible for the design, delivery and monitoring of substance related support services. The process has been led by the National Collaborative and its Change Team made up of people with different life experiences of substance use – independent from, but supported by, the Scottish Government and facilitated by our team here at Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland.

The National Collaborative’s vision is to integrate human rights into drug and alcohol policy leading to better outcomes for people affected by substance use.

It has been truly uplifting to see the enthusiasm for driving change within a system that has traditionally been slow to progress in this area.

It was challenging to hear the stories of stigma and discrimination in early conversations on the work. Changing the culture will be central to improving delivery, but it is one part of a large and complex jigsaw puzzle.

The process of designing the Charter has been robust and comprehensive. The principle of coproduction was embedded at every stage, ensuring meaningful collaboration throughout. The recruitment of the Change Team was instrumental to setting up an engagement process that went well beyond a short consultation. There was also a forensic analysis of gaps and potential challenges around implementation, which resulted in a suite of materials to support duty bearers to implement the Charter.

The commitment throughout by people with lived and living experience has been impressive. The need for change is undeniable; the opportunities to do things better are worth the effort.

Stigma and discrimination have meant that delivery in many thematic areas has thus far been difficult. There is much that can be done by all of us in our workplace, our community our schools to address this. The standard that you walk past is the standard that you accept.

One shining example of early implementation is within Grampian, who have demonstrated innovation in a difficult financial climate – showing how enthusiasm and commitment can effect person centred approaches, innovation, planning, and addressing culture change. Their three Alcohol and Drug Partnership from across Moray, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire have been working together with local people affected by substance use to build on the work of the National Collaborative to coproduce their own local charter to improve alcohol and drugs service delivery across Grampian.

The bigger challenge of resource allocation remains significant. Doing things well can often be cheaper than doing things badly. Crises interventions are often expensive. Rome will not be built in a day and one of the things that we have to consider is short, medium and long term planning. Setting priorities will be essential to achieving positive outcomes that address inequality and change lives.

The Charter and toolkit, once formally launched on 11 December 2024, will give a framework for a human rights based approach in a system that needs to change and empowers people and communities to understand and claim their rights.

The dial has moved on understanding that punitive approaches to this landscape do not work. We need understanding, compassion and listening.

Dr Irene Oldfather
Director, Alliance Strategic lead on National Collaborative

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