Our Story
PROJECT OSHI
The Hull based, 'OSHI Project' is an innovative initiative that provides immediate help to those who ask for it. It is peer led and driven by personal experience. It creates connections between those who Want Help and those are in a position to Give Help. Furthermore, OSHI exists as a holistic recovery community and provides every opportunity for anyone to start to enjoy life and begin to heal, body, mind and soul through immersion in an on-going programme of recovery and personal healing.
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
Our society is under immense pressure amidst an ever increasing wave of alcohol & drug related illness and death which is stretching the NHS as well as traditional alcohol and drug services to their limit. Neither the NHS nor traditional services are capable of tackling this increasingly alarming health crisis alone and traditional methods are failing to stem the increase in liver disease/illness/death.
The problem has been exasperated due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns which have created an entirely new cadre of alcohol/drug dependent service users as well as re-introduced many patients who had previously managed to find a way back to healthy living, now actively drinking and/or abusing substances again to cope. It is estimated that 10% of all NHS Patients are currently alcohol dependant with nearly 40% of all paramedic/ambulance time being used on alcohol related incidents/call outs.
WHY DO WE DO WHAT WE DO?
OSHI was born out of necessity. Research by us led to the foundation and creation of the OSHI movement. OSHI is an ever-expanding collective of individuals who have overcome adversity and converted calamity and disaster into triumph and victory. We exist because we have to and we often ask ourselves these questions:
- If not us, then who?
- If not now, then when?
OSHI seeks to re-address the balance in society in challenging the status quo of the treatment, addiction and recovery sector as well as mental health services in dual diagnosis.
OSHI is made up entirely from people with lived experience and genuine deep rooted desire to effect change. We believe that “transformed people, transform people!
In short; we’re a heart centred organisation and place the well-being of those we serve at the core of everything we do.
In the last 3 Years there has been:
Alcohol dependent NHS patients.
10.26%
Spent on Alcohol related issues.
£3.45B
Alcohol related Paramedic Calls
40.1%
WHAT CAN WE DO?
There is no unified approach/integrated healthcare solution to this problem and the existing pathway was failing to meet the challenge pre-covid and is now at a critical stage. Existing pathways produce very low chances of success at great expense to the NHS and tax payer alike while an already desperate situation grows worse.
There is a clear un-met need to create a new dynamic flexible system that connects desperately sick patients with immediate one to one support and community integration/social intervention leading to a holistic recovery model, which is exactly what OSHI has been providing over the past 12 months.
How it works
3 KEY STAGES OF OSHI HELP
STAGE ONE
Recovery Coaches
Stage 1 ensures there are relevant recovery coaches/mentors ready, willing and able to offer support and provide immediate same day support (wherever that may be, including those still receiving treatment in hospital).
The coach will then provide on-going support 24 hours a day from that point on and being there to listen, talk and share their personal experiences of how they have found personal recovery.
STAGE TWO
Personal Support
The coach will guide their mentee/the person they are supporting on their personal recovery journey.
Attending mutual aid meetings, online help groups, volunteering or taking part in an array of holistic activities.
Help to stimulate your mind, body and soul.
STAGE THREE
Gratitude & Giving Back
OSHI will not discharge its friends and will instead encourage them to give back to the community.
Help out in a one of the community chat rooms (whatsapp)
Provide genuine feed-back so that the OSHI team can develop a deeper understanding of what the challenges are facing people.
Learn how we can better serve the community's needs going forward.