June 17, 2019 10.23 am This story is over 57 months old

Lincoln’s ‘intervention team’ lined up for £65k funding

It will help the team continue until 2020
The City Council is aiming to tackle city centre drug use. Photo: The Lincolnite

A further £65,000 worth of funding is lined up for Lincoln’s “intervention team” in an effort to to tackle the city centre’s anti-social behaviour and drug addiction problems.

City of Lincoln councillors are expected to approve the money, which will allow the team to continue until next year.

The authority introduced the team in October 2018 on an initial 12 month trial after widespread problems of drug addiction and alcohol abuse in the city.

£61,000 was spent setting up the group, which the authority said was part of a “wider strategy” to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Tom Snowden and Yvette Hall, City of Lincoln Council intervention team members. Picture: Calvin Robinson.

City council leader, Ric Metcalfe, said the problem was “complex” but one that needed to be “dealt with”.

Now, senior councillors at the authority have been recommended to approve a further £65,000 for the project.

If approved, the money will go towards commissioning an Addaction outreach worker, a team coordinator and cover for holidays and sickness.

It would also allow the team to continue to operate until December 2020.

A man on drugs passed out near Brayford Pool on July 19, 2018.

The project is currently funded by the city council, Lincoln BIG, Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner and the NHS.

Following approval of the scheme last year, outreach workers for anti-social behaviour, mental health and Addiction were employed, as well as a team co-ordinator.

Since then, the city council said the team has worked with 103 different people to offer support for mental health and substance misuse since its introduction.

City councillors will discuss the further funding at an executive meeting on June 24.

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