Bolton Community Champion Kristan McGuinness

Kristan McGuinness

Community Champion for Queens Park and Central, Astley Bridge, Bradshaw, Breightmet, Bromley Cross, Halliwell, Farnworth South, Great Lever, Farnworth North, Heaton, Lostock and Chew Moor, Horwich South and Blackrod, Hulton, Kearsley, Little Lever and Darcy Lever, Rumworth, Smithills, Tonge with the Haulgh, Westhoughton North and Hunger Hill, Westhoughton South, Horwich North

Hi! My name's Kristan and I'm a Community Champion for all the different areas within Bolton. My main area of expertise is addiction recovery and mental health, but I also do a lot of signposting to other services and groups that help with the other things I'm a community champion for.

After spending 30 years in addiction, mainly heroin but also other substances, I finally decided I needed to get myself into recovery a few years ago. This led me to start finding out as much as I could about addiction and the different models of recovery, and finally, to get drug-free.

Since becoming drug-free my life has changed in innumerable ways. I now work for an organisation called Next Steps where we signpost people to the stuff that's available in the local community, to help with recovery from addiction and help with general wellbeing. This includes groups centred around exercise, education, mental health, creative pursuits and financial/housing advice. We also provide peer-support, and run a couple of social groups ourselves, which people find really helpful.

Coming out of addiction I found the thing that helped the most was connection. I realised that surrounding myself with people who can empathise with the situation I found myself in, but were doing well themselves, was really helpful. It gave me some kind of vision for where I could get to myself. I got a lot of good advice about the strategies different people used to help them stay clean and about a lot of different services. This is why I'm so passionate about connection and communities in general.

I love reading, gaming and football. I'm also really interested in history and psychology.

If you're looking to find out what's available locally, or just a chat about what's going on for you, give me a call or drop me an email. I'll get back to you as soon as I can if it's outside of office hours.

Specialist Roles

<strong>Civils Champion</strong><br>Local champions who can get into the heart of their community and share important information to help people stay safe in preparing for and responding to local emergencies.

<strong>Addiction Awareness Champion</strong><br>Understanding the impact that various forms of addiction can have - and championing local support to help people live healthier, happier lives.

<strong>Ageing Well Champion</strong><br>Encourage and support older people in our community to live well independently, ensuring older peoples voices are heard.

<strong>Campaign Champion</strong><br>Receive regular online information to promote and distribute positive Public Health campaigns i.e. cancer awareness, mental health promotion, Stop Smoking month, Dry January.

<strong>Digital Champion</strong><br>Help others to develop their digital skills and understand the benefits of getting online.

<strong>Mental Health Champion</strong><br>Mental health champions aren't expected to be experts in mental health, or to diagnose mental health problems. Instead, your role is to promote positive mental health and to signpost to relevant support and help where appropriate.

<strong>Physical Health and Wellbeing Champion</strong><br>Encourage communities to live a healthy and more active lifestyle.

Get in Touch

e: [email protected]

t: 07926701172