In this episode, host Ben sits down with Shannade, a Nurse Prescriber at Inspire Lancashire, for an honest, evidence-based discussion about ketamine use.

We dive into:

• How ketamine alters perception, awareness, and vulnerability
• The physical risks to bladder, liver, and overall health
• Psychological and social impacts, including mood changes and isolation
• Harm reduction strategies for safer use
• When and how to seek help — no matter where you are in your journey

💬 “No matter what stage your journey is with ketamine, we’re here to help.”

If you’re curious, concerned, or supporting someone else, this episode offers practical insight and compassion.

👉 Resources & Support
Inspire Lancashire offers free, confidential drug & alcohol support across Lancashire:
🔗 Refer yourself: https://inspirelancs.org.uk/refer-yourself/

☎️ 08081 698 673

#KetamineAwareness #HarmReduction #RecoverySupport #YouAreNotAlone

Ketamine Addiction: Finlay’s Story of Pain, Recovery and Purpose

In this powerful episode of Catch Me When I Fall, Finlay Worthington shares his lived experience of ketamine addiction — a story of emotional disconnection, physical harm, and ultimately, recovery.

What started as a party drug quickly spiralled into daily use, isolation, and serious health consequences including extreme bladder pain and hospital visits. Finlay opens up about the reality of addiction, the cycle of relapse, and what finally helped him break free — from rehab to finding his purpose in helping others.

Now over a year sober, Finlay runs Ketamine Education Services (KES) and works to raise awareness of the growing risks of ketamine use in young people.

This is an honest, sometimes graphic, but hopeful conversation about what ketamine can really do — and what recovery can look like.

💬 If you’ve been affected or need help:

👉 Visit https://inspirelancs.org.uk
for free, confidential drug and alcohol support across Lancashire.
📍 Outside Lancashire? Contact your GP or search for local drug and alcohol support services.

Can resilience truly triumph over adversity? Paul Gill’s compelling story offers a resounding yes. Once challenged by homelessness and addiction, his journey through Hepatitis C recovery is a beacon of hope and courage. Joined by his key worker, Warren, and healthcare professional Gareth Leach, Paul reveals the power of unwavering support and modern medical treatments in reclaiming his life. Through candid conversations, we learn about the critical role that healthcare teams play, not just in treatment, but in transforming lives burdened by stigma and fear.

Listeners are invited to confront their own hesitations as Paul and our expert guests emphasize the life-changing importance of early testing and proactive healthcare. Through shared experiences and a concluding poetic collaboration, we aim to inspire action and champion perseverance. This episode is a heartfelt ode to recovery, shedding light on the myths surrounding Hepatitis C and motivating listeners to take vital steps toward wellness. Tune in to discover a story that promises not just survival, but thriving through the storm.

Episode Show Notes

Episode Title: From Struggles to Success: Micah’s Journey with Inspire

Host: Ben Fairless

Podcast: Catch Me When I Fall

Summary:
In this episode, host Ben Fairless sits down with Micah, a remarkable individual who has transformed his life with the support of Inspire. Micah opens up about his past struggles with drug addiction, his journey through recovery, and the shocking news of being diagnosed with Hepatitis C. He shares how he overcame these challenges, including his experience with the new, non-invasive treatment for Hep C that came with minimal side effects.

Additionally, Micah discusses his passion for woodwork and how he turned this passion into a successful e-commerce business with the help of BRIC funding through Inspire. Tune in to hear Micah’s inspiring story of resilience, hope, and new beginnings.

Key Topics:

1. Micah’s Early Life and Struggles with Addiction
   • Growing up and the factors that led to his substance use
   • The impact of addiction on his life and relationships
2. Journey to Recovery
   • How Micah sought help from Inspire
   • The support and resources provided by Inspire during his recovery
3. Relapse and Returning to Inspire
   • The challenges of relapse and the decision to return to Inspire
   • The pivotal moments that motivated him to continue his recovery journey
4. Shocking Hep C Diagnosis
   • Receiving the news of being Hepatitis C positive
   • The emotional and physical impact of the diagnosis
   • Undergoing new, non-invasive treatment with minimal side effects
5. Passion for Woodwork
   • Discovering a love for woodwork and its therapeutic benefits
   • How Micah utilized BRIC funding through Inspire to start his own e-commerce business
   • The successes and challenges of building a business from his passion

Guest:

• Micah: Formerly struggled with drug addiction, now an entrepreneur and advocate for recovery and resilience.

Resources Mentioned:

• Inspire: Support organisation that aided Micah in his recovery journey
• BRIC Funding: Program that helped Micah launch his woodwork business

Connect with Us:

• Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
• Visit our Website for more episodes and resources

Call to Action:

• If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, reach out to Inspire for support and resources.
• Interested in Micah’s woodwork? Check out his e-commerce store.

Listen Now:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Google Podcasts
• Stitcher

Thank you for tuning in to "Qcatch Me When I Fall." Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. Your support helps us bring more incredible stories like Micah’s to light.

In this episode of "Catch Me When I Fall," host Ben Fairless# explores the journey to a smoke-free life with special guest Telha Rashid from Smokefree Lancashire. Together, they delve into the reasons why smoking is harmful to health, the benefits of quitting smoking, and the invaluable support services provided by Smokefree Lancashire. Whether you're considering quitting smoking yourself or seeking resources to support others, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiration.

Key Points Covered:

• Understanding the health risks of smoking and what's inside a cigarette.
• Exploring the benefits of quitting smoking for individuals' health, well-being, and quality of life.
• Highlighting the support services offered by Smokefree Lancashire, including tailored resources and assistance.
• Encouraging listeners to take steps towards a smoke-free life and providing additional resources for those outside the Lancashire area.

Resources:

• Smokefree Lancashire website: smokefreelancashire.org.uk
• Smokefree Lancashire phone number: 0808 196 2638
• For those outside the Lancashire area, visit NHS Better Health: Quit Smoking for additional support and resources.

Stay Connected:

• Follow "Catch Me When I Fall" on [social media platform] for updates and future episodes.
• Subscribe to the podcast to stay informed and inspired on your journey to wellness.

Embark on a riveting odyssey with host Ben Fairless as he unravels the compelling narrative of Shawn Birch in this episode of 'Catch Me When I Fall.' Shawn's journey is more than a story—it's a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

Highlights:

• 🌌 Navigating Darkness: Shawn recounts the pivotal moments of realization amid the shadows of addiction, providing a poignant glimpse into the challenges that marked his path.
• 🤲 Strength in Connection: Discover the transformative power of reaching out and engaging with a support system. Shawn reflects on the pivotal role of community in the arduous yet rewarding journey to recovery.
• 🌈 The Ripple Effect: In a candid conversation, Ben and Shawn explore the universal truth that personal stories, even if they sound cliché, can profoundly impact others, creating ripples of inspiration.
• 🎙️ Facing Nervousness: Delve into the vulnerability of sharing personal experiences as Shawn and Ben discuss the nerves that accompany such storytelling and the importance of breaking through them.

Join the Movement:
This episode extends beyond the airwaves—it's a call to action. Share the strength, spread the hope, and be part of a community that celebrates triumph over adversity.

🔊 Listen Now: 

#CatchMeWhenIFall, #Inspiration, #RecoveryJourney, #ShareTheStrength, #AddictionStories, #ResilientSpirit, #CommunityConnection, #PersonalGrowth, #EmpowermentJourney, #TriumphOverAdversity 🌟🎧

 In this episode of "Catch Me When I Fall," join host Ben Fairless as he dives deep into the world of anxiety, a common yet often misunderstood mental health challenge. Our special guest, Dr. Rachel Chin, a renowned clinical psychologist, shares her expertise and provides valuable insights into anxiety, its various forms, and effective coping strategies.

Throughout the episode, we explore the definition of anxiety, its distinct differences from stress, and the common symptoms individuals may experience. We delve into the causes of anxiety and shed light on the different types of anxiety disorders.

Dr. Rachel Chin offers practical strategies to help manage anxiety in the moment, as well as longer-term approaches such as therapy and medication. We also discuss the importance of self-care and lifestyle changes that can contribute to reducing anxiety.

Furthermore, we address the vital role of supporting loved ones who may be dealing with anxiety and offer guidance on providing effective assistance without being dismissive or intrusive.

If you or someone you know is seeking further resources and self-help tools, we highly recommend visiting the following support links:

• Getselfhelp.co.uk: A comprehensive website providing CBT therapy and self-help resources, including guides, worksheets, videos, and downloads.
• CCI - Looking After Yourself: A collection of resources focusing on self-help and well-being provided by the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust.
• NTW NHS Foundation Trust - Self Help Leaflets: An extensive range of self-help guides available for download, covering topics such as anxiety, depression, stress, social anxiety, self-harm, and more.
• Mind.org.uk - Self Help: The Mind website offers a wealth of self-help resources, including articles, guides, and tools to support mental health and well-being.

Remember, you are not alone in your journey to conquer anxiety. Tune in to this empowering episode with Dr. Rachel Chin, gain a deeper understanding of anxiety, and discover effective strategies to reclaim peace of mind and thrive.

In this episode of "Catch Me When I Fall", we hear from Kris, an ex-service user who shares his story of addiction, recovery, and redemption. Kris speaks candidly about how he misused his partner's prescribed medication to aid his addiction and how he eventually found the help he needed to turn his life around.

We also hear from a worker at Inspire, a local organization that provides support and guidance to people dealing with addiction and mental health issues. They share how they helped Kris find employment through their IPS scheme and how this employment was a key factor in his continued recovery.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or mental health issues, support is available. In the UK, you can contact organizations such as the Samaritans on 116 123 or the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse on 0300 123 6600. Inspire is also here to help. Visit their website at www.inspirelancs.org.uk to learn more about the services they offer and how they can support you on your journey to recovery.

To stay up-to-date with the latest episodes of "Catch Me When I Fall", be sure to follow and subscribe to our podcast on your preferred platform.

If you would like to learn more about Inspire's IPS scheme or refer someone for support, give them a call, speak to a worker, or send an email. You can also visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/eteteaminspire for more information. Remember, you're not alone, and there is always hope for a better tomorrow.

Welcome to 'Getting to Know You,' a series where we introduce you to amazing and inspiring people from all walks of life. This week's episode is a special Christmas edition featuring Cath and Kristy, and we promise it will be both funny and entertaining. In each episode, we sit down with our guests and get to know them on a deeper level, learning about their passions, struggles, and what makes them unique. Whether you're looking for motivation, insight, or simply want to be entertained, 'Getting to Know You' has something for everyone. Tune in every week to meet a new and exciting guests.

To find out more about who Inspire is head over to our webpage www.inspirelancs.org.uk

Danielle Hickey, our Head of Services for Lancashire services, joins us in this episode for a bit of a chinwag. We thought it would be a great idea to check in with Danielle about how she is adjusting to her new role after not being in post for too long. Having served in many different roles within Change Grow Live, we wanted to understand why Danielle felt ready to take on this new role. Apart from her role, we wanted to know where her Escape is and what she does to wind down. We get a fantastic insight into Danielle and what she gets up to and how she manages to do it all.

Don't forget to give us a like and subscribe to our channel if you liked this video.

Change Grow Live Website : https://www.changegrowlive.org/
Inspire Website: https://inspirelancs.org.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Inspire.East

🔔Episode 2 is here of "Getting To Know You ......"! 
In the hot seat is Tom, as Ben asks the important questions.
Starting off, we get the lowdown on what the role of a recovery worker entails, as well as some great tips and advice for anyone struggling with alcohol or drug abuse.

After that, we focus on Tom as a person, his likes, dislikes, and his favorite pizza topping! (Not to be missed ).

Tom steps up to the  💥⚡️ "Quick Fire Round" 💥⚡️
and we will see how he battles it out against last week's guest Jess!

If you are concerned with your alcohol or drug use and need help, see the below links to find out more information on what support Inspire has for you.

🔗 Inspire Website: www.inspirelancs.org.uk
🔗 Change Grow Live Website: www.changegrowlive.org

The "Getting to know you" series is now available on our Podcast!

If you are not familier with our "Getting to know you" series, it's where we ask a mem,ber of staff or volunteers to take the hot seat and get asked questions mainly about themselves, perhaps their role and much more.

In the hot seat, this time is Jess!

Starting off, we thought we'd talk about recruitment and what it involves. Since there have been a few vacancies recently, we thought it would be a good idea to gain insight into the process.

After that, we focus on Jess as a person, her likes, dislikes, and her love for cats! 

This season we introduce the  "Quick Fire Round" 

During the round, each staff member has 60 seconds to answer as many questions as possible.

We hope you like the episode and please let us know what you think in the comments. 

Steve Downie, 54, who has been sober for almost two years, is using his experience of reaching rock bottom to help other addicts at a Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART) Recovery Group.

Wanting to give something back to the people of Chorley who helped him find his feet again, Steve qualified to facilitate the recovery groups by hiring a room to run his sessions, with the help of former drug addict Andrea Horrocks who set up the charitable organisation four years ago.

If you want to know more about SMART recovery or find out nearby groups head over to: Self-Help Addiction Recovery | UK Smart Recovery

Steve Downie Email:  Sdownie618@gmail.com 

Mobile number 07713 272904.

Inspire & Quit Squad

Episode show notes:

In this episode, Tracy, Maggie and Alex talk to Katie about the service they provide, supporting people who want support quitting smoking. Getting support for your quit attempt makes you three times more likely to succeed. If you are don’t feel ready to quit yet, the team are happy to answer queries and provide any information you need, to help you wherever you’re at on your journey. Hear more about the link between smoking and other patterns of behaviour, such as eating, addiction and compulsions and learn from the experience of others who have quit already. This episode shares personal stories that we hope will inspire people to reach out and get help. Listen today and start your journey to becoming healthier, happier, and wealthier.

Subscribe, download, and listen for free by searching for ‘Inspire Catch Me When I Fall’

For more information about  Quit Squad go to www.quitsquad.nhs.uk

For more information on the work of Inspire go to www.inspirelancs.org.uk

To learn more about the work of Change Grow Live go to www.changegrowlive.org

Alcohol & Relationships - Episode show notes:

In this special edition for Alcohol Awareness Week, Ben, Katie, Nina, and Jordan are talking about the impact of alcohol on relationships. Partners, children, friends, and work colleagues all struggle when someone they care about is drinking to excess and often don’t know where to go for help. This episode shares personal stories that we hope will inspire people to reach out and get help and offers practical tips and advice for anyone interested in learning more about problematic alcohol use.

If you, or someone you know, needs support, please visit:

For more information on the work of Inspire go to www.inspirelancs.org.uk

To learn more about the work of Change Grow Live go to www.changegrowlive.org

Please click here for all of the family support networks available.

For more information on Alcohol Awareness Week, please visit Alcohol harms. Time for change. | Alcohol Change UK

In todays episode Ben Fairless hops into the hot seat to  focus on the important subject of Men’s Mental Health. Men’s mental health is important because it’s well known that many men keep their stress to themselves. They don’t want to seem like a burden. They’d rather carry on acting like everything’s okay for the sake of their families or just so they don’t have to deal with the inevitable conversations that would come from talking about their emotions in the first place. We are here to try and change this perception along with a couple of guests. Andy Toynton who is a BRIC coordinator( Building Recovery in communities) joins us to discuss his role and the beneficial impact it has had during Lockdown, and we have James Roberts who gives up his time to Volunteer for Inspire, a drug and alcohol service in East Lancashire. James discusses some of the challenges he has had through life in particular anxiety and depression. If you are suffering from any of the topics we have discussed in todays show, here is a handy link for a broad range of services that can help Hub of Hope - Mental Health Support Network provided by Chasing the Stigma

Integrated care is on everyone’s agenda. This episode reflects on our experience as a multi award  winning early adopter of an integrated approach. Dr Mark Spencer and Katie Egan from Fleetwood  Primary Care Network share their learning and experience on this incredible journey.
Learn how a regular GP consultation changed everything for Mark and started a hope revolution as  we moved from a mindset of ‘telling’ to one of ‘listening to the community’.
Katie shares the difference our PCN involvement has made to supporting residents with problematic  drug and alcohol use.
Challenges, culture, failure, bravery, fun and why ‘making a difference matters’ are all on the agenda as we explain how Fleetwood PCN realised that you can’t improve health by treating illness, but 
change is possible by harnessing the voice of the community.
Creating a climate of hope and a community that gives residents a sense of belonging fosters a culture where people begin to sub-consciously make better health choices. The outcomes by which 
we are measured become a happy side effect as we see in our 20% reduction in A+E attendances, folks opting to come of painkillers, getting into work, losing weight, to name but a few.
We hope you enjoy listening.
For more information on the work of Inspire go to www.inspirelancs.org.uk
Fleetwood Primary Care Network healthierfleetwood.co.uk

Special thanks to Dr Tony Rao for allowing us to use his book title for this podcast series. Tony is a psychiatrist with a huge passion for supporting older adults and has written a book Catch Me When 
I Fall Audiobook | Tony Rao | Audible.co.uk (all proceeds go to charity)

Episode 2 show notes:

Hepatitis C – . Jon and Sammie talk to Katie about their quest to get everyone treated for Hep C, sharing our innovative approaches to support people against a backdrop of stigma and shame. We also debate why the Covid pandemic has seen such a significant increase in people coming forward for treatment.

Subscribe, download, and listen for free by searching for "Catch me when i fall" on Spotify, Stitcher, I Tunes or wherever you listen to your podcasts from.

For more information on the work of Inspire go to www.inspirelancs.org.uk or head over to our Facebook page www.facebook.com/Inspire.East/ 

To learn more about the work of Change Grow Live go to www.changegrowlive.org

Episode 1 show notes:

Older adult drinkers – people are living longer and drinking more. Katie and Tony share their experiences of both living with and supporting older adult drinkers and grapple with some tough questions about how we overcome the stigma and acceptability of drinking too much.

Subscribe, download, and listen for free by searching for "Catch Me When I Fall" in your favourite Podcast platform.

For more information on the work of Inspire go to www.inspirelancs.org.uk

To purchase Tony’s book go to Catch Me When I Fall Audiobook | Tony Rao | Audible.co.uk (all proceeds go to charity)

To learn more about the work of Change Grow Live go to www.changegrowlive.org