Taxi journey

The Taxi journey gives an account of a typical route through treatment for Turning Point service users in the Wakefield district.

It is about an individual's journey through treatment and uses the idea of a 'Turning Point Taxi' to describe that journey. The original idea was developed by Service Users working with the Outreach team as a way of presenting the service user experience to a wider audience. It started as a piece of live theatre presented by Turning Point service users and staff and was delivered at both the ICO launch event and the Department of Health ICO event at Oulton Hall.

The taxi allows us to discuss what it is like to go through substance misuse treatment in Wakefield and offers an opportunity to talk about all the different services involved through the eyes of a service user. It makes it possible for service users to talk directly about their own experiences in a way that is clear and accessible.

In bringing this to the website we are hoping to open up the message about the services that are available and how to access them. We are also hoping to develop service user involvement in the process of promoting access to these services. No one tells the story more effectively than those that have lived it.

Completing the filming required input from a big cast and crew - we worked closely with the Structured Day Programme for help to bring the scenery together and the technical support. We also worked in and amongst the services in Wakefield to capture the accounts of what each service does and how it helps service users. In the end we had enough content for a twelve chapter DVD that we use in the waiting rooms of services.

We'd like to say a big thank you to everyone involved in the process of making and supporting this project. There are too many to mention individually here.