Trainers

Senior Service Manager, Hungerford Drug Project

Andy Symons is currently Senior Service Manager for the Hungerford Drug Project and is responsible for managing and developing a wide range of services which include a Low Threshold Treatment Programme for street population, Hungerford North Islington, Mobile Needle Exchange Services Team, Communities & Young People’s service and Antidote (LGBT Services). His role includes policy and strategy development in a variety of different substance misuse contexts. Andy is a qualified informal education worker, a humanistic counsellor, trainer and has extensive experience in providing training across all tiers of substance misuse services in the 11 years at the Hungerford.

Mobile Needle Exchange Services Team Leader, Hungerford Drug Project.

Des Kirby is currently the Team Leader for the Hungerford’s Mobile Needle Exchange Services. He is responsible for the development and delivery of the needle exchange services, with specialist posts in Camden Street Services Team and Westminster Rapid Intervention Team. The busy service provided services to over 1,000 service users, with over 25,000 contacts.

Des has been instrumental in promoting understanding and good practice in the field of Poly Drug use and has developed unique interventions that recognise the complex needs of crack and heroin users. During his 20-year career Des has worked with a wide client group that include; young people, refugees, and the homeless.

Project Coordinator Antidote (LGBT Services), Hungerford Drug Project.

Grainne Whalley is the Project Coordinator for Antidote, a service commissioned to work specifically with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender drug and alcohol users. Grainne joined Turning Point at the beginning of 2004 and has worked within both voluntary and statutory sectors since 1996. Grainne has spent much time working with drug users from the sex working community as well as clients within a criminal justice setting. Grainne has been delivering training since 2000 and has worked independently as a freelance trainer as well as delivering training for Release.

Freelance trainer.

Kevin Flemen is a freelance trainer working across the UK. He has worked in drugs and social care settings for a number of years, and has previously worked for local and national drugs agencies. Kevin has worked extensively in face-to-face settings and is also an experienced researcher and writer. He has developed a wide range of resources for in-house, local and national use.

Soho-Based Client Services, Team Leader, Hungerford Drug Project.

Monty Moncrieff is currently team leader of The Hungerford’s client services in our Soho base. For two years he was the Team Leader of Antidote, the Hungerford’s targeted lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender service. Monty has been involved with LGBT organisations since 1996 and has worked and provided training for organisations as diverse as London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard, Citizens Advice Bureau and Scottish and Newcastle Retail. He also provides training around diversity issues across Turning Point.

Freelance trainer.

Shaffique is a freelance trainer with a wide range of relevant experience working with community groups and young people. Since completing his MA in Youth and Community Work and Applied Anthropology he has worked for health and community development projects in India, Europe and Latin America and has delivered training throughout Europe in conjunction with the EU’s Youth for Europe programme and the Council for Europe. At the Hungerford he developed and co-ordinated services for young people, the homeless and Black and Minority Ethnic groups and has delivered training programmes in a number of areas related to drugs work, cultural diversity, youth work, community development, and homelessness. Currently he works as the manager for Central London Connexions in Westminster and is the co-founder and chairperson for the charity Inter-Cultural Youth Exchange.

Communities & Young Peoples Team, Team Leader, Hungerford Drug Project.

Sook Mun Chow is currently team leader of the Communities and Young Peoples’ Team, developing prevention and intervention initiatives for young people 18 and under. Sook Mun also leads the team in developing and delivering targeted services for the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) community groups. Sook Mun is an experienced trainer, having delivered training to a wide range of organisations and venues including Centre Point, Childline, St Mungo’s, HM Prison, Westminster Youth Service and University of North London.

Sook Mun has over 10 years of experience of working with a wide client group (young people, drug and alcohol users, homeless, women and BME groups) in England, Hong Kong and Philippines. Sook Mun is a qualified youth and community worker and has a MA in Applied Anthropology.