History of CDP
CDP is an independent charity and not for profit company.
We were established in 1985, as The Hull & East Yorkshire Council for Drug Problems. However, with such a long name, we quickly became known to almost everyone as just CDP.
Being based in the community, like almost all non statutory organisations, the CDP quickly established itself as a traditional “Street” agency, providing drop in and outreach services. Importantly, as we were the first dedicated service to be established in our home area of Hull and East Yorkshire, the Charity also played a part in campaigning for more and better treatment.
The first paid Chief Executive, Mr. Ron Wallis took up post on the 1st October 1985 and the CDP moved into its original premises, at 6 Wright Street, on 21st February 1986. This was an excellent location, close to the City centre, but the elegant Georgian house became less suitable for our increasing and changing workload in recent years. At the end of 2006, we acquired new premises at 61 Spring Bank, only a short distance away, which we were able to develop to our own design. We opened for business at 61 on 10 July 2007.
Like most charities, CDP was initially an unincorporated association. As our work and income grew, we had to create a more formal structure and the charity achieved Company status in August 1990.
In the early years, the CDP was heavily dependent on large scale recruitment and training of volunteers. A major area of work was in the field of education, training and raising general awareness in the community. The CDP campaigned to raise awareness around a number of major issues such as Tobacco smoking, Tranquilliser use, HIV and Aids, and the emergence of the street use of Temgesic and Temazepam. In this work, particularly with schools and young people, the CDP developed a number of aids utilising video, and the medium of music and theatre.
With its employment of volunteers, as well as paid professionals from a variety of backgrounds (Health, Social Work, Community Development and Counselling), the CDP also continued to provide a pool of experienced staff to the benefit of other emerging services, in both the statutory and independent sectors. Individuals who did their groundwork within the CDP have gone on to set up and run other services across the country.
The CDP has also over the years been involved in a number of pioneering service developments, acting as a “test-bed” for work with
- tranquilizer users
- parents and carers of drug users
- commercial sex workers
- young people at risk of sexual exploitation
- diversion from custody, bail support and probation order group work
- “in-reach” service to Hull Prison and eventually all the prisons in the area
- New Deal
CDP worked in the criminal justice area well before the recent roll out of national programmes, gaining valuable experience. This has been recognised by our participation in the Drugs Intervention Programme in Hull through our Arena team.
This is characteristic of the way CDP has worked over the years - being ready to test and assess ideas from their earliest stages, then to help to develop the best.
