Over 18,000 people are scheduled to attend the sold-out event, which takes place at a privately owned woodland in the Lincolnshire countryside, halfway between Newark and Lincoln.
The four-day festival is a celebration of music, comedy, wellness and food. Villagers will be treated to an immersive experience ranging from theatre shows, live music, stand-up comedy to talks, creative workshops, and Michelin-starred dining experiences.
Organisers invited Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership to join The Loop’s established presence at the festival as part of their strategy to ensure a safe environment for attendees.
The Loop – a national charity, is the first and currently the only regular drug checking service in the UK, having commenced testing in 2013 in club and festival environments, using the results to inform stakeholders, including the public, of emerging trends and reduce drug-related harm.
Substance use professionals from Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership will work alongside The Loop to provide harm reduction information around drug and alcohol use, raise awareness of naloxone - a first aid medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, and signpost to other local services, including for those that may want to make a change to their substance use.
Ben Atkins, Director and co-founder of Lost Village said:
“We’re hosting our tenth festival and whilst the event has grown in scale, we have always been committed to delivering a professional event that is as safe as possible for our audience.
“We put a lot of work into security planning and work closely with Lincolnshire Police as well as meticulously planning our medical provision and welfare strands.
“Alongside this, our essential harm reduction strategy with drug charity The Loop and now Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership, allows us to offer an opportunity for Villagers to seek further advice and access any support they may require.”
Elli McNally, Harm Reduction and Health Promotion Lead at Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership, said:
“We are incredibly proud to have the opportunity to work with The Loop and believe our hands-on experience in Lincolnshire will complement the support that The Loop provide to all at the festival.”
Katy Porter, CEO at The Loop said:
“We always enjoy working with others, so are really pleased to welcome the team to join us at Lost Village and contribute their experience and local knowledge in delivering our harm reduction service.”