Evaluation of the first year of operations of the Hackney Harm Reduction Hub (now SWERVE harm reduction hub)

December 15, 2025

This report is the culmination of the first year of the operation of a peer-led harm reduction hub in Hackney, delivered in partnership between the London Joint Working Group on Substance Use and Hepatitis C and The Hepatitis C Trust.

With over 7,000 items of harm reduction kit distributed over more than 1,400 contacts, LJWG is proud to have supported the SWERVE team in their work within the community, and hopes that this report can serve as a blueprint for other local authorities looking to understand how a harm reduction approach to drug use can save lives and make boroughs safer.

Reg Straub, harm reduction project manager at SWERVE, said “At the Hub, we have found that we can keep both those who had not previously engaged in services, as well those who needed support in doing so, engaged for longer. Having developed strong working partnerships with local agencies and by being accessible to all communities, we have noticed a significant improvement in the quality of life of those who we work with.“

Help us share the successes of the hub and share the report with your networks.  If you wish to speak to a member of the team about the report or learn more about the work of SWERVE, email hackneyswerve@gmail.com