We are delighted to announce the appointment of Hannah Foote as a Trainer at Generis, the training department at The Alcohol and Drug Service (ADS). With her unique blend of experience in both policing and teaching, Hannah is perfectly positioned to deliver impactful training on alcohol and drug awareness to our clients.

A Diverse Background in Policing and Teaching
Hannah’s professional journey began after she graduated from the University of Hull, where she studied Spanish which included a year in Spain, fully immersing herself in Spanish culture - a lifelong love that has shaped her personal and professional life.

Following her studies, Hannah joined Humberside Police as a Community Officer, focusing on supporting young people in care homes. This role allowed her to make a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals, an experience she found both fascinating and rewarding.

Having found working with young people extremely rewarding, and wanting to have more impact on her local community, she later transitioned into secondary education. During her time working in schools, Hannah also mentored trainee teachers, further honing her skills in guiding and inspiring others. Her passion for teaching was evident in the outcomes the students achieved, however, having always been driven to learn more, Hannah was keen to take on a new challenge in a sector that allowed her to utilise all her previous experiences to make a difference to her community in a new way.

“I thrived in a teaching environment and loved how impactful my work was, and through the additional responsibilities I had taken on throughout my time in secondary education, I realised that my true passions were in teaching delivery, mentoring and curriculum development. Whilst teaching is an incredibly rewarding vocation, the time constraints on teachers meant that I couldn’t commit as many hours as I wanted to these passions, and so I started looking for roles with these at the forefront. Luckily, I stumbled upon Generis!”

A New Path in Recovery Training
Hannah discovered the trainer role at Generis through the NHS website and was intrigued by the opportunity to apply her expertise in a completely new sector. Since joining, she has already made a significant impact. One trainee shared how they were able to immediately implement what they learned during one of Hannah’s sessions on Drugs and Alcohol Awareness. The trainee, who works at Citizens’ Advice, successfully supported a client with substance misuse issues by signposting them to recovery services and offering non-judgmental advice.

For Hannah, this kind of feedback highlights the ripple effect of her work. “Helping one person to understand the benefits of creating awareness in this area can impact service users, colleagues, friends, and family,” she explains.

Drawing on her policing background, Hannah brings a unique perspective to her training sessions. Having witnessed firsthand the severe consequences of substance misuse during her time with the Police, she combines this experience with her teaching expertise to deliver engaging and relatable content.

A Rewarding Role with Balance
One of the aspects Hannah values most about her new role is its flexibility and emphasis on personal well-being. “The difference in this role is that I actually have a work-life balance,” she shares. “I’ve started new hobbies like walking and swimming. What blows my mind is that CPD (Continuing Professional Development) is expected during work hours - this allows me to watch documentaries or read articles without feeling like it’s eating into my personal time. The content is so interesting that I have been watching it at home as well, eager to share it with my partner. The key is that substance misuse can and does affect anyone.

Hannah also enjoys tailoring training sessions with up-to-date news and data to keep them relevant and impactful. For example, she recently incorporated insights from a documentary about THC levels in unregulated vape products into her sessions.

A Welcome Addition to Generis
Cheryl Howley, Lead Trainer at Generis, is thrilled to have Hannah on board. “Teaching provides an excellent foundation for training in drugs and alcohol awareness,” Cheryl explains. “Even without prior knowledge of the sector, teachers are adept at picking up a subject and delivering it effectively. Hannah has already proven herself to be an excellent addition to our team.”

At Generis, interactive learning methods such as breakout rooms - both online and in-person - are used to enhance understanding by putting theory into practice. This approach resonates deeply with Hannah’s teaching background.

Looking Ahead
Hannah is excited about what lies ahead at The Alcohol and Drug Service. “There are lots of exciting things in the pipeline.” With renewed energy and a positive mindset, she is eager to continue making a difference through her work at Generis.

We are proud to have Hannah as part of our team and look forward to seeing all that she will achieve in this vital role!