Earlier this month, Turning Point Scotland welcomed Frederic Courtois, Executive Director of San Antonio Nexus Connection (SANC), Texas, to formalise a new international partnership focused on harm reduction, public health, and supporting some of the most marginalised communities in society.

The partnership grew from a connection made by Turning Point Scotland Innovation and Practice Lead, Jan Mayor, who met Frederic Courtois through the Scottish Recovery Consortium. Turning Point Scotland and San Antonio Nexus Connection share a commitment to improving outcomes for people affected by homelessness, drug use, poverty and HIV. Through this affiliation, both organisations will share knowledge and best practice, particularly around how outreach services respond to policy, funding, and community needs.

San Antonio Nexus Connection (SANC) is a nonprofit organisation that runs a syringe service programme aimed at reducing the harms associated with drug use. Like Turning Point Scotland, SANC recognises that substance use is a complex issue that requires compassionate, evidence-based public health responses, alongside advocacy for social justice and human rights.

Jan Mayor says, “This partnership has grown from honest conversations, shared learning, and a mutual commitment to supporting people who are too often overlooked. From our very first meeting, it was clear that Turning Point Scotland and San Antonio Nexus Connection shared the same values and faced many of the same challenges in supporting vulnerable communities.  By continuing to share good practice, learn from one another, and champion the role of outreach workers, we can strengthen the support available to staff and the people they support.”

Turning Point Scotland Chief Executive, Neil Richardson and Frederic Courtoius signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations, recognising their shared values and shared understanding of the challenges facing harm reduction services. During the visit, staff attended a presentation from Frederic Courtois, who shared more about SANC’s work, current pressures facing Texas communities, and the importance of international collaboration. The session was followed by a lively and thought-provoking Q&A discussion.

Frederic Courtois shared, “Turning Point Scotland inspires me, and I am grateful for this opportunity. Jan Mayor is the architect of this partnership. Jan opened a door, shared knowledge freely, trusted me, and kept showing up. None of this would have happened without Jan and the wider support of Turning Point Scotland. What works in Glasgow is not automatically what works in San Antonio. But the questions we are asking, and the values we bring to them, are the same. This aim is about building infrastructure to share across contexts rather than importing solutions wholesale.”

The partnership reflects a shared belief that outreach workers play a vital role in responding to complex public challenges and deserve greater recognition, support, and opportunities for professional development. By learning from each other’s experience and approaches, both organisations hope to strengthen harm reduction services, improve outcomes for communities, and ensure frontline workers are equipped and valued in the essential work they do.

Head of Alcohol and Other Drugs, Patricia Tracey says: “Turning Point Scotland wants to ensure that we not only deliver high-quality services, but ensure our staff are recognised and supported in their profession. We are committed to sharing our competency framework with San Antonio Nexus Connection so that outreach workers across the globe feel valued and recognised. By strengthening and equipping workforces to deliver the highest possible standards of care, we can play an important role in tackling this public health emergency together.”