We're still collecting donations
On the 12th May 2021 we'd raised £2,950 with 45 supporters in 28 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
+ est. £610.00
We want to raise funds and secure a building to begin helping and supporting people with substance misuse problems in the Lichfield District
by Better Way Recovery in Lichfield, England, United Kingdom
On the 12th May 2021 we'd raised £2,950 with 45 supporters in 28 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
Better Way Recovery is a new Charity set up to help and support people suffering with addiction problems in the Lichfield District. It will be run and supported by people who have survived addiction and found a Better Way to live. Our founder Peter Griffith was in active addiction for almost 30 years, living a lonely existence, spending time in different institutions and separating himself from society, not knowing or believing there was a way out. After a near death experience in 2016 he finally got the help he needed through a local treatment centre and is now over 4 years abstinent from drink and drugs and his life has completely changed. His family are also feeling the benefits that the positive ripple effects of recovery has. Having gone on to do outreach work in the Lichfield district it was clear to see it was difficult for people to access help with similar problems and the need for more support was absolute. During COVID-19 Peter felt that the time for more support in the district was now and the idea of Better Way Recovery was born. The 8 Trustees of the Charity have all been touched by addiction, be it themselves or family members or loved ones of those in addiction. After 9 months of hard work we have reached charity status and are now in the funding process.
Our vision is to provide a safe environment for people with addiction problems to go to 6 days a week. To do this we need to secure a suitable building. This is vital to our vision. There, we will be delivering peer led support groups, offering multi agency support, helping with education, employment and volunteering opportunities, making introductions to local mutual aid groups, and developing a recovery community never before seen in the Lichfield District. The main thing we have to offer is Hope. We have lived that life and found a Better Way to live. We believe that experience will knock down walls that have previously been impenetrable. The current situation in the Lichfield District means anyone with a substance misuse problem has to travel out of the District, to Burton or Tamworth to access support. This severely impacts their ability to engage consistently and leaves people suffering in silence. Our service will be a lifeline to these people. From travelling outside of the district to access help, to having a place to go locally 6 days a week, may be the difference in someone changing their life.
Part of our purpose is to help and support the homeless and those suffering poverty with a food and clothing bank and to also have hygiene facilities available. We will also be delivering awareness and preventative talks in local schools and community groups and visiting the most vulnerable through outreach work. Some of our Trustee Board are family members of loved ones who were in addiction. A big part of what we want to offer consists of Family support. We understand the helplessness and sadness of watching a loved one in active addiction. This can be a traumatic experience in itself. Better Way Recovery will help and support family members through these difficult times.
Starting on Monday 19th April Peter will be walking approximately 100 miles between the 52 towns and villages in the Lichfield District to raise funds and create awareness of the current situation in the area and how we see Better Way Recovery fitting in and working together with all other agencies to deliver a service that is, at present, not available. You can follow his progress on our Facebook page @betterwayrecovery. The walk will finish in Lichfield City centre on April 24th. All funds raised will go towards acquiring premises to begin our vision. Please support us so we can begin supporting others. We believe our vision will not only save lives but change lives for the better. We want to be the change that shows others that change is actually possible for them too.
Addiction stripped me of my all self respect. I felt alone and isolated. I had given up on myself and didn't believe there was any hope that change was possible for me. Internally I was beaten. I finally got hope through other people. People started believing in me and told me it was going to be alright and it got me through some difficult times when I was at my worst. Those experiences gave us the inspiration for the "We believe in you" wall". It will be a constant reminder to those just starting their journey into recovery that people believe in them and they are not alone anymore. The wall symbolises Unity and connection, the total opposite of addiction. This will be central to everything we aim to do at Better Way Recovery.
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