Aviva Community Fund has provided £1,750 of match funding
Kickback Recovery Community Sheffield
Sheffield, England, United Kingdom
Aim
We support people recovering from addiction to escape from the isolation, stigma and misery of addiction and lead positive, healthy lives
We Are Kickback Recovery Community Sheffield !
Founder Mick Hartley
My Own Addiction Journey
I started sniffing glue and gas at the age of 12 after a traumatic childhood which led me into crime using cannabis, amphetamines and eventually a cocaine addiction. I've spent several years in prison between the ages of 16-27 for offences connected with drugs and violence as I ran two nightclubs in Sheffield City Centre and did all the security work myself. Later, I became a drug dealer in cannabis, pills and cocaine from Liverpool to Sheffield.
Rock Bottom
At the age of 43, I hit rock bottom and decided to seek help out of my addiction and the mental health issues it was causing me and I went into a rehab clinic in Yorkshire. I struggled at first and there were several inevitable relapses, but eventually, I started to feel well and understand the triggers and temptations which addiction throws at addicts like me.
How Kickback Started
Five years ago, I set up 'Kickback Recovery' in Sheffield which is a peer-led service to support some of the 2,000 people who leave drug & alcohol rehab clinics in the city every year, without any visible means of support to sustain their recovery.
We began initially as a small group but now we are a fully registered charity and run three weekly therapy meetings on Zoom and one two-hour meeting in the City Centre.
Peer-Led Service
Since August 2020 we have had 1627 attendances at our group meetings including 106 new members and we now have 22,500 followers on social media, with over 3,000 people in a closed group, getting support online. The service is peer-led, which means people learn from each other's experience of recovery and share their remarkable stories with new members.
I now direct the meetings as they are delivered as part of a structured learning package (I am studying for my teaching diploma) and hold 11 therapy clinics a week for people seeking help with their recovery. Kickback Recovery works for people recovering from addiction.
BBC Community Champions Award
In 2019 Kickback Recovery were pleased to win a joint BBC Radio Sheffield & South Yorkshire Community Foundation Community Champions Award for 'Team Champion' in recognition of our work in helping to transform the lives of people living with drug and alcohol addictions and mental health issues in Sheffield.
The glittering ceremony was held at Sheffield Cathedral and hosted by Radio Sheffield's Toby Foster and Paulette Edwards and later the evening was broadcasted on BBC Radio Sheffield where Kickback reached a large audience across South Yorkshire & North Derbyshire.
You can read more about the awards here: BBC Radio Sheffield & South Yorkshire Community Foundation Community Champions Awards
No Stereotypes in Addiction
Addiction affects people from all walks of life, social status, family background and occupation and there is no stereotype. We also support family members affected by the often chaotic and devastating impact which addiction causes and it has a profound impact on the whole family not just the addict.
We have shown that people can rebuild their lives after addiction and escape from the misery of negative repetitive behaviours which bring isolation, shame and stigma to move onto living healthy, productive, positive lives, reconnecting with their families, friends and society.
We are now working with the NHS and a range of voluntary and statutory organisations to embed the Kickback Recovery Community approach into mainstream provision in Sheffield as we work to change things for the better in people's lives.
Matt's Story
I joined Kickback recovery a couple of months ago and, wow, how things have turned around. I have suffered from depression, epilepsy and drug addiction for most of my adult life. I was in denial, selfish, dishonest and totally self-centred.
I reached out and joined Kickback.
I am now 65 days clean and starting to like myself again. I am rebuilding damaged relationships and caring and supporting others.
I'm meant to have blood tests for my health issues, every year. I haven't had one for 12 years. I discussed this with Mick and after much sole searching went to the doctors. I had tests for everything - liver function, diabetes, colon cancer, thyroid... you name it, I checked it.
I have never been for one of these tests without being hauled into the doctors and told that I am slowly killing my body.
Today I received a clean bill of health on all my tests. I am speechless....
Without the Kickback family support, I wouldn't be here today. The Zoom meetings over lock down have been invaluable and the strength I have found from fellow members are better than any drug I have ever tried.
What I am trying to say is a big THANK YOU to MICK and all you fellow 'Kickbackers'
You have helped turn my life around ☺❤????
#KickBackRecovery
Our Vision - Please Help Us
Kickback Recovery Community is achieving remarkable success in turning people's lives around. I believe we are making a real difference in the community, but we need your help.
The service has raised some funds from small grants, donations and sponsorship thus far, but we need support to pay for our regular meeting place, travel expenses and salary costs to enable me to continue this critical provision in Sheffield.
Kickback Recovery Community needs to find dedicated premises with its own meeting space. We also need to fund diversionary activities for our service users such as trips, visits and social events which don't involved alcohol or drugs.
If you'd like to book Mick Hartley to come along and speak to your group, business or organisation to relate his powerful testimony and speak about the work of Kickback Recovery Community CIO, please get in touch.
This project successfully funded on 9th June 2021