High praise for Doncaster’s drug and alcohol services

Doncaster has some of the best drug and alcohol services in the UK – according to the boss of one of the UK’s most important recovery charities.

The comments were made by Faces and Voices of Recovery UK (FAVOR UK) Chief Executive Officer Annemarie Ward, when she visited us at Aspire  to meet staff and service users.

FAVOR UK organises the national Recovery Walk, now in its eighth year, which sees thousands of people in recovery from addiction joining together to celebrate recovery and reduce the stigma associated with those affected by substance misuse.

Annemarie Ward (centre) visiting us at New Beginnings
Annemarie Ward (centre) visiting us at New Beginnings

Aspire Psychosocial Interventions Practitioner Neil Firbank who arranged the visit said: “This was a fantastic opportunity to showcase our Doncaster services to Annemarie, and we were delighted she was so impressed.

“She visits services all around the UK and as someone who is in recovery herself, she knows good practice when she sees it – and she said ours is the best!”

The visit could also pave the way for Doncaster to one day host the National Recovery Walk, which was held in Durham in 2015, and will be held in Halton on 10 September 2016.

Neil added: “FAVOR UK members get to vote for the town or city they’d like to host the Recovery Walk. Doncaster has an ever growing recovery community so it would be a great to put us on the map!”

Aspire Drug and Alcohol Service is a partnership between, Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) and The Alcohol and Drug Service (ADS).

Anyone seeking help and advice about drug or alcohol issues can call (01302) 730956 for a confidential chat.

People can find out more about FAVOR UK’s work and the Recovery Walk at:  www.facesandvoicesofrecoveryuk.org/