As Eastern Recovery Month nears the mid-way point, the organisers have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and creativity shown by those taking part.
Says Eastern Regional Manager for the NTA, Emma Pawson: “This year’s event is bigger, better and brighter than before with everyone in the region affected by drug or alcohol misuse working hard to get across the recovery message. I am very impressed with their determination and commitment to the cause and thank everyone who has helped make it a success.”
With two weeks still to go, there are dozens more events planned across the region including the glittering new Regional Recovery Awards ceremony planned for 30 June in Cambridge.
Since the launch at the beginning of June, dozens of events have already taken place to celebrate Eastern recovery month:
Open Road has launched its new Ipswich treatment centre. The centre was opened by Dr Amanda Jones, Deputy Director of Public Health, and NHS Suffolk on 3 June. Guests from the local community enjoyed a tour of the centre by staff and volunteers. Service users also promoted recovery in Harlow and Chelmsford.
Essex Drug and Alcohol Partnership ran an art and creative writing competition in May for service users, families and carers to enter. Winners and runners up were awarded vouchers and their work will be displayed in public buildings across the county during Recovery Month.
The Matthew Project in Thetford organised a nine mile charity recovery walk, which took place on 4 June. Twelve service users took part, raising funds for the service users' involvement group newsletter as well as highlighting their achievements.
CRI, Peterborough are encouraging service users to drop in and complete a recovery wish for the reception display. All participants will be entered into a raffle.
Inside Out, Chelmsford have been celebrating in a variety of ways including a bake sale, recovery debate board, wristband launch, art competition and will end the month with a recovery barbecue.
Over the next few weeks even more events are happening in celebration of recovery:
Addaction Cambridge hosts a 'Celebrating Recovery' event where speakers will talk about their own recovery and what recovery means in general. It will also include the launch of their new Recovery Champions programme and announce the winners of the first ever Recovery awards.
The Colchester SOS and Communities Bus will be promoting Recovery Month, the work the SOS Bus carries out and also the services provided by Open Road across Essex and Suffolk on Saturday 18 June.
HMP Bullwood are organising a butterfly garden with the theme of freedom. This will be officially opened on 24 June.
Later in the month Addaction centres in Bedford and Dunstable will be encouraging people who are working through recovery and those who are just beginning on their recovery journey to come together around activities such as art and photography and to meet for food.
The Drugsline Service, Hertfordshire will be launching a new abstinence support group on 27 June.
Open Road is to launch two new centres in Suffolk. The Rt. Hon Nick Hurd MP, Minister for Civil Society, and David Ruffley MP will be opening the new Bury St Edmunds treatment centre on 30 June and the Mayor of Lowestoft will be opening the new Lowestoft treatment centre on 1 July. Guests will also be given tours of the centres by staff and volunteers.
Ipswich Buses have donated a bus which will be decorated with purple ribbons and will tour Ipswich on 30 June. Local providers will be on board to promote their services as well as giving advice and guidance at each of the publicised stops.