A CHARITY that helps men recovering from drug and alcohol addiction to start living in the community again has been given a grant to help fund its work.
Reading-based Hope and Vision Communities offers support in a number of ways, including accountability via a testing programme. This ensures those who join its network can stay accountable to themselves and the community to which they belong.
To help fund this, The John Sykes Foundation has committed to a three-year grant programme and earlier this month presented the charity with its second instalment.
Hope and Vision Communities was created in 2020 by Tony Attwood, who spent 15 years in the criminal justice system, along with the judge who jailed him, Peter Ross.
The pair have a unique understanding of the cycle of addiction, and the charity they have founded aims to offer safe and secure homes to men in Reading who have successfully left treatment for addiction.
Mr Ross said: “The John Sykes Foundation has been incredibly generous to Hope and Vison over the past year, both through their grant funding and, more recently, when John and Annabelle agreed to become official charity Ambassadors to help us raise awareness and funding.
“My time as a judge shows me that regular testing is a powerful tool to retain abstinence during recovery and enables us to show to the wider community that we are taking seriously the need to provide community safety.
“We gratefully receive this grant from them knowing that it makes a considerable difference to those we support.”
One of the charity’s residents explained why drug testing is so important: “In my early days of recovery, being tested for drug use was of paramount importance to fuel my drive to conquer my illness.
“The tests gave me regular goals and I felt a sense of achievement as the weeks of being clean grew into months. Being tested gave me security knowing that those around me had also passed, which helped build comradery and trust within our community.
“Being tested helps me stay accountable to Hope and Vision Communities – giving them and their supporters peace of mind and clarity for their future. Some of the best feelings I’ve had in my life have come from passing a test of some sort – knowing that what I might have failed, I have passed.
“It’s a benchmark for success. It helps me feel that I am doing something right. When you’re in recovery regular drug testing is no different – it’s a test that I’m very happy to be passing right now.”
For the presentation, John Sykes, chair and founder of trustees of The John Sykes Foundation, visited along with his son “Little” John.
“I firmly believe in the power of knowledge and responsibility,” Mr Sykes senior said.
“We understand the importance of promoting the well-being of individuals who may find themselves in vulnerable situations and recognise that substance use is a complex issue that affects individuals and communities in various ways.
“Empowerment lies not just in providing testing kits, but in reducing the negative impact on society that substance abuse can cause.
“Our donation seeks to ignite a ripple effect of compassion, understanding, and support, enabling individuals to find their path towards recovery and reclaim their lives, contributing to creating a safer and more understanding society for all.”
For more on Hope and Vision Communities, log on to: www.hopeandvision.org.uk
For more on The John Sykes Foundation, log on to: www.johnsykesfoundation.org
