News and views

The launch of our 2024 annual report is a time to reflect and to acknowledge our achievements despite the significant challenges the country has faced. Our dedicated team members, volunteers and peer mentors have made these results possible.

Aspire’s new ‘Community Connector’ approach is helping people to access and engage with support – and tackling stigma within communities that the service was previously unable to reach.

Today’s statistics confirm there were 5,448 deaths related to drug-poisoning in England and Wales in 2023. These statistics are more than just numbers. Every death represents a life cut short, a loved one lost, a family torn apart, and these tragedies are felt across communities and impact society as a whole.

Luci Weir leads EWE (Empowering Women Everywhere), the Vulnerable Women’s Project at Change Grow Live’s Aspire Recovery Service in Peterborough. She explains how just one of the activities, the Wildflowers outreach clinic, is breaking down barriers to support some of the country’s most vulnerable women.

The General Election on 4th July 2024 is an opportunity for all political parties to commit to securing high quality drug and alcohol treatment for everyone who wants to access it.

Research shows that veterans are less likely than non-veterans to seek support for substance use. This is compounded by the fact that they’re more likely to face multiple disadvantages and have poorer treatment outcomes. As the largest provider of drug and alcohol treatment services, we can – and should – be instrumental in empowering veterans to get the support they need.

At our Southwest Prisons service, Elaine Wilcock is leading an innovative project to make support more accessible to neurodivergent people. Here, she explains how this will help us empower more people into life-changing support.

Our Manchester RISE service is part of an innovative partnership model that is helping people access the support that is right for them. Head of Services Jackie McVann explains how the Street Engagement Hub is meeting people's complex needs.

This year, for the first time in our history, we are publishing our Ethnicity Pay Gap Report 2023 alongside our Gender Pay Gap Report 2023.