Who are we?

Together we considered the current UK landscape for people with addictions and reflected on what we were seeing and hearing over the last few years:

• Increasing numbers of people were still dying from preventable overdoses.
• Individuals and family members were reporting inequitable opportunities accessing residential treatment. There appeared to be a post-code lottery with some local authorities investing more than others.
• People were unaware of their rights to publicly funded drug and alcohol treatment, and had no independent advocacy when they needed it.
• There wasn’t enough investment in the treatment for trauma – often one of the underlying reasons for problematic substance use.
• We saw an unacceptable level of stigma around people with living and lived experiences in workplaces and in the mainstream media. Unhelpful and discriminatory language and labels were still being used with impunity.
• We heard that the voices of living and lived experiences were sometimes cherry-picked, and that not everyone was invited to the table.

In April 2021, led by our energetic CEO Annemarie Ward, we re-visited our aims, and made the decision to re-focus our energies on our campaigning and advocacy activities, whilst still retaining some of our core activities like our National Recovery Walk.

We are going to be brave and outspoken – calling out social injustice and encouraging our communities to speak out for themselves. We will become a vehicle for the voice of conscience, holding people to account for what we believe is right. We will continue to develop campaigns such as #Youkeeptalkingwekeepdying – reminding society that deaths from overdose are preventable and leave behind decimated families and communities.

We are excited to reveal our revised purpose and set of aims that will give our charity the foundation from which to develop our activities in 2021 and beyond.

Our team

As a seasoned addiction recovery specialist and harm reduction practitioner, David Bouse is committed to improving the lives of individuals facing substance misuse challenges. With a rich academic background, including a BA in Social Sciences from Glasgow Caledonian University and an MSc in Risk Management, David combines rigorous study with deep personal experience to advocate for effective recovery interventions.

David’s professional journey has been characterised by significant roles in organisations such as Turning Point Scotland and The Mungo Foundation, where he has implemented impactful outreach programs and supported individuals at critical moments in their recovery process. His approach is deeply influenced by his own experiences with addiction, driving his dedication to fostering environments that facilitate meaningful recovery.

David’s work extends beyond individual case management to systemic advocacy, seeking to address the broader social issues contributing to addiction. His expertise is also recognised academically through his contributions to risk management research and presentations at conferences focused on social crises.

Committed to continual professional development, David is an active member of key organisations within the addiction recovery and social work fields. His goal remains clear: to enhance the availability and quality of support for those embarking on the path to recovery, ensuring that they receive the compassionate and competent care they deserve. 

Our trustees

I am one of many Faces and Voices of Recovery who do not see young, smart, people with a passion to promote recovery having a seat at a table where we can be heard and influence or impact recovery, when we have credible lived experience. I am a woman in Recovery and part of a family in recovery. 

I am one of the founders of Recovery Coach Community CIC, and a lead trainer for Recovery Coach Academy, as one of the first two CCAR Authorised facilitators and Recovery Coach Professional Designates in the UK. We help Individuals, groups and organizations learn, train and utilize recovery coaching by educating, collaborating & supporting people to feel empowered themselves as well as empower others. 

We do this by supporting organizations to build their Recovery Communities, as well as Supporting Individuals to implement Recovery Coaching. 

I am very fortunate to have experienced recovery communities in the USA, and now have the opportunity to bring this to the UK; by combining my personal and professional experiences together to make a positive impact on Recovery. 

After moving to England from Texas in June 2018, I engaged in recovery communities & services to enhance my knowledge around the culture of recovery in the UK. Prior to the start of Recovery Coach Communities CIC, I was employed at Turning Point where within a year and a half I moved from volunteer, to employee as manager of the Recovery cafe; then went on to be promoted to a Recovery worker. I received an award at the Houses of Parliament due to my successes within Turning Point. 

You can find out more about Certified  Recovery Coaching in the UK here

Justine MacArthur has cultivated a rich career in human resources within the pharmacotherapy sector, primarily focusing on medicated assisted treatments (MAT) for Substance Use Disorders (SUD) and serious mental health conditions. With over nine years of experience, she has provided HR support to global teams at Indivior, engaging in a broad spectrum of HR functions such as recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and handling complex employee relations cases.

Her personal journey, marked by the loss of family and friends to overdose and witnessing the recovery of others, has instilled a deep commitment to supporting individuals affected by SUD. This personal connection, coupled with her professional background, fuels her advocacy for evidence-based treatment approaches and policy reform to improve access to addiction services.

Justine’s involvement with FAVOR UK began after being inspired by Annmarie Ward in 2018, leading to regular donations, participation in Recovery Walks, and active promotion of recovery initiatives within her network. Her efforts extend beyond her professional sphere, as she also contributes to community support initiatives and environmental causes, reflecting her holistic approach to societal well-being.

Joining the trustee board of FAVOR UK, Justine is eager to leverage her HR expertise, lived experience, and advocacy passion to further the organization’s mission of enhancing support, reducing stigma, and influencing policy for individuals with SUD in the UK. Her multifaceted experience positions her as a valuable asset to FAVOR UK, where she aims to contribute to the ongoing development and expansion of its advocacy and support services.

Jon is a highly respected member of the UK recovery community. His wealth of experience will benefit greatly our efforts to support the recovery community and recovery advocacy here in the UK. Here is what he wrote when we asked him to write a short bio.

“I am married to Nadia, a dad to three children and have been in abstinent recovery from addiction to drugs and drink since 1990.

I started work as a trainee counsellor in a 12 step residential treatment centre in 1991 and this was the first step in a career that has been a privilege, joy and adventure these last 22 years helping others to achieve recovery. I have a Diploma in Counselling, an MBA and am a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute. After various posts as a practitioner, manager and senior manager in the voluntary and private sector I joined my current employer the Bridge Project as its Chief Executive Officer in 2007. Today Bridge employs over 60 staff and provides treatment and recovery services to over 2,000 people per year.

In addition to my day job, I actively promote recovery initiatives as a founder member of the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Recovery Consortium and have helped organise Recoverfest, the Region’s main recovery event these past two years. I was a member of the Department of Health Expert Group on Addiction to Medicines reporting to the Public Health Minister and I am a member of the Drugscope Chief Executive’s Forum. A special area of interest for me is developing stronger links between treatment and mutual aid. Currently I am a member of the Public Health England National Mutual Aid Reference Group, which is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the national strategic action plan and developing a series of products to facilitate better pathways from treatment into mutual aid.

After working for so many years in the treatment sector, I am inspired by the fantastic work that is being taken forward by Faces and Voices of Recovery Charity and believe that by becoming a Trustee it will enable me to take a more active personal role in service and gratitude for my own gift of recovery.

I am honoured to become a Trustee of the FAVOR UK and offer my business skills, passion and knowledge of addictions recovery to support the Chief Executive, fellow Board Members and the aims of the charity.”

Andy is an Integrative psychotherapist and have specialised in the addiction field for over 20 years. During this time he has worked in many roles, leading teams and building connections. He has always had a passion for understanding how the therapeutic relationship enlightens and informs personal, professional and system processes.

He has also presented workshops across Europe since 2009 on addiction and attachment and co-authored research that focused on the relational importance of attachment and connection when thinking of addiction, community, life chances, trauma and developmental change. His curiosity has helped him in developing an understanding around developmental trauma and addiction.

He has been privileged to meet many people across many sectors through this work, and has long been a supporter of the impact FAVOR UK has across the field and by joining the board he hopes to utilise his experience where possible to benefit this work, as well as learning from the dedicated team.

Dr. Carlton Brick is an esteemed sociologist with a distinguished career in academic research and policy analysis, particularly in the areas of drug policy and social accountability. As a lecturer in sociology at the University of the West of Scotland, Dr. Brick has dedicated his research to exploring the complex landscape of Scottish drug policy, the ongoing crisis in drug-related deaths, and the broader implications of harm reduction strategies.

With a strong record of high-level peer-reviewed publications and contributions to public consultations, Dr. Brick has been a vocal advocate for a democratically accountable drug policy that upholds socially meaningful definitions of recovery and abstinence. His research critically examines the influence of “evidence-based” narratives in shaping drug policies and challenges the prevailing dominance of harm reduction advocacy within European and UK responses to addiction.

Currently, Dr. Brick is producing a research report on the role of harm reduction advocacy in EU drug policies. Additionally, he is preparing a collaborative book that aims to map the history and expanding influence of the Harm Reduction Movement. His work contends that an overly dogmatic approach to harm reduction, coupled with opposition to recovery-based models, is a key factor in the persistence of the drug crisis not only in Scotland but across Europe and beyond.

Although Dr. Brick does not have direct experience as a practitioner or in a personal recovery capacity, his deep expertise in policy development, public discourse, and research advocacy makes him a valuable addition for the FAVOR UK board. His commitment to evidence-based policy that prioritises recovery, combined with his ability to critically engage with key debates in addiction services, positions him as a strong ally in FAVOR UK’s mission to expand access and choice for individuals seeking pathways to recovery.

By joining the board, Dr. Brick aims to contribute his analytical skills, policy expertise, and public advocacy to support FAVOR UK’s ongoing work in shaping effective, person-centred addiction recovery services. His appointment would bring a unique sociological and policy-focused perspective to the organisation, reinforcing its commitment to recovery as a fundamental right.