Redbridge Service User Achievement Awards - celebrating people who have overcome addictions and turned their lives around

The service user achievement awards, organised by the Redbridge R3 Specialist Substance Misuse Service and the Council recognised, 35 local residents experiencing drug and/or alcohol addictions who have not only achieved abstinence from drugs or alcohol but have gone on to find employment and entered training or started volunteering in the local community. 

A further 15 service users have undergone an accredited Peer Mentoring training program which equips them with the skills and knowledge to support others that are still struggling with their addiction.

Gladys Xavier, Director of Public Health and Cllr Mark Santos, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, presented the awards.

He said: “I want to congratulate all our award winners. They have worked hard on their recovery journeys and getting their lives back on track by finding employment, getting training, or giving back to their communities through volunteering. This was a special event with some really moving success stories, and I was really delighted to attend and hand out the awards.”

• At the ceremony, 15 people who completed the WDP peer mentoring course received their awards and certificates. They will now become peer mentors for the service supporting others in the community struggling with addiction.
• A further nine people received certificates for completing their WDP NOVA course, a motivational programme that helps with confidence building, improving resilience and setting goals for the future. 

This was the first Achievement Awards ceremony of its kind in Redbridge, and plans are being drawn up to expand the awards next year to include family members, partners and carers. The event ended with a meal and time to network and socialise. 

Case study of one of our winners: Jason Kelvin – WDP Redbridge Service User Achievement Awards

Jason Kelvin recently received an award in recognition of his success on a recovery programme at this year’s Redbridge Service User Achievement Awards.

 His struggle with alcohol and drug addiction dominated nearly two decades of his life – but it is a battle he is now winning after turning his life around with the support of the Redbridge R3 Specialist Substance Misuse Service, run by Westminster Drugs Project (WDP).

Jason has been an avid photographer throughout his life, and it was at the peak of a successful career as a professional photographer in the fashion and music industry in his mid-twenties that Jason’s life began to spiral as he descended deeper into addiction. 

Jason revealed his darkest days: “I was a train wreck, and although I was working, I was emotionally dysfunctional. I looked terrible and felt terrible. I had lost so many of my friends and relationships. Eventually, I took the first step going to an AA meeting, and even though I knew things needed to change, it took many years through detox and counselling to want to rebuild my destroyed life.”

Through his recovery programme, Jason has not only overcome his addiction but has gone on to become a trained peer mentor, helping others on their road to recovery. 

“It is imperative as a society we don’t ‘shoot our wounded’ and are allowed to heal in an ever-challenging world”, said Jason.  “Without the support and help I received, I probably wouldn’t be alive today. R3 gave me the confidence I needed to rebuild myself, and as I got better, I saw the potential for me to help others through peer mentoring. I’ve been given another chance at life, and I want to use that positively. I’m 51 now and can honestly say this is the best time of my life. I’m at my healthiest, happiest, and enjoying taking on fulfilling roles where I can help others.”

Jason has retrained in mental health to continue developing himself and is working with local charities and well-being projects.

The path to recovery has also rekindled his passion for photography. In conjunction with WDP R3, Jason has led a series of exhibitions around London. The emotive displays showcase moments captured from the lives of other service users – helping them tell the story of their hardships and battles with addiction. R3, working with Jason and local R3 service users, will be organising a similar exhibition in Redbridge this November. 

In recognition of his success on the recovery programme, Jason was presented with the Recovery Achievement Award – For achieving sustained abstinence from alcohol and drugs at this year’s WDP Redbridge Service Users Achievement Awards.