Why is a programme like this important to the people of Grimsby?

Addiction does not discriminate, it can often be viewed as a poverty problem but you only have to look at all the people in the public eye that are in a recovery programme to know that it can affect anyone, no matter what your background or status is. Whilst doing this work I have come across every kind of person, from all different professions and backgrounds. Everyone is different but addiction is the same. It is one of the most stigmatised health conditions on the planet and there is a lack of education and awareness in regards to addiction and the recovery process. It is a progressive condition that only gets worse and it’s the only health condition you have to admit that you have. Everyone knows someone that has or has had a serious addiction problem, often it can be a loved one which is why we also provide the same support for families.

Our community projects are designed to benefit and include the community. Anyone can get involved with our projects with no pressure to commit. We want as many people as possible from the local area to get involved no matter what their ability. All our projects are designed to be inclusive. We provide a safe and non-judgmental environment, where all people are welcome.

You mention culture in Grimsby and many people immediately think that doesn’t include them. These are the people we aim to target, we much prefer to work with hard to reach people and teach them simple techniques that they can use for the rest of their lives. CREATIVE START promotes art as a tool to help wellbeing and build self-esteem. We are about the creative process of art and how it can help as a way of dealing with life’s issues. All of our workshops are free to access and run on donation. We aim to bring art to everyone especially those that maybe vulnerable or those that feel socially excluded.

CREATIVE START is the first and only organisation that is delivering this kind of peer support programme in the local area. What makes it different to other services is that people in abstinence based recovery are involved in the running of the organisation. We are all very passionate about the issues we aim to tackle because we have all been directly affected by them. There is a big problem with addiction in the area and also the stigma attached to it. It’s important for the community to see that people can recover and completely change their lives. We aim to act as an example not only to people affected by addiction but to the community as a whole. To show them what can be done if you put your mind to it.

It is very easy to point the finger at people that are stuck in the destructive cycle of addiction. Addicts are not easy people to work with when they are using, CREATIVE START works with a niche group of people who are ready to change and that can be identified because those running the organisation know what it is like to have serious addiction problems and how to recover from it. We also know when people are not ready for recovery. We work on attraction rather than promotion. We never tell people what to do, we can only make suggestions and offer people the benefit of our own experience in addiction and recovery. Recovery has very little to do with alcohol and drugs, it is to do with behaviour. It is a way of living your life on life’s terms, where you do not need to turn to substances or certain destructive behaviours in order to cope with what life throws at you.

Without organisations like CREATIVE START there is very little evidence that recovery from addiction is possible. Without giving people a reason to get out of addictive behaviour and showing that recovery is possible, people have nothing to compare it against. We exist to offer hope to those that maybe struggling and their families and to show that with the right support, it is possible to change your life completely around and become free of addiction in whatever form it’s in.

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