DOZENS of Barrovians addicted to drugs and alcohol have had their lives turned around in the last ten years by a support group.

The Well community will be marking its tenth anniversary in November which will also see the launch of the group’s founder’s new book.

The Well, which was founded by David Higham, will celebrate the occasion on November 4 - ten years since the group was founded.

The not-for-profit community interest company was founded in 2012 by Mr Higham who overcame his own struggles with addiction and crime.

The organisation now has outlets across the north west including Barrow, Morecambe, Lancaster, Kendal and Fleetwood, with the purpose of helping people recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.

Over its decade in operation, the group has helped hundreds of people in the area.

Mr Higham will also be launching his own book ‘Rat Hell to Rat Park’ at the group’s celebration, which details his reflection on his own personal experience of addiction to reflect on how current systems in place are suited to dealing with the problem people have with drugs and alcohol.

“The celebration will be a combination of our book launch and a decade since our creation," he said.

“With the whole thing I’ve had to shake myself really. I wanted to do something and bring about some kind of change.

“I saw there was no visible recovery in the area for people coming out of prison, rehab, and or treatment, and no real support waiting for them.

“It came out of a need for the community and it was just modelled on my own need for recovery. I needed people to connect with and people I could identify with. It was due to all of these reasons why I started The Well. It was mutually beneficial.

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Kerrie Higham, who is the service manager of The Well, collected her MBE from Windsor Castle in April after she was named on the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2021 list.

Mr Higham’s book was first released in June and details the life experiences that guided him through the creation of The Well.

He added: “When we started it was just me and a few volunteers but now we have 60 people covering the North West. We’ve become a voice for the lived experience of recovery on a national and international scale. It’s mind-blowing.

“I am traveling to Lisbon next month to speak about recovery and in March next year I’m speaking at the United Nations.

“How this happened is beyond belief.

“It’s important to say I couldn’t have done any of this without the very people who volunteered, Kerrie Higham, who has been by my side the whole time. She also got her MBE recently.

“It’s amazing to see how many people we’ve rescued with this.

“On the day of the anniversary we are expecting some high profiled guests including the Lord Lieutenant, Colin Cox, the Police Commissioner, Health Professionals from Lancaster, Dr Andy Knox and a lot of really influential people.”

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