WE all know that addiction is a very real problem in our society. It is a fact that one in three people will know someone with a drink problem.

In Gloucestershire alone, more than 90,000 people have a problem with alcohol or drugs.

While this is not an easy topic to discuss, Stroud-based charity The Nelson Trust has been helping people fighting addiction turn their lives around for over three decades.

To celebrate the Trust's 30th anniversary on July 11, SNJ reporter Jamie Wiseman looks back at their amazing work helping people with addiction change their lives for the better.

In 1985, young sweethearts Roy and Mary Brash made a brave leap into the unknown and invested their life savings into The Nelson Inn, Stroud.

Creating the first abstinence-based residential rehab centre in Gloucestershire, their vision was to enable people to move out of chaos into meaningful lives, and give them a fresh start.

Since the 1980s, The Nelson Trust has grown dramatically and now operates five rehab centres around Stroud and has helped more than 2,100 individuals over the years.

They now also have four residential homes with capacity for 23 people, enabling them to make the transition from rehab into independent living where they can start to contribute to society.

As chief executive John Trolan explains, “Our belief is that everyone has the potential to overcome their addiction and enjoy independence from drugs and alcohol, if they can get the right support at the right time.

“We recognise that many people develop an addiction as a result of trauma or abuse in their early life: they are very vulnerable when they first come into treatment. That is why the vast majority of our clients are able to overcome their addiction and go on to achieve great things with their lives.”

With this philosophy comes the understanding that it is better to look for ways to help them before their lives start to fall apart.

This is what makes the Nelson Trust so unique and different, believing that everyone has the capacity to overcome addiction no matter what complex emotional needs, mental health problems, criminal justice issues, and family difficulties they bring with them.

Over the years the Trust has grown and grown, helping many individuals and families to find independence, confidence and stability after addiction and chaos.

It is testament to the passion and commitment that many of the 84 employees at The Nelson Trust are in recovery themselves, serving as role models, determined to show others that it is possible to break free of addiction.

One of those who had benefited from the help and support the Nelson Trust offers was Rob Mackie.

Rob, who was a heavy drinker, arrived at The Nelson Trust in December 2013 after losing his family, his business and becoming homeless overnight.

Following instructions and embracing his treatment, Rob discovered he really enjoyed working with stained glass and art, which gave him a particular focus and purpose.

This enabled him to become sober and get motivated to change his life.

“I had lost everything to alcohol and had no reason to live. Things are going so well now. I have life, a reason to get up in the morning. I had lost everything. The Nelson Trust gave me my life back,” said Rob, who now lives in Gloucester.

He has now completed his residential treatment and moved into resettlement, and has also completed a two-year course at Stroud College and has an unconditional place to study a BA degree in Fine Art at Bath Spa University.

Wanting to give back, he is now a peer mentor, regularly attends AA meetings and fundraises for the Nelson Trust.

To celebrate recoveries like Rob’s and many more, on July 11 the Nelson Trust is holding a Fete and Family Fun Day to celebrate its anniversary.

The event, which will be held between 2.30 and 4.30pm at the Star Centre at Hope Mills Park in Brimscombe, will reunite many past clients and their families and say a big thank you to everyone for all their support over the last three decades.

As part of the celebration, the Trust is also launching the Stand with Us appeal, calling on everyone in Gloucestershire to give up alcohol for just one evening, donating their savings so that more people can get the support they need.

Admission is free and everyone is welcome. For more information, please visit www.nelsontrust.com/fete or www.nelsontrust.com/standwithus

  • To read more stories of people The Nelson Trust has helped fight addiction, click here and here