We had a helping hand this week from John Sykes, Chair and Founder of Trustees of the John Sykes Foundation, along with his son “Little” John, who were both pleased to present us with their second of three annual grants.  

The funding helps maintain our alcohol and drug testing programme. It ensures that men who join our community can stay accountable to themselves and others.

One of our residents explained why drug testing is so important;

“In my early days of recovery being tested for drug use was of paramount importance to fuel my drive to conquer my illness. The tests gave me regular goals and I felt a sense of achievement as the weeks of being clean grew into months. Being tested gave me security knowing that those around me had also passed, which helped build comradery and trust within our community. 

Being tested helps me stay accountable to Hope and Vision Communities – giving them and their supporters peace of mind and clarity for their future. Some of the best feelings I’ve had in my life have come from passing a test of some sort – knowing that what I might have failed, I have passed. It’s a benchmark for success. It helps me feel that I am doing something right. When you’re in recovery regular drug testing is no different – it's a test that I’m very happy to be passing right now.”

John Sykes commented “I firmly believe in the power of knowledge and responsibility. We understand the importance of promoting the well-being of individuals who may find themselves in vulnerable situations and recognise that substance use is a complex issue that affects individuals and communities in various ways. Empowerment lies not just in providing testing kits, but in reducing the negative impact on society that substance abuse can cause. Our donation seeks to ignite a ripple effect of compassion, understanding, and support, enabling individuals to find their path towards recovery and reclaim their lives, contributing to creating a safer and more understanding society for all.”

Chairman Peter Ross said “The John Sykes Foundation has been incredibly generous to Hope and Vison over the past year, both with through their grant funding and more recently when John and Annabelle agreed to become official charity Ambassadors to help us raise awareness and funding. My time as a judge shows me that regular testing is a powerful tool to retain abstinence during recovery and enables us to show to the wider community that we are taking seriously the need to provide community safety. We gratefully receive this grant from them knowing that it makes a considerable difference to those we support."