Ambassadors
#closingthegap
Our Ambassadors
Our Ambassadors are people who have agreed to champion and encourage us, spread the word about what we do and inspire many more people to support our work.
Reading based entrepreneur and respected philanthropist, John Sykes was deeply honoured to be the very first charity Ambassador after he first met Peter and Tony in 2021 when they successfully applied for a grant from The John Sykes Foundation. He says "I was so enormously inspired by their mission to support those who require the next step after leaving rehabilitation, that we extended the grant for 3 years. Their work is absolutely critical to allow individuals and their families recover and move on with their lives and add true value to themselves, no matter what barriers they may face.
I am committed on this journey of helping Peter, Tony and their team increase Hope & Vision Communities profile and reach, whilst supporting their immensely important work changing lives for a brighter future. The impact of addiction is so devastating and far reaching well beyond the individual and to support such a dedicated team is a privilege".
https://www.johnsykesfoundation.org/
Councillor Sara Hyde has worked in and around the prison system since 2008. She has stood as a parliamentary candidate for the London Assembly and in 2018, became a Labour councillor in the London borough of Islington, where she is now Chief Whip. Sara is also Vice Chair of the Fabian Society and chaired Fabian Women's Network 2018-2022.
Sara knows all too well that most people in the justice system have histories of trauma which manifest in addiction and mental health issues, and she has repeatedly seen first-hand the crucial role of good, supportive relationships and stable housing in recovery journeys. She tells us: "We are desperate for the provision that Hope and Vision Communities offers which is a holistic, integrated response to addiction, and a caring place to live where trauma and adverse childhood events are understood through lived experience. Tony has created his charity with the participant in mind. I am delighted to support his fantastic initiative."
Former Reading and Leeds United Manager, and Arsenal player Brian McDermott first met Tony in 2018 and understands from his own experience the feelings that can lead to addiction.
He says. "I only stay stopped drinking because of the great group of people I have around me. Community matters, relationships matter, belonging matters – and not letting the idea that you’re never good enough – get to you. I see in Tony a man who serves others with grace and love, and I am pleased to be working with him to spread the message of hope to those who need it".
Maidenhead businessman Peter Griffin has been a champion of ours for over a year and seemed a natural fit to be a charity Ambassador.
He is currently Chairman at G&L Scientific and balances life with being Chairman of Maidenhead United FC. It also helps that both him and Tony are Arsenal supporters – which means that if you’re not you’d probably best avoid the office when Peter visits!
He tells us: “I have lived in the area for about 30 years. My family has always been keen to help smaller local charities and Una is founder and Chairman of The Link Foundation children’s charity. We know how important these small charities are to the community and how effective they are at making the most of their income to give maximum benefit. I knew as soon as I learnt more about the charity that I had to get involved. Hopefully, by becoming an Ambassador, I can help raise awareness (and much needed funds!) about their work as they continue to grow.”
www.linkfoundation.co.uk
We are delighted to welcome two-time World Record Holder and Wild Adventurer Roger Davies as an Ambassador. It’s fair to say that having recovered from a life of crime, addiction and cancer, Roger knows a thing or two about transformation and second chances. He was once a man on the run from his past but now he runs – usually as part of a hard-core expedition – towards his future with optimism and uncompromising self-belief. He has played rugby on Mount Everest, trekked 650 km to the North Pole, battled the deadly North Atlantic in the world’s toughest rowing race and taken on the Himalayas and Sahara Desert. He’s someone who we’ve always admired, and we’re thrilled to have him officially join our team to help us raise the profile of what we’re doing for men who want a second chance at life but think the mountain ahead is impossible to climb - Roger is proof that it isn't.
You can read more about Roger’s remarkable story here.
Roger has offered to sign/personalise copies of his book and donate 20% of the sale back to the charity. Purchase here and then send an email to with 'Hope and Vision' in the reference.
London 2012 Olympian and 2014 Commonwealth Games Judo Gold Medalist, Danny Williams has always been a friend and supporter of our charity and recently agreed to become one of our charity Ambassadors.
Having won many international titles and medals he knows a thing or two about winning. He retired from competitive judo in March 2022 and is now a full-time coach at the renowned Camberley Judo Club. He tells us:
“I always recognise and admire those who step out of their comfort zones to achieve their dreams, and Tony is one of those people. I have watched him grow his charity since the beginning, with the same determination and discipline as I see a judo player step onto the mat. In 2021 I hosted an event for the charity to introduce judo to people in recovery and was delighted to hear that two of the men who attended that day have since joined him as residents. It's so important to have people championing and coaching you through life – and I am honoured to be able to do this for Tony and the Hope and Vision team as an Ambassador.”
Elizabeth has always been a supporter and friend of Hope and Vision Communities, so it feels very natural to welcome her as an Ambassador. She is best known as the author of ‘Mum, can you lend me twenty quid?’ which tells the story of how her ordinary family was devastated by drug addiction which drove her twin son Nick to end his life. Elizabeth has campaigned continuously to raise awareness of the harm caused to families by drug addiction and to influence policy and practice so that the needs of families are better recognised and met. She delivers thousands of lectures and speeches in schools, prisons and conferences and is currently on the Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs New Recovery Committee. Her charity, DrugFAM provides support to those affected by the harmful use of, or death from, drugs, alcohol, substances or gambling. In 2017 Elizabeth was awarded an MBE for ‘services to people who experience drug addiction and their families’.
We’re really honoured to have Michael as an Ambassador of our work. Having once been the world’s biggest drug smuggler he has real knowledge of how a life of darkness can be transformed into light.
Aged 18, he joined the family business and entered into the dangerous world of organised crime. His father was a career criminal, a contemporary of the Great Train Robbers and the Kray Brothers.. In 1993 he and his father were arrested for their involvement in a £13-million smuggling operation. Michael was sentenced to twelve years, serving time in the same prison as his dad. A chance encounter in prison led to him joining an Alpha group, and he turned his life around thanks to the extraordinary strength his faith has given him. Helping others is now at the heart of Michael’s message. His experience led to the creation of Alpha in Prisons which has reached 900 prisons globally, and he's written about his life in a book called Sins of Fathers.