PEOPLE whose lives have been affected by addiction and mental health issues took part in a walk in Trowbridge to celebrate their achievements on Saturday (Sept 19) as part of International Recovery Month.

The event was arranged by a consortium of organisations that support or represent people who are recovering from addiction, with all the participants in the walk dressing in purple and starting the four-mile route at Trowbridge Civic Centre.

Among the organisations involved were Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust, Wiltshire Substance Misuse Service, Julian House, Alabare, Wiltshire MIND, Wiltshire and Swindon Users Network and Wiltshire Addiction Support Project.

The walk was aimed at raising awareness and understanding of substance use disorders and celebrating those who have achieved recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs.

“We had around 50 people taking part by the end of the walk and it was a wonderful event,” said Martin Scott, service user co-ordinator for Wiltshire Addiction Support Project.

“The walk was about four miles and took around three hours. There was a great community feel and everyone was supporting each other, with walkers of different abilities and a good mix of people with mental health problems and substance abuse issues.

“This is the first recovery walk we have held and it was part of the larger International Recovery Month, with 136 different events taking place across the UK.

“The aim was to promote peer support between the walkers and allow people to meet others with similar issues. It is also important to raise awareness and change people’s attitudes towards those who have struggled with addictions.”

The Wiltshire Recovery Festival organising committee are a consortium of organisations that plan to hold a free arts and music festival on the theme of recovery in Trowbridge Park in 2016.

Mr Scott, who is also chairman of the Recovery Festival organising committee, said: “Next year we are hoping to hold an arts and music festival in recovery month, with the walk taking place beforehand and leading to the event in the park.

“We are getting support from WOMAD, who are giving us advice about how to organise the festival, and Wiltshire Council. We would love to hear from anyone who can help with the festival.”

Anyone who wants to help out with the Wiltshire Recovery Festival, contact the organisers on 01225 775558 or email martin.scott@addiction-support .co.uk