The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund Rehabit, a charity that offers counselling and peer support for local people who are struggling with addiction to alcohol and drugs and who have limited or no funds. Peer supporter Garry Durston, 59 and from north London, tells us about their work
“I am married with a 13-year-old son born within sight of the Emirates – he’s a Gooner and promising keeper. Cricket is my first love and I am now a children’s coach, although we both love football. I also sell vinyl LPs and will start working as a PE teacher in the New Year. I worked in media and marketing until I got sober.
“Drink and drugs were rife in many of my jobs and my intake of them steadily increased until I was nearing my fifties and they were ruling my life. Addiction is like having a vampire on your shoulder, sucking away your life, your health, self-respect, money and loved ones – everything you love and value. You end up having no choice in what you do.
“I was desperate for help; I hated my life and myself. I tried a few things but struggled to get or stay clean until I found myself in rehab. That’s where I first experienced addiction counselling, which changed and saved my life.
“While in rehab I met my sponsor, who has been an amazing friend for over ten years now. A few years back he became a trustee of the charity in its earlier incarnation and he asked me if I would become a peer supporter, which I did. I then became a trustee when the charity relaunched as Rehabit, so I’ve been around since the beginning.
“I concentrate on peer support and look after around three people at a time. I support them from when they contact us, both meeting them and talking on the phone to help them face getting sober. I support them through their journey to counselling and hopefully, for a good few now, to sobriety.
“Rehabit is a small charity, and we help people in north London, mainly Islington and Camden, who are struggling with drugs or alcohol, at risk of falling through the cracks or getting stuck in the mental health system, and have no funds.
“Many have co-occurring conditions (neurodivergence, bipolar, personality disorders, and so on) and find it hard to access specialist help. Others have tried statutory services but couldn’t fully engage – often due to a fear of group work – or have exhausted other options but still need help.
“We offer peer support from volunteers with lived experience of addiction to help create trust from the beginning. Our free counselling lasts for up to 26 weeks and we offer flexible, community-based engagement working at the client’s pace. We can also help with advocacy for housing, benefits and medical needs.
“Sometimes it is the simple things that make a difference: we go to where our clients are. We respond immediately. We don’t have a waiting list. We are flexible and understanding about meeting times, and we give people more than one chance.
“From the first assessment it’s all about creating trust, and often this is doing things that clients aren’t expecting. For example, offering them a range of times to do the assessment call, when so many are used to getting appointments that they often can’t meet.
“The assessment is friendly – we know that if someone feels comfortable then they’re more likely to talk and let us know what we need to know to help them. Most have tried other services and not always had a good experience, so this introductory phase is very important. They often then want to know where they need to go next and are surprised when we say that we come to them – not house visits but to meet in their own community for coffee or a walk.
“Peer support is an important phase in building trust. Our volunteers can talk from direct experience of their own struggles and successes – this carries a lot of weight. They’re not buddies as such, but there to guide clients through our service (or 12 steps, if they wish) and to be their main contact. They also help us decide if a client is ready for counselling.
“Of those who start counselling, most do all 26 weeks. About a third of those who complete counselling achieve abstinence. Not all achieve full abstinence, which is our goal, but recovery from addiction/substance abuse isn’t always a linear progression.
“For example, someone we helped moved from crack cocaine to medically prescribed cannabis – this was considered a good outcome. Others might, for example, have stopped drinking but aren’t ready to give up cannabis – while this isn’t ideal, we consider it progress. And often these clients have got other benefits such as having family back in their lives or readiness to work again. Sadly, there are some who just aren’t ready to stop or do the painful work needed.
“The journey for some of our clients can be hugely traumatic and there are many bumps in the road. Helping people through crisis and sometimes relapse right through to sobriety is amazingly gratifying. Some go on to a completely new life. I really only found peace once I spoke to someone who had been on the same journey – I felt understood and listened to – so hopefully that’s how I can help. You don’t get many chances to make such a positive difference to someone’s life and I am so grateful for the chance to help.
“It’s great that Arsenal are embedded in the community, and giving us this support is amazing. I think any organisation or person who knew how divisive and deadly drugs and alcohol are to whole families and the community would want to help. The more money we raise the more local people we can help.”
One man’s recovery
“Dave*, a big Arsenal fan, came to us through a borough coaching programme,” says Garry. “He was suicidal, struggling with cocaine and alcohol, isolated from his family, and drifting between services. Eighteen months later, he’s sober, finished counselling, attends AA with a sponsor, and stays connected with the charity. His family relationships are improving, and he often says how much he values the warmth, speed of help and patience he received from Rehabit. His story shows what can happen when someone who’s fallen through the gaps is given time, care, and belief.”
*Not his real name
If you need help…
…Or if you want to help, visit rehabit.uk or email support@rehabit.uk. Please note that Rehabit cannot directly help those who need a full medical detox, but they will guide people to the borough services and offer to stay connected. Rehabit cannot always help people in full-time employment who may be able to afford counselling.
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