Join the celebration!

Following the huge success of last summer's inaugural Recovery Festival, the team behind the Recovery Festival 2014 have aimed even higher - and they are extending an open invitation to join the celebration.

The second annual - and free - Recovery Festival takes place in Bristol on Friday 25 July from 9.30 until 4.00 at Woodlands Church, Belgrave Road, Bristol BS8 2AA. It promises to be a true celebration of recovery in action and a showcase of the diverse, dedicated local agencies that are there to help.

Kim Hewlett, AWP drug and alcohol recovery worker and chair of the organising committee, said, "The Recovery Festival is all about inspiring and encouraging people in their recovery. We are inviting anyone affected by drug or alcohol addiction, directly or indirectly, or with an interest in recovery to join us at the festival. The more people we can encourage in their recovery and beyond, the better!"

Kim, Viv Norton and Vicki Bakehouse from AWP, along with colleagues from Bristol Drugs Project, Addiction Recovery Agency (ARA), Developing Health & Independence (DHI) and Crisis Centre Ministries have organised this year's Recovery Festival, with the support of Acu-Detox Plus UK and Chandos.

Peer mentors Victor Lewis and Tiffany Green will share master of ceremonies duties throughout the day, which will kick off with a talk from Mark Gilman, strategic recovery lead for Public Health England. The festival will feature recovery talks from peer mentors and family members, alternative therapies taster sessions and workshops, films, artwork, musical entertainment, the Cocaine Anonymous pantomime and a fresh produce stall from the Teve recovery growing project. There will be a crèche available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Lunch will be provided by ARA's ARC café, staffed by volunteers who are themselves in recovery and hot and cold drinks will be provided by Fareshare and Crisis Centre Ministries.

Excitingly, this year's Recovery Festival is also being supported by City Sightseeing Bristol, who are providing a free shuttle bus between the bus station, Broadmead and Woodlands Church throughout the day plus, at the start and end of the day, a wider shuttle-bus loop around the city to pick up and drop people back again.

The festival is free - come along and spread the word.