The winners have now been announced in the Natwest CommunityForce which has the aim of allowing local groups to raise their profile and raise funds for future projects.

There were 33 entrants from the Chesterfield and Bassetlaw area and we are delighted to announce that the winners in our area was The Free From Addiction Project.  This Project is a peer to peer alcohol support group set up to support people who struggle with issues surrounding alcohol. 

The Free From Addiction Project aims to provide members of the community who have an addiction to alcohol with the opportunity to mix with other members of the community who have similar problems and issues. It has been noted and proven that this type of peer support can be invaluable in helping an individual with an alcohol addiction.  This kind of supprt can provide that person with knowledge, experience, emotional, social and practical help.

The project won because it is apparent that alcoholism can have a majorly adverse effect on the community and the work that The Free From Addiction Project carries out, helps to reduce alcoholism in the community, and in turn helps to reduce the severity of these effects.  The aim of the group is to lessen the effects as above and for every individual that joins the group as an alcoholic but leaves free from or at least with a better control of their addiction, the community will surely benefit.

The Free From Addiction Projects' plans for the Community Force Award is to help create more Diversionary Activities for those within the group. The continuation of their newly established allotment is of upmost importance to the group as it helps to provide a daily diversion and focus. Other diversionary activities that will be put in place is, equipment for photography, cooking, fishing, biking, arts and crafts, board games, and items like a Nintendo Wii for fitness and laptops for IT skills.

Weekly group meetings are held in Chesterfield on a Tuesday from 4pm - 6pm, please get in touch for further information or location details. You can contact the group or get in touch with regards to any other enquiry by emailing alcoholsupport@aol.com calling 07522 118448 or via the website http://www.freefromaddiction.co.uk/