12 | Acquisition International, Non-Profit Organisation Awards 2025 Best Addiction Recovery Training Charity 2025 – UK Addiction is something that touches us all, whether through ourselves or somebody close to us. Despite this, addiction is perhaps the single most stigmatised issue in society today, more so than any other mental health condition. Through its work, UK SMART Recovery, a Londonbased charity, aims to help people with addiction to return balance to their lives, as well as to a recognise how substances like alcohol can easily go from stress relievers to problematic. We had the pleasure of speaking with Dr Charlie Orton, the charity’s chief executive, for more on this topic. Contact: Dr Charlie Orton PhD Company: UK SMART Recovery Web Address: https://smartrecovery.org.uk/ The namesake SMART Recovery programmes delivered by UK SMART Recovery are designed to help people overcome problematic behaviours of any kind, from more ‘typical’ addictions such as alcohol and gambling to the ones people are perhaps less aware of, such as shopping, exercise, or pornography. The charity’s four-point, evidence-based programme trains and supports through stages including building and maintaining motivation, coping with urges and cravings, and managing thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. UK SMART Recovery’s programme can be accessed individually by anyone aged 13 and above, and it can be used either holistically or tools can be taken from it and used to support people through brief periods of intervention. People can either refer themselves to a programme or be referred by a friend or family member. Across the board, it is estimated that over 5,000 individuals access a SMART Recovery programme every week. Aside from this, UK SMART Recovery is especially proud of is its work in the business sector. As Charlie explains: “Employees are trained as balanced-life champions to increase knowledge and awareness in the workplace and provide a supportive, confidential ear to anyone who may be struggling. This is the next step of mental health awareness in the workplace – to become recovery aware.” Such an incentive is also beneficial for employers, as it signals an open culture around the likes of stress and burnout. “We help business owners empower their workforces to adopt the philosophy of a balanced life. It is not always about addiction per se, it is often a burnout issue and about making the right choices. This includes the classic work-life balance and the pitfalls of the ‘work hard, play hard’ approach. ” The delivery of the services mentioned above is only made possible by the team at the heart of this charity, which comprises 12 employed staff, 140 of its own volunteers, and an additional 300 partner volunteers trained as SMART Facilitators. UK SMART Recovery’s employees in particular take on a tremendous amount of work, from ensuring volunteers have the support they need to bringing in new business. Despite the unfaltering dedication of its team and the high calibre of its work, UK SMART Recovery unfortunately struggles to receive public donations, as very few people want to pin their name to the addiction-support mast. This makes it difficult for this NPO to raise money in the way traditional charities do, with most of its funds coming from the businesses that commission its programmes. Only through this can enough be raised for the team to provide their services to the recovery community free of charge. On the back of these funding difficulties, UK SMART Recovery has started to diversify its income in other ways, creating bespoke partnerships to meet the needs of those that choose to partner with it. Charlie told us: “NPOs have to adapt and overcome all the time, all whilst operating within the confines of tight margins and achieving financial stability. We do this by adapting to the emerging markets around us, keeping our costs low, and offering relevant, highly adaptive training that makes a difference. “If we are static, we will not survive. Progress and pushing forwards is the only way. ” In the name of progress, UK SMART Recovery is currently in the midst of a digital transformation, which will include a new website and CRM. Not only will this improve the experiences of its participants, partners, and volunteers, but it will also allow the charity to better manage communications, stakeholders, and campaigns. The charity’s board – which is made up entirely of volunteers – is also looking to add new trustees, and the organisation is even launching a new workplace awareness course. From overcoming addiction to managing burnout, UK SMART Recovery sees people from all walks of life guided towards the life balance that keeps them happy and healthy. More information about the charity, including how to donate, can be found using the link below.
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