About Us

Action on Addiction is a registered charity, which was formed in May 2007 through the merger of three organisations: Action on Addiction, Clouds and the Chemical Dependency Centre.

We have treatment centres throughout England. We have a specialist family service, innovative research programmes and an expert training centre.

Our fundraising team, events team and press office are based in London.

Our vision is to free people from addiction.

We take action to disarm addiction in a variety of ways:

Prevention

To find the best ways of reducing risk and building resistance, even immunity

We work to improve understanding of what increases the vulnerability of children and young people to substance misuse and to develop and test interventions that help to protect children, young people and adults from substance misuse and addiction. This includes interventions in the workplace to promote health through raising awareness about drug and alcohol problems and training to help employers to reduce risk and provide more effective responses to problems.

Treatment and Rehabilitation

To provide or assist services that help people recover and in the process to learn from their experiences and how people become addicted and how to improve the help provided to them

Our treatment changes people's lives. We have treatment centres offering both day treatment and residential treatment. These centres are based across England. You can find further information on our individual programmes in our Treatment section.

Support for Families and Children

To find the best ways to support family members affected by addiction in order to aid their recovery from its effects and to reduce the risk for further harm

Often people affected by somebody else's addiction share the same worries as the substance misuser, for example, worries over health, the children, work, relationships, even death. We can offer specialist help and advice to family members. Please see our Family Support section to find out about our counselling and therapy as well as our courses.

Research

To improve our understanding of addiction and its effects in order to inform our responses to it

We work closely with researchers at the National Addiction Centre, part of the Institute of Psychiatry at Kings College London, funding groundbreaking research into addiction. Our programme of research involves prevention and treatment studies which will enable us to create an evidence-base for future work and policy.

We also work with the University of Bath. For more information on our current research please go to our Research section.

Education

To inform young people and adults about addiction, its effects and the responses to it

Workforce Development

To ensure there are competent people to work effectively in all areas from prevention to recovery


In order to ensure that people with addiction problems receive the best help, advice and treatment possible, addiction professionals require the best training and education. Action on Addiction offers courses run by experts for people in the addictions field to improve their skills and learn new ones which will enable them to offer the highest standards of care. We can offer training for individuals and organisations, and can tailor our training to meet your own needs. For further information on our residential and standalone courses, visit our Training and Education section. We can also provide advice in your workplace. See our Consultancy section for more information on our bespoke service for businesses.

Campaigns

To enlist help in disarming addiction through raising public awareness and bringing about change in attitudes, behaviours, policies, etc

Working with Us

In order to continue to carry out our vital research into the prevention and treatment of addiction, pursue our campaign work and educate and train staff to offer the highest standard of treatment for people with addiction problems, we need committed people to join our dedicated team of paid staff and volunteers.

There are approximately 150 people employed with Action on Addiction, plus many dedicated volunteers who help us on a regular basis with our fundraising and other events. Our staff are based in our sites in Merseyside, London, Wiltshire and Dorset.

As our name suggests, we take Action on Addiction and our combined team of researchers, nurses, doctors, psychiatrists, family therapists, volunteers and counsellors take action every day to achieve our vision which is people free from addiction.

See our Jobs page for details on how to be part of the Action on Addiction workforce.

Our Board

As well as our Chief Executive, we have a Chair and a Board consisting of 10 Trustees, all of whom are volunteers. Biographies of our Chair and Trustees can be found in Our Trustees.

Our Values

Our values are extremely important to us. These are:

• Commitment –       Our commitment to our beneficiaries is at the heart of all we do and how we do it
• Independence  –   Free to do what is needed
• Integrity  –              To be worthy of the utmost trust and respect
• Optimism –             Change is possible, potential can be realised
• Art  –                        Advancing through imagination and creativity
• Science  –               Disciplined in the acquisition and application of knowledge
• Compassion  –       Challenging stigma and fostering empathy
• Excellence –           Always learning, always aiming to improve

Roll of Achievements

Many achievements have contributed to the Charity's standing.  Please follow this link to read about some of our achievements.

Our Environmental Policy

The Charity recognises that our operations have an impact on the local, regional and global environment. As a consequence of this, the management are committed to continuous improvements in environmental performance and the prevention of pollution. In 2008, we formed a group comprising a wide range of colleagues and invited them to become the Charity's first Environmental Management Group. They were tasked with writing a statement of intent and policy which would define our aims and set ourselves environmental targets and goals designed to improve our environmental performance. All members of staff enthusiastically greeted the introduction of this policy and we conduct an annual self-evaluation of our performance in implementing these principles. Read Action on Addiction's Environmental Policy.

Corporate Governance

Action on Addiction is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales (company number 05947481) and is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission (charity number 1117988).

We are governed by our Memorandum & Articles of Association. If you would like to receive a copy, please write to the Company Secretary at our registered address, as follows:

Michael Clark BSc FCIS
Company Secretary
Action on Addiction
Head Office
East Knoyle
Salisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6BE

or call 01747 830733 and ask for the PA to the Director of Resources.

We are members of the Association of Medical Research Charities, the Alcohol Health Alliance, the Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals and the Charities Forum.

We have the following trademarks registered with the UK Intellectual Property Office: Action on Addiction, Clouds, Working Recovery, M-PACT and The Brink.

How we are Governed

We are governed by a Board of Trustees and a Senior Executive Team (SET). The Board of Trustees meet quarterly and the SET meets once a month.

Our Trustees

The Board of Trustees, all of whom are volunteers, is responsible for the overall control and strategic direction of the Charity.

New Trustees are appointed by the existing Trustees on the recommendation of a nominations committee. One third of the Trustees retire from office each year, although they may be re-appointed for a further term of office.

Trustees are selected on the basis of their skills and experience and their commitment to achieving our vision, which is people free from addiction. The Trustees delegate the day-to-day management of the affairs of Action on Addiction to its Chief Executive, Nick Barton.

Our Senior Executive Team

The SET comprises the Chief Executive, the Director of Resources (who is also the Company Secretary), the Director of Client Services, the Director of The Centre for Addiction Treatment Studies and Action on Addiction's Principal Consultant. The Committee assists the Chief Executive in managing the day-to-day business of the Charity.  Follow this link to read about our SET members.

Director of Resources: Michael J Clark

Director of Client Services: Kirby Gregory

Director of The Centre for Addiction Treatment Studies: Tim Leighton

Director of Fundraising: Tristan Millington-Drake

For further information or to contact the Board of Trustees or the SET, please email admin@actiononaddiction.org.uk or call 01747 830733.

Our Auditors

Mazars LLP
Clifton Down House
Beaufort Buildings
Clifton Down
Clifton
Bristol BS8 4AN

Our Bankers

NatWest Bank plc
48 Blue Boar Row
Salisbury
Wiltshire SP1 1DF

If you need to find out more about us and can't see what you are looking for on our website, please call us on: 0300 330 0659.