Recognising Recovery at Community Voice
Nearly 70 people joined us in Chelmsford on Thursday 25 June for Community Voice, Essex Recovery Foundation’s quarterly forum for people with lived experience of addiction.
Community Voice brings together people from across Essex to share experiences, ideas and feedback that can make a real impact on positive and radical changes within drug and alcohol services. It is a space for people to be heard, influence the support available in their communities and help shape services around what people genuinely need.
As part of the day, we held the Recognising Recovery Awards, celebrating people whose commitment, recovery and support for others make a real difference across Essex.
Mike Hill, Jess Wicks, Leanne Lindsay being awarded certificates by ERF team member Sally
Recognising the people behind recovery
The awards recognised people across three categories:
Recognising staff within Recovery Services
Recognising someone who has made a positive contribution to the Recovery Community
Personal Recovery Recognition
Nominations came directly from the recovery community, with a judging panel of Essex Recovery Foundation staff, trustees and Essex County Council commissioners selecting this year’s recipients.
Sally Rogers, Community Partnership Lead at Essex Recovery Foundation, said:
“These people were nominated by the recovery community. They provide hope, inspiration and dedication to many. They should be proud of themselves, and we are proud to know them.”
All winners on stage
Our 2026 recipients
Recognising staff within Recovery Services
Bonnie Jarmain
Thomas Miley
Lorna Preece
Olatomirin Kolade
Recognising someone who has made a positive contribution to the Recovery Community
Mike Hill
Jess Wicks
Leanne Lindsay
Personal Recovery Recognition
Amy Berry
Justin Cornwell
Michelle Neville Neale
One of this year’s Personal Recovery Recognition recipients, Amy Berry, reflected on how much had changed for her over the past year:
“It’s crazy to think that this time last year I was a volunteer, and now I’m the Café Manager at Cornerstone. To receive this award today means absolutely everything to me. I’m just so excited. I get to work with amazing people and with such an incredible organisation. Honestly, I’m just living my best life!”
The awards were a meaningful part of a wider day of conversation, connection and shared learning. They offered an opportunity to acknowledge the many ways people contribute to recovery across Essex, whether through their work, their support for others or their own personal journeys.
Thank you to everyone who attended Community Voice, nominated someone and helped make the day so special. Congratulations again to every recipient.
A day shaped by lived experience
The Recognising Recovery Awards were one part of a busy and meaningful Community Voice day at Essex Record Office.
Alongside the awards, attendees heard feedback from the Community Engagement Team, updates from the Radical Change Team and Voices of Recovery Group, and presentations from Phoenix Futures Peer Mentor Group and Adam from Rainbow Recovery.
The day also included workshops led by SHARP Wickford and Gretal Warner, as well as market stalls from local service providers, giving people the chance to find out more about the support available across Essex.
Community Voice is made up of people with lived experience of addiction. It creates a space for people to share what is working, raise what needs to change and help ensure drug and alcohol services in Essex are shaped by the people who use them.