Last Thursday, I started to describe my recent visit to ARC Fitness (Addiction Recovery Coaching) in Derry/Londonderry in Northern Ireland. I hadn’t known anything about Gary, and his exciting recovery initiative, until my Recovery Voices colleague Wulf Livingston interviewed him in February. When I came to edit the conversation into a series of films (with accompanying extended summaries), I was blown away by the quality of the conversation and by what was happening at ARC Fitness. I made the decision to visit Derry, despite my already full agenda. I headed out on 7 May and returned to Manchester two days later.
On the morning of Wednesday, 8 May, I presented two talks to an audience of around 30 people, which included the ARC Fitness team and some of the people attending their organisation’s activities, as well as invited guests from the North-West of Ireland who were working in the addiction recovery and related fields. I talked with a number of interesting people at the event.
My first talk, entitled Healing in Community: From Pain Into Power, lasted about 75 minutes, including time for questions. I initially talked about my journey into understanding the nature of addiction recovery, factors that facilitate recovery, the addiction treatment system, and my grassroots initiative Wired In (initially called WIRED) and online community Wired In To Recovery.
I then went on to talk about Indigenous Healing (of trauma and its consequences), Bruce Perry’s work on trauma, resilience and healing (and brain function), and how people can heal from trauma and develop post-traumatic wisdom. I finished by briefly describing our Recovery Voices initiative and website.
Given the length of time of the first talk, and the fact that I got involved in long discussions with various people, I thought that my audience wouldn’t want my second talk, focused on the story of the Aboriginal child artists of Carrolup. After some time, I realised most of my audience was still there, and they were expecting the second talk. So off I went, resulting in this incredible trauma healing story having now been heard in Wales, England and Northern Ireland.
I was really pleased with the response of my audience to both talks. You can normally tell how an audience is responding and my new Irish friends were clearly engaged. I have linked to pdf documents of both these talks:
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At the talk, I met Gary’s father-in-law, Bernard Murray-Gates, who is a great character and very passionate about ARC Fitness. He is Chair of the ARC Board of Trustees. Bernard and I had lots of interesting discussions after my talk, and during the rest of the day and evening. Gary, Bernard and I headed out to dinner (more gorgeous food) at The Ebrington Hotel, a former army barracks. I was really impressed to see in the hotel a collection of frames of photographs and information relating to the history of Derry/Londonderry that Bernard had researched and created. He gave me a parting present, a book (Lost, Found, Remembered) of some of the writings of the talented Irish journalist Lyra McKee who was murdered in Derry in 2019.
In the evening, I attended an ARC Family Support Group evening chaired by team member Jay Kiernan during which five group members shared deeply moving stories about their experiences with family who were addicted to drugs. I was particularly struck by the first speaker, Caroline, describing a conversation she had with her young daughter who had developed a substance use problem. When she confronted her daughter about her substance use, the reply was, ‘Get real, Mum. Everyone of my age is doing it.’ Cocaine is a particularly bad problem in Derry.
Bernard and I had a long discussion with Caroline after the shares. I was struck by her passion and commitment to helping other family members, and for wanting to spread news about ARC and what they were doing. In fact, everyone I met in the ARC gym and offices was full of passion and commitment, and wanting to spread the message of hope in the community.
As an aside, here is what ARC say about their Family Support Groups:
‘Having someone you care about who uses substances can create many problems for families and carers.
The stigma and shame associated with substance use often means families and carers suffer in silence, creating severe isolation which can then result in depression and other associated health problems.
ARC runs a 6-week family support group for individuals impacted by a loved one’s substance/alcohol use.
During these 6 weeks, you will gain a deeper understanding of addiction, how to put in place realistic and enforceable boundaries, and how to look after yourself both now and in the future.’
On Thursday morning, I headed back along the river to ARC Fitness, where I had my final discussions with team members. I cannot tell you how much I am impressed inspired by this incredible recovery community. ARC Fitness is truly very special. They are a clear example of the maxim of Bruce Perry’s, ‘From Pain Into Power’ and I am sure that they will have a significant impact on the community of Derry and communities further afield.
At the same time, I am well aware of the stressors and challenges that Gary and team face in trying to keep the team going. Their funding is not secure and this makes things really tough for them, for example in not knowing whether a particular key team member will have a salary to be working the following year, or even month. The team truly deserves more secure funding.
I am in awe at what Gary and Sarah, and the team as a whole, have achieved. I wish them every possible success in the future.
