The Centre for Social Justice has recognised the ground-breaking work done at The Living Room by presenting us with the Maxie Richards Award at a glittering event in London. Two of our clients, Darren and Alfie, joined some of our staff and trustees for the awards ceremony, which was opened with an address from Prime Minister and hosted by, amongst others, Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP and Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable MP.
Darren joined our chief executive, Adrienne Arthurs, on the stage to receive the award from Vince Cable. Adrienne delivered a speech to the audience in which she highlighted how addiction doesn’t discriminate and directly or indirectly effects millions of people in the UK.
Darren & Adrienne are presented with the award by Vince Cable and fellow host, Amanda Platell.
The Maxie Richards Award, named after the former headmistress who established a drug rehabilitation centre at her home in Glasgow, is dedicated to an organisation working to form resilience in individuals affected by either addiction, serious personal debt, or both. The judges concluded that we “demonstrated that we helped people dependent on drugs and alcohol to fully recover from their addiction.”
Thanks to the generosity of the CSJ and its supporters, we received a cheque for £10,000 to support our service. The CSJ also made a short film, which featured Darren and encapsulates how The Living Room saves and transforms peoples’ lives.
As part of our prize, the CSJ made this video, which depicts the recovery story of one of our clients.