ADS has turned 50! And we’re inviting you to come and celebrate with us.

ADS is the oldest alcohol and drug charity in Greater Manchester, set up in 1973 by a concerned other. Since then we have achieved a lot: we have been vocal campaigners around addiction to prescription medication, deliverers of the empowering Bridging the Gap back-to-work programme, creators of the Intensive Family Support Service and modelers of One Recovery that has had successes across the North and Midlands, helping thousands. However, in 2020, when the pandemic hit and funding became tighter than ever before, we realised we needed to re-think how we were operating. We took the opportunity to stop and reflect on our history, our aims and objectives as a charity and what’s really needed out there by our community.

We help people affected by alcohol/drugs and their families by empowering them to develop new positive coping strategies and set life goals to build a positive and fulfilling future. We have been busy since 2020 reimagining ADS as a sustainable, people-focussed charity with a strong digital element, that can directly help our community right here where it all started in Manchester. Since 2021 we have set up home-based volunteers with lived experience helping hundreds of individuals. We have teamed up with the Recovery Coach Academy to train our volunteers to become Recovery Coaches. Following intensive training, we now have a team of Recovery Coaches & Volunteer Family Friends ready to help the people of Greater Manchester in a meaningful and person-focussed way.

ADS is back. ADS is Manchester. Please come and join us at the Northern Quarter’s coolest venue The Feelgood Club on Monday 4th December from 7:00pm (doors 6:45) where we will be presenting our new look model and having some blue sky discussions around the future of alcohol and drug support in Manchester with a panel of local experts, all around some thought-provoking poetry and music, hosted by Manchester’s very own Kate O’Donnell. There will be some tasty alcohol-free mocktails on offer and yes, there will be a buffet so don’t have your tea!

Tickets are FREE but please reserve your seat here.