A recovery volunteer scheme by Bradford’s biggest drugs charity helping addicts get clean has been a resounding success, with 52 people signing up to the course.

Out of those 52, 29 are now fully trained volunteers, and all of them have battled addictions themselves.

The Bridge charity chief executive Jon Royle said that 25 per cent of those recruited were as a direct result of appeals in the Telegraph & Argus for volunteers.

He said: “We have been pleased with the result. There are 29 trained volunteers each week working in Bridge services directly supporting staff in delivering services.

“All the volunteers are in recovery and they give hope and inspiration to people accessing the service that people can and do recover.

“They are based in the main service waiting room, so one of the first people a new client to the service meets is someone in recovery. It’s very powerful for someone who is addicted to drugs, feels hopeless and that there's no way out, to meet someone who they may even have known from the streets, who's now healthy, drug-free and got their life together.”

Recovery Supporter roles include assisting in the Vault Recovery Cafe and in delivering activities in The Vault which are open to anyone in recovery across the district.

For more information on Recovery Supporters contact Tony Gibson on (01274) 715860.

Recovery Volunteering is open to anyone who is illicit drug-free and stable on a drug treatment programme or anyone out of treatment.

This route includes a seven week training programme which leads to a Level 2 Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care qualification.

For more information on Recovery Volunteers contact Jackie Berriman on (01274) 715860.