The Princessβ visit comes during Addiction Awareness Week (19-25 September), which this year is calling for the nation to join βThe Big Addiction Conversation.β
Each year, around 17,000 people die from alcohol or drug related causes in the UK. This yearβs campaign aims to highlight that while these statistics are stark, recovery is possible, help is available, & lives can be changed when people feel able to ask for support & when families, friends, colleagues & communities have the confidence to reach out with compassion & understanding.
The Big Addiction Conversation aims to spark 17,000 conversations over the next year β one for every life lost β supported by toolkits & Conversation Cards created by The Forward Trust alongside lived experience ambassadors. Starting this week & across the UK, people will be encouraged to have compassionate, honest conversations β in workplaces & in communities β about addiction, the stigma that surrounds it & its impact.
The Forward Trust hopes that these conversations will form a larger, national conversation that can challenge misconceptions, encourage compassion, & change the narrative on addiction.
π¬π§ The Princess of Wales, as Patron, visited The Forward Trust in Essex earlier today to mark 2026 Addiction Awareness Week.
The Princess visited the Forwardβs new community initiative, Forward Growing. In partnership with Garon Park, the initiative supports those who use Forwardβs Southend Treatment & Recovery Service (STARS) to engage with the natural world & help participants experience the wellbeing benefits of spending time outdoors.
Launched earlier this spring, Forward Growing runs a programme of weekly gardening sessions, & created new opportunities for people to connect with nature, build confidence, & develop practical skills in an outdoor environment.
As the partnership develops, the programme will also contribute towards the creation of a dedicated Forward gardening area at Garon Park, providing a lasting space for recovery, learning, & community involvement. By bringing together gardening, walking, creativity, & community participation, the partnership aims to create lasting benefits for participants while helping to build stronger connections between people & the environment.
The Forward Trust is a social justice charity that supports people to recover from addiction or leave behind crime, helping them move on in life with family, friends, jobs, homes, & a sense of belonging.