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Campaigns

The Forward Trust is a social justice charity that each year helps over 30,000 people recover from addiction and mental health problems, leave behind crime, find jobs, homes and a sense of belonging. Our clients are often marginalised and stigmatised, but they have great potential to confront the problems they are facing, and to turn their lives around.

Why do we campaign?

We campaign to change public attitudes and policy so that people who are often written off by society are better understood, and receive compassion and support to help them transform their lives.

We believe that wider understanding of the causes of addiction and offending will reduce the prejudice and shame that stops people asking for and getting help. 

Since 1991, we have been working – in prisons, community centres and residential programmes - to help people build positive and productive futures. We have celebrated and publicised thousands of stories of personal transformation and recovery. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change, as celebrated in our More Than My Past and Taking Action on Addiction campaigns which are spearheaded by our Royal Patron HRH Catherine The Princess of Wales and chair of Trustees Tony Adams MBE.

Taking Action on Addiction

Taking Action on Addiction (TAOA) seeks to improve everyone's understanding of the root causes of addiction and to end the stigma that surrounds it.

This campaign has three headline aims:

  • For addiction to be understood and treated as a serious mental health condition, not a moral failing
  • To raise awareness that addiction is widespread in society, across all social classes, ages, genders and communities.
  • To increase belief that people struggling with the addiction have the capacity to recover and prosper as positive role models and contributors to their community.

For more information on the TAOA campaign materials and events and how you can help, visit the TAOA website.

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More Than My Past

More Than My Past challenges the stigma that exists towards ex-offenders and people in recovery from addiction. 

This campaign aims to increase understanding that people living marginalised lives – homeless, long term unemployed, addicted, or criminally involved – have often been victims themselves. Of childhood neglect, abuse or trauma, or of violence, grooming or mental health crises in adulthood. We celebrate stories of resilience and achievement, where individuals find a way out of negative cycles to live positive and productive lives.

Specifically, we aim to demonstrate to policy makers, employers, landlords and the general public that people can and do turn their lives around – and are capable of achieving amazing things!

Visit the More Than My Past campaign page for videos, stories and upcoming events - including details about how you can get involved!

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Campaign with us!

With prisons full to bursting, levels of drug, alcohol and gambling addiction on the rise, and the number of drug and alcohol related deaths the highest since records began, our campaigning work has never been more important. We have to help people who are struggling to find positive and healthier lifestyles - what we call recovery. Please join us by signing up as a campaign partner, joining in our campaign activities, and sharing our material on your social media.


We believe that everyone can live a fulfilling life, whatever their past.

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