Recovery Volunteer Graduation 2022 - hope and a future.

Today’s 13th Recovery Volunteer Programme graduation left all who attended inspired and reflected the importance of the volunteering role in building strong community support.

Vic Walker, Head of Adult Care Services (Substance Use, Homelessness and Criminal Justice), said that the event brought to mind two words: 

“hope and future: finding hope, offering hope and discovering more about the future.” 

Lord Wallace of Tankerness, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland,  commented that volunteering was “a way of showing practical love for your neighbour” and made tangible the words of the Apostle Paul when he spoke of serving one another in love.

The Programme, which started back in 2012 as a pilot scheme, has seen the number of graduates more than double from 12 to today’s 26 and demonstrates the potential for everyone to grow in hope for a future lived to its fullness.
Calum Murray, Director of Adult Care Services said “Nothing is as important as the recovery of the individual” and encouraged the graduates to “broaden their horizons” with their volunteering possibilities, mentioning that their valuable lived experience can bring something unique to wherever they go.

The feedback from graduates was abundent in gratitude and their hopes for the future. Below are just a few of the comments made today:

“Rainbow House saved my life. I’ve been 25years in addiction and had tried everything in the community. The penny dropped for me in Rainbow House.” (Heather)

“It’s taught me how to live again.” (Laura)

“The programme has brought us together again” (Chris’ mum)

“Don’t just graduate. Do something with it.” (Stella)

“This has built me up as a person, my self-esteem and my confidence.” (Gary)

Congratulations to all this year’s graduates. Keep a look out for some of the graduate's stories coming very soon.

For more information about CrossReach Residential Rehabilitation Service.
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