A Better Tomorrow: Helping people to recover from drug and alcohol addiction

Through a combination of safe housing and personalised support, A Better Tomorrow is helping people to rebuild their lives.

Social Need

A nationwide shortage of supported accommodation means that many people are leaving prison, mental health units or other facilities without the support they need to get their lives back on track. Others are stuck in abusive relationships or environments that maintain their dependency on drugs or alcohol or which harm their mental health, as they have nowhere to move to.

Organisation

A Better Tomorrow (ABT) was founded in 2013 to help people overcome addictions and recover from substance or alcohol misuse. Since then, it’s expanded to support people with mental ill-health, those escaping domestic violence, and people who are homeless. Through safe housing and a comprehensive package of support, ABT’s clients are able to regain control over their lives.

The CIC was founded by people with lived experience and most of the current staff have experienced addiction, mental ill-health or domestic abuse, meaning that they have a better understanding of the challenges faced by their clients.

Loan

The CIC leases most of its properties, but rent has risen significantly in recent years, with the increase not being met by Housing Benefit. ABT made the decision to start purchasing some of its properties in order to reduce rent, increase assets and secure the CIC’s future.

A £230,000 Charity Bank loan enabled ABT to purchase two four-bedroom properties, which will save it around £500 a month.

Impact

ABT has supported more than 3,700 people on their journey to recovery. The CIC has a 90% satisfaction rate, with many former clients reconnecting with their families, finding employment and starting a new life free from substance misuse.

“Owning these two properties will save us around £500 a month. Money that we’re not paying to a landlord is money that we can put back into the CIC.”

Scott Morgan, CEO of A Better Tomorrow

“For me, being in A Better Tomorrow allowed me to press the reset button. They have provided me with tools that allow me to think about a decision and the consequences rather than just jumping in headfirst then dealing with the fall-out later. My life has blossomed in the past few years since coming to A Better Tomorrow. I now have a full-time job, I have my own accommodation, I’ve not long come back from a Caribbean holiday, I have goals set that I want to reach and I’m also the owner of two Kakariki parrots. Five years on, I can say with confidence that without ABT’s involvement in my life I would most definitely be in prison or worse.”

A former client of A Better Tomorrow