The celebrated electric House, Funk, Disco and Soul DJ has announced his support by becoming our 1st Charity Ambassador. Famous for his high energy sets at super clubs including Ministry of Sound, Turnmills and Miss Moneypenny’s, Brandon, who has an upcoming UK tour this summer, cemented his superstar DJ status in the 90s through residencies at well-known Ibiza clubs. Parallel to his career going from strength to strength, Brandon suffered from severe anxiety, paranoia and imposter syndrome which led to drug dependencies. In 1996 he attended a residential detox facility and embarked on his recovery journey. During his recovery, Brandon discovered SMART which he credits as instrumental and he has been a SMART Facilitator since 2005. As our Ambassador Brandon will champion what we do and raise awareness of our recovery programme.
“I am delighted and honoured to be joining the SMART Recovery UK team. The charity’s evidence-based approach empowers individuals to overcome addictions and contributes to international research efforts to enhance understanding of the recovery process. This is urgent and important work.
I identify strongly with the organisation’s inclusive ethos and values, and I am looking forward to engaging with our volunteers, staff, and my fellow trustees. Together we will build on SMART’s impressive track record and work to improve the lives of many more individuals, their families, and their friends.”
After graduating with an honours degree in Business Studies, Lesley has acquired over 25 yrs. of HR experience in the corporate financial services industry and now specialises in employment law and employee relations.
In her time as a global leader, a member of her team had addiction issues and she found that there was very little support in the workplace to help guide her. She has found it is much more widespread than people think – and she strongly believes more needs to be done to get rid of the stigma about it. As a result, Lesley is passionate about raising awareness of addiction in the workplace, helping employees and employers to be more confident in opening up about it and she is keen to equip people with knowledge of how to support the whole workforce more effectively.
Becoming a Trustee of UK SMART Recovery not only allows Lesley to promote the awareness of what we do but gives her an amazing opportunity to give back by providing support, counsel, advice and guidance to help SMART continue to grow and thrive.
This is Ian and he is our Treasurer
Ian volunteers a huge amount of his time and expertise on the UK SMART Board.
He is a member of The SMART Recovery International Brand and Communications Committee and plays a pivotal role in the development of the first global SMART Fundraising Campaign which is due to launch in April this year.
Ian has over 40 years experience in business spanning the retail, international trade, manufacturing and not for profit sectors.
This includes experience of leading the implementation of organisational change to improve business performance. He is experienced in operational excellence.
He first encountered SMART Recovery meetings in Fife, Scotland where he now lives.
Alan Maclean KC has been in practice at the Bar for 27 years. He is a member of Blackstone Chambers.
Alan was educated at a state school in the West of Scotland and then at University College, Oxford, where he obtained a double First in PPE and at Harvard University, where he was a Kennedy Memorial Scholar.
Alan was called to the Bar, First in his year, in 1993 and took Silk, at his first attempt, in 2009.
Alan has a varied and busy practice, ranging across many aspects of commercial litigation and arbitration (in such fields as civil fraud, energy, sanctions, telecommunications and sports law) as well as public, regulatory and competition law.
In addition to his work in England and Wales, Alan has appeared as leading Counsel in Gibraltar, the BVI and before both the Cayman Island and Eastern Caribbean Courts of Appeal.
Alan was a member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel until his appointment as Queen’s Counsel (1999 – 2009) and has acted for and against a vast array of different government departments and public authorities, including the Charity Commission
Shiv is a Peer Trustee who has been on the Board of Trustees for UK Smart Recovery since 2016 .
He first encountered SMART Recovery meetings in his hometown of Hounslow.
He went on to become a Peer Meeting Facilitator and a volunteer in his local drug and alcohol service, which led to his employment as an Engagement and Recovery Worker.
In his spare time Shiv helps out at the Outside Edge Theatre Company, which works with and for people with substance misuse issues.
Shiv represents the UK on the SMART Recovery International Board and plays a pivotal role in the development of the Global Strategy to develop the programme and its reach.
He helped set up SMART in India where a group of psychologist are trained to deliver the programme.
Kim is an experienced Executive Manager with significant leadership and management capabilities developed over three decades of working in the community service sector. She has worked in some of the most remote areas of Northern Territory and Kimberly Region of Australia. Prior to joining SMART Recovery International Kim completed a 12-month assignment with the Australian Volunteers for International Development program in Indonesia. Kim has her Master’s in Public Health, Advanced Diploma Community Sector Management, and Graduate Certificate of Management.
I left University with a Ph.D in Human Toxico-pathology in 2002 from the University of Liverpool. I studied the effects of maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy on the placenta and baby. During this time I gained significant knowledge of addiction, addictive behaviours and the pathological effects of addictive substances. Since then I have led and managed large portfolios of clinical research in the public sector mainly in paediatrics. Working closely with children and their families for over 20 years has given me a deep appreciation of the importance of a good start in life. In my most recent position working across health, education and social care I led a programme of health innovations which included behavioural science, biosensors and community projects.
I have been fortunate to benefit from 6 years of leadership and personal development by Ashridge Business School which means that I am able to lead an organisation on a journey of discovery, improvement and growth. I am a campaigner by nature and as such have been involved in significant fund raising for Alder Hey’s Charity where research was their leading campaign for many years (£3.2M). I have worked with all top 10 UK health charities delivering contract research which improves their evidence base of diseases, conditions and treatments. In all my appointments to date I have enabled significant growth and diversification in both the business and non-commercial sectors. I endeavour to instil a culture where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential and I hope to do this, and more, for UK SMART Recovery.
I am a busy full time working mum of 2 young boys and my husband is a care worker for vulnerable adults. I have lived experience of addiction in my family and am passionate about empowerment models of care. I believe in the philosophy that everyone should be able to Love the Life they Live and Live the Life they Love. I am very pleased and proud to be your Chief Executive.
Sam, on joining SMART Recovery, has said “I am really excited to be here and to be joining such a brilliant team. The values and vision of SMART Recovery are two things that I have found myself feeling drawn to and I can’t wait to get started. It is my aim to support the wonderful staff here in fulfilling their individual and collective goals. I will be striving to build strong roots for each of them, and for SMART, so we can grow and flourish as an organisation.”
Sam has joined the team following his role as Project Development Manager within the Lived Experience arm of Living Well Salford. He was here involved in the strategic development for a growing team of Peer Support Workers. This has made Sam incredibly passionate about supporting those who support others and ensuring that policy and procedure reinforce this vision.
This strategic role followed Sam acting in a more front-line approach where he was a Senior Practitioner working with vulnerable young people in the communities of Salford. Here he had the pleasure of developing projects and delivering one to one and group sessions with young people at risk of mental ill health, young offenders services, exclusion from education, alternative provision, and victim support.
He is also very nearly qualified as a Person-Centred Counsellor. This is training that has strengthened Sam’s enthusiasm for creating supportive environments where any individual can experience an empathic and non-judgmental service.
Tina is the Office Manager for UK SMART Recovery. She joined the organisation in August 2019 as a temporary member of staff before being taken on permanently in January 2020. Since leaving school Tina worked as a Sales Advisor in the insurance industry and for the previous 10 years she moved into the Facilities Management industry where she worked her way up from Administrator to Team Leader. Tina has a vast knowledge of administration and accounts experience.
Matthew is the Business Co-ordinator for UK SMART Recovery. He joined the organisation in April 2016 on a part time basis before taking a full-time position in November of that year.
Matthew has worked in the charity sector since 2008. Firstly, as a volunteer for the British Heart Foundation locally, before joining the Citizens Advice Bureau in Cheadle, Staffordshire, also as a volunteer shortly after. A paid position followed on from his volunteering Citizens Advice a year later, where he remained until starting work for UK SMART Recovery. He remained involved with Citizens Advice after joining UK SMART Recovery and was on the Board of Trustees for Citizens Advice up till 2021.
Graham has worked in the North West England for more than 30 years, raising money for charity and supporting events in his local community. Graham is proud to say “he found a lifeline” within SMART Recovery. He learned how to regain his self-control and by using the cognitive tools within SMART programme, he was able to manage his thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Like many, Graham believes that the ‘alcoholic’ label is counterproductive and creates stigma about what is simply a behavioural issue. It’s interesting that after addressing his own past problematic drinking, Graham was well able to maintain his own sobriety and self-control, whilst continuing to work as the proprietor of a public house. He has been sober for nearly six years and currently facilitates SMART meetings in North Wales, he trains new facilitators and works tirelessly to advocate choice and the empowerment gained from self-management in recovery.
Hi. My name is Kelly and I am the Community Coordinator in Central Scotland.
I was introduced to UK SMART Recovery in 2017. After my first meeting, I really wanted to get involved as I felt it refreshing to be welcomed and knowing a person wasn’t labelled or judged in a mutual aid setting. I attended meetings regularly whilst volunteering in a recovery community and studying social care in college. In 2019 I completed my facilitator training and friends and family training. I am currently studying Adult Health and Social care with The Open university and look forward to building my knowledge and relationships within UK SMART Recovery.
I’m delighted to be part of the team and am looking forward to growing the SMART Recovery Programme further in the North East.
I graduated from the University of Wolverhampton in 1997 with a degree in languages and politics. I went on to work in a wide range of industries including sales, marketing, customer service, retail and the NHS.
Yet, it was my experience of working as an English as a Foreign Language teacher that gave me the opportunity to travel the world and I am lucky enough to have lived/worked in Japan, Saudi Arabia and Russia.
However, since childhood, I was always drawn to the care profession and became interested in the recovery sector through life experiences, friends & family members.
“Emma was first introduced to SMART Recovery around 2012 whilst working in a local substance-misuse service. Having facilitated meetings within her role as a Recovery Worker over the past decade she has seen first-hand the profound effect SMART can have on individuals who choose to use the tools. As such, she is excited to help spread SMART further throughout the West Midlands, making it more accessible to those who wish to engage with it and helping to build strong recovery communities.
Emma has a passion for health and wellbeing, both her own and others, and also runs her own therapy practice, with an emphasis on Emotional Freedom Technique, a tool which allows individuals to move on from trauma and become “unstuck”. She also volunteers for an organisation which provides welfare and harm reduction advice at music festivals, which has become one of the most meaningful aspects of her summers.
She strongly believes that with the right support we can all strive to become the best version of ourselves and live a life of deep fulfilment.”
Colleen is the Community Coordinator – London. After working in the financial services industry for over 20 years, Colleen became a yoga therapist, holistic recovery coach and mindfulness practitioner, specialising in developing programmes that support recovery and understand how substance use disorders affect the whole family. Colleen promotes the health and wellbeing benefits of using integrative therapies for those affected by substance use. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations and a MSc in Management and Urban Public Policy.
Hi, I’m Danny and I’m the Community Coordinator for the North West region. I originally had a background in furniture making and carpentry until I became a Recovery Coach in Calderdale, West Yorkshire. I completed the SMART Facilitator Training and got further involved with the programme, facilitating weekly meetings for the next couple of years. I have always been interested in working with people, particularly within the recovery sector and have found the SMART Recovery Tools to be extremely helpful. What an opportunity to come and work for the charity and help further its causes in the North West! I’m looking forward to meeting and supporting people who can benefit from the SMART Recovery programme.
Janine completed 27 years of service in the Royal Corps of Signals deploying on multiple operational tours including Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia and Northern Ireland. Janine was introduced to SMART Veterans whilst serving and completed the facilitator training allowing her to chair the online meetings in an evening and weekend.
After her retirement from the British Army Janine was keen to give something back to the veteran community as she is extremely passionate about passing on the tools that SMART Recovery uses. She is thrilled to have been offered a position as part of the team and looks forward to helping veterans find recovery.
I’m the UK Training Co-ordinator for UK SMART Recovery as well as an experienced and ‘time served’ SMART Facilitator in the Sheffield area. I have completed both the UK SMART Facilitator training programme and the American SMART Recovery Distance Training Programme. I’ve been instrumental in the continued development of the current UK SMART Recovery online Facilitator training Programme. I grade the Facilitator exercises and support students with feedback and mentoring via our community forums. The pass mark for each of the exercises and reviews is 85% and I support students to achieve this standard. New Facilitators need to be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the SMART Programme. I would strongly recommend students use the Facilitator Forum; to support personal development and help to improve the quality and efficacy of our meetings… It’s my belief, there’s no such thing as a silly question when you’re not sure of the answer!
