We want the Atebion community hub in Llandudno to be somewhere people can contribute as …
Marc Laithwaite and his incredible team of staff and volunteers have supported our founder Rich …
The loss of a friend, Phil, who died alone in a temporary bed sit at …
I love interacting with people in recovery from addiction, and many have become my close …
At a time when our society is becoming more and more disconnected, we need to …
Keep up to date on our What’s On page.
We are a grassroots, not-for-profit organisation based in North Wales, dedicated to minimising the impact of addiction and associated adversity. Operating from our community-centred hub in the heart of Llandudno and drawing on the combined wisdom of lived experience and professional insight, we are uniquely positioned to support individuals, families and communities alike, both locally and across the UK.
Our work is centred on the understanding that addiction is rarely an isolated problem that can be resolved through a single, ‘one-size-fits-all’ response. Often, it is multidimensional and intertwined with factors such as trauma, mental and physical health complexities, homelessness, fractured relationships, loneliness, involvement with the criminal justice system, and a loss of purpose or sense of belonging.
We have seen through our own eyes, and heard through the stories of others, how these adversities can both contribute to addiction and arise as a consequence of it, creating cycles of harm that ripple outwards through families, communities and wider society.
In simple terms, there is no prescriptive resolution for addiction. We must first understand the lives of those affected by it.
Atebion will empower individuals, families and communities to overcome one of society’s most overlooked problems – disconnection, and the symptoms that arise as a consequence, such as addiction, trauma, and mental health challenges.
Through our Eight Principles of Change (EPOC) Programme, storytelling initiatives and educational resources, we will empower people with lived experience to rewrite their story and become Recovery Advocates who will create hope, understanding, and a sense of belonging.
Guided by our core values of acceptance, trust, creativity, courage and reciprocity, we will support individuals and communities to help discover, connect and mobilise their assets.
To us, recovery is not merely about abstaining from a drink, drug or other harmful behaviour. It is about living a fruitful, healthy and productive life among our families and communities, where our experiences can become a source of inspiration for others. It is one where we thrive within a reciprocal cycle of support, helping each other towards greater stability, trust, hope and a genuine sense of purpose.
Our experience shows that through connection and the co-creation of the conditions required for sustainable growth, an organic pattern of positive impact can ripple through society. As a result, there is a natural reduction in the burden placed on public health, criminal justice, housing, emergency services and social care.
Ultimately, when people are better understood and empowered to recover, heal, reconnect and participate fully in community life, recovery can become a source of strength and inspiration, not only for the individual, but also for our families, communities and wider society.
That is why Atebion exists, why we do what we do, and why we are so passionate about it.
Our blog posts will keep you informed of Atebion’s various activities, our ongoing reflections, and the views of world-leading experts on themes related to overcoming adversity and preventing disconnection.
We want the Atebion community hub in Llandudno to be somewhere people can contribute as well as receive support. Somewhere skills, ideas, experience and knowledge can be shared. Somewhere people can begin to recognise their own strengths and potential, sometimes after years of those things being overlooked.
The loss of a friend, Phil, who died alone in a temporary bed sit at the hands of addiction, was the straw that broke the camel’s back. It prompted me to find another gear and give up paid employment to pursue the vision I had of empowering individuals to move beyond a state of recovery maintenance …
I love interacting with people in recovery from addiction, and many have become my close friends. I have a lot of respect for people in recovery, and at times have been in awe. I am amazed at some of the adversities that many people face—not just in their addiction, but also the …
“Human beings are storytelling creatures, that’s how we best learn, that’s how we best communicate. So when the storytellers in our society tell their stories, they end up having a powerful impact.”
Dr Bruce D. Perry
Stories help us to develop empathy. They allow us to understand another person’s world from their perspective. Stories give us unique access to the inner lives and motivations of others. They contain so much more information than we can convey in the statement of facts.
You have to realise my state of thinking prior to that first group meeting in the treatment agency. Once I had become addicted to heroin, I did not see that there was any alternative to the life I was living. I didn’t know anyone who had overcome heroin addiction. I had never heard…
I grew up around alcohol. Drinking was a daily thing for my parents and wider family, who ran bars, pubs, and clubs. I saw the fun, and I saw the damage it caused. Some of my relatives drank themselves to the bitter end, but at such a young age this was overlooked, as these people were my heroes.
For more inspirational stories visit our dedicated Stories page or watch the video below …
This powerful conversation portrays Elissa’s story of overcoming addiction, her journey into treatment and the complications she encountered following residential recovery.
Elissa talks openly about the turning point in her life, her experience of family and relationship breakdowns, and her hopes for a brighter future as an advocate with Atebion.
Check out the Prof’s Wise Words section
