Recovering drug and alcohol users host photography exhibition

2013-05-16 News

Photographs taken by people tackling drug and alcohol issues, which tell the story of their individual journeys to recovery, will feature in Brighton’s 2013 Artists Open Houses events taking place throughout May.

The photographs were taken by residents of CRI’s St Thomas Fund rehabilitation facility on Cromwell Road, Hove, which opened its doors to the public on the 12^th May and will again on the 19^th and 26^th May between 2-5pm.

The exhibition was the brainchild of Sussex University social work student Emma Fincham-Siley, an amateur photographer completing work experience at the CRI St Thomas Fund rehabilitation project. Emily encouraged service users to take the theme of recovery and identify locations throughout Sussex that were of significance to their recovery or which they found inspiring.

On the exhibition, Emma said: “I am overwhelmed by the residents’ artwork and the images are powerful, inspiring and they all hold personal meaning to the artists. The levels of photographs the artists have selected to exhibit are truly wonderful and represent part of the individual’s recovery journey, however big or small that might be.”

Martin Parsons, a resident at CRI St Thomas Fund, and whose photography features in the exhibition said: “The photograph of the bench was the site of the first night I slept rough because my drinking had got out of control and I was street homeless. I was frightened, but I did think ‘my god if I can get through this, I can do anything’. I have not done creative photography before, but I think being creative can give you a sense of focus, purpose and pride in what you can achieve.”

The Artists Open Houses initiative provides a unique experience for visitors, offering the chance to visit artists and makers in private homes or residences normally not open to the public.

St Thomas Fund is a residential substance misuse rehabilitation project supported by the local authority and Public Health England, which supports people who have experienced drug or alcohol misuse. The project only works with people who have experience of rough sleeping or offending, to help them turn their lives around.  

For more information on the CRI St Thomas Fund residential rehabilitation project please contact the service at www.cri.org.uk or call 01273 823 762.

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