Substance abuse agency, Focus Counselling Services will highlight the importance of community as it celebrates Recovery Month in September.

This year’s theme is ‘Recovery is for Everyone: Every Person, Every Family, Every Community’.

A spokeswoman for Focus said: “We are all called to end gate keeping and welcome everyone to recovery by lowering barriers to recovery support, creating inclusive spaces and programmes, and broadening our understanding of what recovery means for people with different experiences.”

Focus’s two main programmes, the Supportive Residency and the Drop-In Centre, encourage clients to take personal responsibility for their wellbeing and recovery.

The Supportive Residency programme is for those who have completed substance misuse treatment to stay in supervised sober housing for up to two years while preparing for employment and independent living.

The Drop-In Centre provides breakfast, lunch and showers to members of the community while providing support through therapeutic services for those facing substance misuse.

The spokeswoman added: “These two programmes allow us to fully support individuals during, before, and after treatment to enhance the ability for individuals to succeed in recovery.”

There are four events planned for the month of September as well as a month-long appeal and more opportunities to support.

On September 1 there will be a “Wave and Honk” staged as the board of directors promotes Recovery Month on East Broadway in Pembroke.

On September 4 there will be a “Round Up Day” at the Lindo’s grocery stores in Warwick and Devonshire.

On September 25 there will be a Tag Day where members of the community can buy a tag to show their support for Focus’s recovery services.

On September 29 members of the community are invited to stop at the Focus stall at the Health Fair taking place at Victoria Park, Pembroke.

Throughout September supporters are encouraged to “Like” and repost Focus’s social media updates as it highlights tips on recovery. Anyone donating $5 or more will receive a #RecoveryisPossible wristband. Anyone wishing to share their own story can do so by tagging #RecoveryisPossible and @FocusCounsellingServices

Anyone wishing to support the cause beyond September can sign up as a Bermuda Championship volunteer for Focus from October 21 to 25. Members of the community are encouraged to volunteer and donate towards Focus and follow its activities on social media, as well as join its mailing list.

Anyone interested in supporting Focus Counselling Services and the work they do for essential and therapeutic services, can make a donation or volunteer by visiting www.focus.bm. For more information, contact the office on 296-2196 or via e-mail at dfrith@focus.bm