About us

Referrals to our residential addiction recovery centres increase every year. With this growing demand on our service comes our pledge to continue our work to help as many as we can. We are excited for the future, and excited to see many men reclaim theirs.

Our residential programme focuses on using different units for different phases in recovery. This helps clients maintain a step-by-step mentality that we have found key to addressing addiction. First, we have Stepping into Recovery, then Life on Life’s Terms, and finally, Recovery in Action.

Learn more about our residential addiction support programme.

Our CEO, Richard Spence, has worked in the sector for 15 years, and is committed to bringing lasting positive change to clients’ lives and the manner in which our programme is delivered.

Richard is always keen to spend time with other organisations to review practices, and work with our team on new pathways.

Scott has a wealth of experience from 30 years in the sector. Scott has set up similar projects, started enterprises and helped clients start their own.

Scott oversees the programme operations, diligently looking after the quality our clients receive.

Bryan, with his wife Judith, started the works in 2008. Bryan has helped set up similar charities and has spoken into the lives of almost every client. Bryan is now the chaplain to the charity, having been ordained in July 2023.

Bryan helps maintain the core principles on which the charity was founded through team and client group sessions and one-to-one session where required.

From founding the charity with Bryan, Judith predominantly oversees the graduation process for all clients from the programme and is often out networking, particularly with those helping veterans.

Judith’s work with veterans has become a focus for the charity and is work we continue to expand on.

A client’s first point of contact with our organisation is usually the referrals team. This team is dedicated to helping our clients find the right way into our programme if it is appropriate.

Part of the work of the referrals team is to discern and prioritise applications, ask some difficult questions and champion an application through to admission.

Most of our support workers have experienced addiction in their past and all have overcome it either through our programme or another. For those who don’t have a history of addiction, they have experience supporting those coming out of it.

Our support workers are passionate about seeing successful recovery achieved in all who want it.

The Family Liaison Officer role at The Carpenter’s Arms helps us provide a nurturing environment where loved ones feel heard and supported as they navigate the complexities of their journey alongside their loved ones.

From understanding the programme and dealing with trauma to fostering healthy relationships and setting realistic expectations, our advice covers a spectrum of needs.

Our pastoral team are all accredited therapists who now specialise in substance abuse. It is our practice that a client will remain with the same therapist from the beginning of their programme with us until the end, through all the phases.

Our involvement with the Armed Forces Covenant and Veterans began in 2019.

Having a long family history of Military involvement, Judith Spence, one of our Directors, wanted to integrate UK Military Veterans within The Carpenter’s Arms, making full use of the facilities we have to aid their recovery.

In 2019, we were honoured to sign The Armed Forces Covenant which states that we will treat Armed Forces Veterans Reserves and their families with equal opportunities. From this, we were able to achieve the Silver Award in 2022 and the Bronze Award in 2021 in the Defence Employer’s Recognition Scheme. This has only grown our involvement and sparked more intrigue into how we can facilitate and open opportunities for Veterans.

With the integration of the Armed Forces Covenant, it was decided by our CEO, Richard Spence, that The Carpenter’s Arms would champion a sponsored yearly space for a Veteran on the programme. We were put in touch with ‘Veterans Launchpad’ and within a few days, we had a Veteran coming onto our programme. It has been wonderful to see his improvement, and he now volunteers for us and champions our work with Veterans.

We believe that recovery is best done in such an atmosphere where encouragement and good relationships do much of the work.

We believe that addiction is due to root causes and these need to be identified and addressed within a balanced healthy environment.

We endeavour to do this through group and individual sessions whilst demonstrating that a healthy enjoyable lifestyle doesn’t need artificial stimulants.

Substance abuse is viewed as a disorder of the whole person, affecting some, or all, areas of functioning. These may include behaviour problems, confused values, deficits in educational or occupational skills, moral or spiritual problems, relationship problems, attitude problems, work problems and/or family difficulties.

The following principles guide this treatment philosophy:

• Every participant, regardless of their circumstances, degree or type of addiction and/or extent of their emotional disturbance, is considered to be a person of worth and value.
• Your time with us is voluntary. You cannot be forced to learn or grow with us – it is your choice.
• Change comes as a result of action. It is important that you become an active participant in the programme.