Addiction Football
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Recovering addicts in Colwyn Bay talk about how joining the local football team helped them kick their habits.
About the film
Conwy Channel, a volunteer support group for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts based in Colwyn Bay, offers weekly football sessions that give local men an outlet to get fit and have fun during their rehabilitation. Some volunteers go through football coaching, in a bid to boost their self esteem and employment opportunities.
Project coordinator, Benn Pagett explains:
"The football sessions have been going for three to four years and were originally set up solely for people in recovery but then we opened it up to all males from the age of sixteen upwards. We sometimes get locals coming up to us to get help, so we're able to get them into detox services and offer them support. Some of the lads have come through very dark times, times when they didn't even trust themselves, so it means so much to feel trusted again and have these opportunities."
See also
In this section
- Mental Health Day story collection
- Addiction Football by Benn Paggett
- Behind Closed Doors by Sue Groves-Phillips
- Epilogue by Dan Jones
- Fighting Back by Helen Potter
- I'm Not a Mad-Axe Murderer! by Sian S
- My Thursday Blues by Susan Evans
- Scratching the Surface by Debbie Rideout
- Self by Ben Davis
- More stories from Video Nation Wales
Elsewhere on the BBC
- Headroom - the BBC campaign to help you cope with the everyday stresses and strains of life.
- Video Nation Network - more short films from around the UK
- Download or subscribe to the Ouch! podcast for irreverent disability-focussed chat.
- The Surgery - Helpful advice for teenagers from experts and celebs
