PROVIDING HOPE AND BETTER LIVES
Empowering communities through Support and Recovery Services
Welcome to Ara, an organisation that has been dedicated to providing much needed and respected services to vulnerable individuals and communities since 1987. With a passionate staff team and Board of Trustees, we strive to help people make positive changes in their lives and create a better future for themselves and their loved ones. Our sole purpose is to provide hope and better lives.
About Ara: Supporting vulnerable communities since 1987
We are a registered charity formed in 1987, providing structured treatment, counselling, housing support, education, training, and employment guidance, as well as many other interventions to provide hope and better lives through recovery.
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People received CBT and strength-based counselling
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Young people in South West England & Wales took part in our programmes to raise awareness of gambling harms
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Of clients were satisfied with the service that they received
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Clients housed in our recovery community accommodation
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Referrals for men and women leaving prison homeless
Graham England
Graham England Chief Executive Officer
Message from CEO
2024–25 has been a landmark year for Ara Recovery for All. For the first time in our 37-year history, we have been able to purchase and own housing. In partnership with Bristol City Council, the Department for Housing, Local Government and Communities, and Social and Sustainability Capital (a social investment fund), we’ve brought 15 flats into supported housing in Bristol. Our flagship service, Pathway 4 (part of Bristol’s Homelessness Pathways), received a new contract award, and we’re proud to continue our strong relationship with Bristol Public Health.
Partnership and problem solving have driven us to Provide Hope and Better Lives to even more people across the South west and Wales. In the past year, we supported over 28,000 individuals, a 9% increase.
Collaboration will become even more vital in the years ahead. In 2025–26, funding for gambling harm services will change following a government review of the 2005 Gambling Act. Research, education and treatment funding will be distributed through new structures. Ara will remain at the forefront of tackling gambling-related harms. We look forward to expanding our work with the Welsh Government and NHS Wales as devolved funding becomes available.
Our gambling harms services continue to grow. This year we launched our Young People’s Prevention Service, ‘Ahead of the Game’, which reached 83% of last year’s total young participants in just four months.
As the leader of our forward-thinking charity, I want to thank our Board of Trustees, a focused, committed group dedicated to Providing Hope and Better Lives to some of the most marginalised people in society.
We’ve achieved excellent outcomes this year. I hope you find this year’s Impact Report as exciting to read as it was to produce.
OUR VALUES
Our purpose is to provide hope and better lives
At Ara, we are driven by a shared passion to make a positive impact on the lives of the most vulnerable individuals in our communities. With over 30 years of experience, our dedicated staff team and Board of Trustees work tirelessly to provide much-needed and respected services that help people improve their functioning, wellbeing, and quality of life. All of our actions are driven by the following core values
Aspiring
We are ambitious for clients, act with purpose, are motivated and eager for change. We are committed to enterprising solutions and the best possible outcomes.
Brave
Competent
Determined
Transforming lives through supported housing, gambling harms treatment, and prison resettlement
At Ara, we are dedicated to providing essential services to vulnerable individuals and communities. Our wide range of services, including Supported Housing, and Gambling Support, aim to empower individuals and help them improve their quality of life.
Specialised programs to assist individuals struggling with gambling addiction and related issues.
Safe and supportive housing solutions for individuals facing homelessness or housing instability.
We create long lasting partnerships with like-minded organisations
MEET THE TEAM
The unwavering strength and unity of the Ara leadership team.
Graham England
Chief Executive Officer
Andrew Ridley
Finance Director & Deputy CEO
Robbie Thornhill
Director of Operations
Richard Chilvers
Housing Manager
