A FESTIVAL of Hope was held in Truro recently to celebrate the huge number of people who successfully recover from substance misuse in Cornwall every year.

The festival at Boscawen Park saw hundreds of people from all over the county come together to enjoy live music, good food, local stalls and hear people share their stories of recovery and volunteering.

Organised by volunteers and staff at Addaction, a drug and alcohol treatment charity that supports people across the county into recovery, the event was opened by Truro’s mayor, Cllr Lorrie Eathorne-Gibbons.

“The festival celebrates how people come through adversity and treatment and flourish. We want to increase awareness and show there is hope for anyone who struggles with substance misuse, that there is hope in recovery,” said Tracy Smith, Addaction’s community engagement co-ordinator and volunteer lead for Cornwall. "The mayor was fantastic and even came back later in the afternoon with her family to enjoy the festival.”

One of the volunteers, Mat Wilkin, had his head shaved on the day raising £500 with the whole event raising over £1,000, which will go towards Addaction’s recovery cafes across Cornwall. Recovery cafes provide an informal place for service users to meet, build relationships, support networks and community as well as access information and support. Festival organisers are already planning to run the event again next year.