Pictured: Vanessa Duke and Allen Quine (Via), and Councillor Anjana Patel (Mayor of Harrow).

We’re delighted to share that Via has been selected as one of the official charities of the new Mayor of Harrow, Councillor Anjana Patel, for her Mayoral year. 

The announcement was made at Harrow Council’s annual Mayor Making ceremony on 15 May, held at Elliott Hall in the Harrow Arts Centre. Via Area Director Vanessa Duke, and Service Manager, Allen Quine, were delighted to attend the event and witness Cllr Patel’s appointment as Harrow’s 73rd Mayor – and the first British Tanzanian/Indian-born Mayor in the UK. 

In her first address as Mayor, Cllr Patel shared that her theme for the year is kindness, caring and respect. Speaking about her chosen charities, she said: 

“I encourage everyone to support my charities, Via and Samaritans, who carry out vital work to help those most in need.” 

Via is honoured to be recognised alongside the national charity Samaritans, and we’re especially proud to represent the Harrow community in this role. The mayor’s support shines a spotlight on the importance of the work we do – supporting individuals and families affected by alcohol and drug use. 

Vanessa Duke, Area Director at Via said:  

“We are happy and proud to have been selected as one of Mayor Patel’s charities for the 2025/26 year. It was a great a privilege to welcome Cllr Anjana Patel to Via Harrow, and we were very honoured to attend the Mayor Making Ceremony to see her appointed as first citizen of Harrow.  Via has a long history of delivering high-quality treatment and care in the borough and we are excited to be able to raise the profile of our service to residents, enabling us to reach more people that might need our support.” 

Pictured left to right: Jodie Roddy, Umarah Choudhary (Cheshire West & Chester Council); Dave Targett, Jane Murphy, Matt Flegg, Craig Middleton, Jennifer McWhirter (Via); Jason Kelvin (Photographer).

On 3 June, Chester Picturehouse hosted the launch of Beauty in the Everyday, a powerful photography exhibition created by people in recovery at local drug and alcohol support service, Via – New Beginnings, Cheshire West & Chester. 

The exhibition brought together participants, their families, staff, local partners, and professionals from the wider community to reflect on recovery, creativity, and the beauty found in everyday moments. The showcased work is the result of weeks of collaboration and storytelling through photography — a medium that provided space for reflection, connection, and growth. 

The evening featured inspiring speeches, including a personal story from a peer mentor, followed by a vibrant performance from Fallen Angels dance group. Attendees then had the opportunity to view the exhibition up close. 

Beauty in the Everyday is part of a Via project led by photographer Jason Kelvin. Previous exhibitions have taken place at Via services in the London Borough of Redbridge and at residential detox and rehab, Passmores House in Essex, each time showcasing the voices and visions of people in recovery across different services. 

Lisa, who took part in the project, shared her experience:

“I wasn’t sure what to expect embarking on this project. I thought it would be a great way to rediscover my creativity. It has challenged me to stop hiding my shadows and embrace them, as they are part of who I am and what makes me, me.” 

Steve, another contributor, said:

“Instead of walking past the everyday, I now stop and pause to take in the beauty around. Capturing it inspires me to create. The project also brings me a calmness of mind, a great feeling of achievement, and the chance to make good friends.” 

Photographer and project lead, Jason Kelvin, shared:

“It’s been a real pleasure working once again on the Via photography project, ‘Beauty in the Everyday.’ The staff and clients in Cheshire West and Chester have been incredibly warm and kind. Once again, I’m hugely overwhelmed by the absolute genius, beauty, and creativity of their photography. 

As a recovering addict and alcoholic myself, I really feel that the times we’ve worked together—printing and framing the photos—have enhanced my connection with others and prevented me from feeling isolated. I’m so happy that I’ve been given this opportunity once again.” 

Councillor Lisa Denson, Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Cabinet Member for A Fairer Future (Poverty, Public Health and Mental Health) said:

“This exhibition is amazing, really inspirational, and you can see all the hard work and passion that’s gone into it. We want residents in our borough to flourish, be happy and healthy, and to live in supportive communities – something that was 100 percent evident through this project.” 

Anna Whitton, CEO of Via, said: 

“Beauty in the Everyday puts the right people at the very heart of the project. It brilliantly documents beauty in the everyday and celebrates connections to the world that we live in. The project has been and continues to be thought-provoking and inspiring. It should make us all stop and reflect on what is possible.” 

Dave Targett, Area Director for Cheshire West and Chester, said: 

“People often see recovery as just removing what’s harmful, but it’s just as much about building something hopeful. It’s not only about letting go, but also about what we grow into. This project captures that. It’s honest, creative, and rooted in everyday life. You’ve shown what recovery can look like when we focus on the whole journey, person and future.”

At Via, we’re helping to bridge the digital divide by distributing 50 refurbished laptops to people who use our services, thanks to the Good Things Foundation’s National Device Bank.  

Every year, 1.5 million tonnes of tech go to landfill, while many people across the UK lack access to digital devices.  

The National Device Bank, run by Good Things Foundation, provides vital digital access by refurbishing and redistributing donated devices to those in need. The initiative supports people experiencing financial hardship, helping them stay connected, access essential services, and improve their employability prospects. 

As part of the National Digital Inclusion Network, Via has previously distributed smartphones, tablets, and SIM cards to those facing digital exclusion in our services. 

The newly secured 50 refurbished laptops will be distributed over the next three months, with 20 specifically allocated to IPS (Individual Placement and Support) clients to support them in finding employment and developing their digital skills. To ensure fair access, there is an online application form, which people can complete with the support of their Via keyworker. 

The difference a device can make 

The impact of previous digital support initiatives has been life-changing for many people who use Via services.  

One individual, previously rough sleeping, was given a refurbished smartphone as part of her Staying Safe Plan. This enabled her to keep in contact with keyworkers and access vital support services, helping her rebuild her life. She described it as “organising my days and looking forward to a new life.” 

Asha shared how access to digital resources transformed her life: “I feel so much better since receiving the data from Good Things Foundation. It enabled me to do so many things like completing courses at Via. It has also helped me manage appointments for me and my kids. I am more confident now, compared to how I felt before.” 

Mohammed, a past recipient of a refurbished tablet, also spoke about the positive impact it has had on his family: “Me, my wife, and my son all use it for different things. I’ll be using it to do my online training as a peer mentor at Via.” 

Pam Xenitellis, Qualifications Coordinator at Via said: “I am absolutely delighted that our application to the National Device Bank has been successful, and we have been granted 50 refurbished laptops to gift to service users in need. This incredible opportunity will make a significant difference in the lives of those we support, empowering them in countless ways by opening up new opportunities and breaking down barriers. It’s a wonderful step forward in our commitment to ensuring digital inclusion for the people who use our services.” 

Harj Bansil, IPS Service Manager at Via said: “For many of the people we support through the IPS programme, the journey into employment is already filled with challenges – lack of confidence, limited resources, and barriers that most of us take for granted. Not having access to something as basic as a laptop can make that journey feel that much more difficult. This initiative is about more than just handing out devices. It’s about giving people a real chance—these laptops represent opportunity and hope. They offer our clients the digital tools they need to move forward, not just in their employment journey, but in their lives as a whole. 

At Via, we believe everyone deserves the tools to thrive, and this partnership allows us to turn that belief into real, life-changing impact. We’re grateful to the Good Things Foundation and proud to be part of something that brings hope and a brighter future to those who need it most.” 

We will soon be bidding a fond farewell to Yasmin Batliwala MBE who has decided to step down as the chair of our board of trustees. 

Yasmin was part of the foundation of Via (formerly WDP) and has been a passionate, hardworking and dedicated leader of our board.   

We are profoundly grateful for her support, knowledge and expertise over the past 30+ years, enabling the organisation to grow from strength to strength. 

During her tenure, Yasmin has steered Via through considerable growth as well as a hugely successful and award-winning rebrand. Our strong track record over this time has meant we’re reaching more people experiencing harm from alcohol and other drugs and expanding the support we provide into new areas such as smoking cessation, sexual health, employment support and mental health. 

Anna Whitton, CEO of Via said: “So much has been achieved during the time that Yasmin has chaired our board of trustees, and we are grateful for her determination and commitment to our growth, development and impact. Yasmin will be leaving us at a point where we have grown significantly to reach more people, have launched new programmes and partnerships and have been recognised externally for our capability and commitment as an employer. We are thankful for her support and guidance on our journey so far.” 

Yasmin has recently led on the recruitment of 7 new trustees at Via and we’ll be able to share more details and welcome them all soon!  

Yasmin will be stepping down once a new Chair has been recruited.  

Our Deputy Chair, Mike Walsh is overseeing the recruitment process for our new Chair, and you can find out more about this here: Chair of Trustees | Via via Peridot Partners. 

Anna Whitton, CEO of Via, and Lizzie Botteril of ASHA

We are delighted and proud to announce that our re-brand to Via has won an award at the Transform Awards Europe 2025 in the category ‘Best Naming Strategy (Rename)’. 

The Transform Awards Europe recognise excellence in creativity and strategy across the whole brand development process, including rebranding and brand strategy. 

We’d like to congratulate and thank ASHA & Co for creating and bringing to life our now award-winning name and brand. 

Our experience of working with ASHA was extremely positive and collaborative, and since the launch of our new name in June 2023, our brand has been going from strength to strength. 

It was really important to us and our stakeholders that our new name would be simple, discreet and clearly show who we are.  

We support people experiencing harm from alcohol or other drugs, and our name now not only reflects that we’re part of a journey, but also that everyone’s journey is different. 

The award ceremony took place on 26 March and the judges’ comments were: “This is the sixteenth year for the Transform Awards in Europe and the calibre and number of entries just gets better and bigger. This year we continued to see growth on top of last year’s record number of submissions. ASHA & Co has done incredibly well this year.”  

Anna Whitton, CEO of Via said:  “We’re delighted that ASHA have won this award. They paid so much attention to who we are and created a brand and name that reflected that brilliantly. It’s good to see their work recognised through the Transform Awards and we’re excited to have an award-winning brand too!”  

Anna pictured with Steven, Lizzie and Marksteen from ASHA

In recent times, we have been carefully considering what we need from a central office premises. 

We’ve been talking with our teams, evaluating how we’ve been using the building, and thinking about what this might look like in the future.

With this in mind, we put our Dartmouth Street head office on the market in November; our plan being that we would use a proportion of the funds from the sale to put back into further enhancing our service spaces.

The demand for the building was high and we were pleased to agree a sale much more quickly than we anticipated, with completion in early February 2025.

Although Dartmouth Street is in a great central London location, the building layout wasn’t very accessible nor conducive to collaborative working. Also, the way our central teams have been working over the past 4 years has changed significantly, with the building being used much less often and by fewer people.

So, rather than investing in another central space right away, we’re embarking on an exciting project to review what we actually need – exploring alternative ways of working and different set-ups.  We want this to work for our people and also be environmentally conscious, sustainable and forward thinking.

Although we are sad to say goodbye to Dartmouth Street, we think that this is a positive step for Via and are looking forward to seeing what the future holds.

Via’s new registered address is Passmores House, Third Avenue, Harlow, Essex, CM18 6YL. 

Pictured: Hydah Nawab (Deputy Service Manager at Via Redbridge).

Hydah Nawab, Deputy Service Manager at Via Redbridge, has recently earned a distinction in her ILM Level 5 Leadership & Management course – an exceptional accomplishment, as this grade is rare. 

Hydah said: “I initially negotiated that I would be enrolled on a Level 5 at my offer stage for the role I’m in and was enrolled after I passed my probation. Throughout the apprenticeship I was provided with study leave and supported in my projects by my manager. Happy – a B Corp offering workplace consultancy and learning experiences, were extremely supportive throughout my course, and it was the first time that education has been enjoyable for me.” 

Helen O’Connor, Via Area Manager for Redbridge said: “Overcoming several personal challenges along the way, Hydah has worked extremely hard with a high level of focus on her apprenticeship, studying towards Maths and English exams alongside building an extensive portfolio of reflection and evidence of the knowledge, skills, and experience she has acquired throughout the programme. The timing of her End Point Assessment coincided perfectly with our launch of our wellbeing coaching programme, Re-new, which Hydah used as her final project. She was able to draw upon a wide range of learning from her course, as well as her own depth of experience and knowledge in the sector to get us ready to promote Re-new widely across the borough.” 

Sarah Edwards, Senior Facilitator and Apprenticeship Assessor at Happy, praised Hydah’s resilience and determination: “Hydah has been remarkable, and she’s overcome so much over the last couple of years. There were times that I thought it might be sensible for her to take a break from her learning, but her hard work and perseverance carried her through. Distinctions are hard to get, and they require something special from the candidate which Hydah clearly exhibited.” 

Nicole Martins, Apprenticeship Coordinator at Happy, emphasized the challenges apprentices face: “Apprentices must be adaptable, finding ways to meet the competing demands of their job, studies, and personal commitments. They must attend regular training, coaching, and progress review meetings. Apprentices must prioritise and set boundaries to effectively manage their time. Above all, apprentices must be brave and undergo a journey of self-discovery, to learn who they are as leaders, where they excel, and where they need further development. For those who complete Happy’s leadership apprenticeship programmes, they can expect huge rewards. The skills they learn from the programmes are valuable for life, including how to coach and empower their people. Distinctions are particularly hard to get, and they require something special from the candidate which Hydah clearly exhibited.” 

This achievement showcases the value of leadership apprenticeship programmes in developing future leaders.  

Apprenticeships offer an opportunity to build essential skills, face challenges head-on, and transform professionally and personally. 

Congratulations, Hydah! 

At Via, we offer a wide range of learning and development opportunities for different roles and areas of interest. We’ll also reimburse you for agreed professional registration fees.   

Find out more about our award-winning benefits and our current vacancies here: Careers at VIA | Join Our Recovery Support Team 

Pictured left to right: Matt Pearce, Sue Butterworth, and Steven Bow (West Berkshire Council); Cllr Billy Drummond (Chairman, West Berkshire Council); Dani Cawsey, Anna Whitton, Eleanor Lyden-Vieten, and Craig Middleton (Via).

On 30 January, drug and alcohol support charity Via welcomed local partners and community leaders to an open day at its Newbury hub. The event celebrated the service’s impact in West Berkshire and highlighted the vital drug and alcohol support available to local people. 

The event was opened by Matt Pearce, Director of Public Health for West Berkshire Council, who emphasised the power of partnership in supporting local communities. Anna Whitton, CEO of Via, followed with a speech on the importance and impact of accessible, high-quality services in supporting people on their recovery journey. 

Dani Cawsey, Service Manager for Via West Berkshire, provided an insightful overview of the service, explaining how it helps people through structured treatment, a wide range of support options, and dedicated programmes such as the family and friends group.  

A particularly moving presentation came from Andreas Kavalierou, Via’s Reintegration Coordinator, who introduced the GLOVES programme – a unique 6-week initiative that draws parallels between the 12 rounds of boxing and the 12 steps of recovery. He spoke powerfully about how the programme gives people determination, focus, and a sense of purpose beyond their usual treatment. By enhancing responsibility, resilience, and fitness, GLOVES helps develop a winning mentality for sustained recovery. Attendees were also treated to an impressive boxing demonstration by a GLOVES graduate, showcasing the programme’s impact in action. 

Jason Kew, Public Health Strategist, spoke passionately about the local Combatting Drugs Partnership, highlighting the importance of collaboration between organisations to tackle stigma, promote harm reduction, and enhance education and prevention efforts. 

The day concluded with a delicious lunch and networking session, where attendees connected and explored future collaboration opportunities. 

Eleanor Lyden-Vieten, Area Director at Via said: “I’m really proud of the whole Via team and the impact they have every day in the lives of the people we support. The success of this event is a testament to their hard work, enthusiasm and passion.  We were happy to see so many local partners in attendance and look forward to continuing to build even stronger working relationships with them.” 

Craig Middleton, Executive Director of Services at Via said: It was great to see so many partners from West Berkshire at the event. The strong interest in the service’s work was clear from all the people who attended.  The team shared some wonderful examples of the support and help they offer to people who use our service and positive impact it has had. 

Matt Pearce, Director of Public Health, West Berkshire Council said: “We’re proud to partner with Via. The work they do is a game changer. They become an integral part of people’s journeys with alcohol dependency and drug use and help them to take a better path.”

We’re incredibly proud to share the inspiring journey of Mandy Yasities, a peer mentor at our Ellesmere Port hub in Cheshire West and Chester. Mandy has recently become one of the faces of BRIO Leisure, which operates leisure centres across Cheshire and offers a wide range of health, fitness, and well-being services. Her story is a powerful example of hope, resilience, and determination. 

As part of Mandy Yasities’ recovery progress, she joined Via’s gym scheme in partnership with BRIO Leisure, starting with an induction that helped her ease into the program. Over time, she embraced the physical and mental health benefits of fitness, preferring group classes over the gym itself, and made regular attendance a key part of her recovery plan. 

Her consistent efforts and positive attitude have been truly transformative. Mandy is thriving in recovery and continues to encourage her peers to adopt similar routines. Her dedication caught the attention of BRIO Leisure, who invited her to participate in a photoshoot for their campaign. You may even spot her picture on bus shelter ads and billboards! Mandy’s role as one of BRIO’s ambassadors doesn’t stop there; she’s already scheduled for another photo shoot this spring. 

Her story is a testament to what can be achieved with determination, community support, and access to initiatives like the gym scheme. 

Here’s what Mandy Yasities had to say: “The BRIO Gym scheme has been an integral part of my recovery. It was suggested to me by my keyworker at the time – Amanda Casey at Unity House – around two years ago. I was apprehensive at first because of the stigma I thought I would face, but it was absolutely fine! It gave me a sense of purpose, something to achieve, and also something to fill my time. 

I have identified over the years that routine is very important to me in everyday life. Being able to book onto classes regularly gives me a routine that I can stick to and work around other things I have going on in my life, such as volunteering at Via! I absolutely love my volunteering and am learning lots – it’s really nice to be a part of a lovely, supportive, and encouraging team. 

Joining BRIO has definitely helped my recovery one hundred percent, and I am so happy to now be a part of their new campaign. It shows me how far I have come in the last two years, as there’s no way I would have done this then! I have had my struggles, as we all have, but the team at BRIO and the team at Via and Unity House have inspired me to carry on. I get loads of support and am able to use my own experiences to help others. It helps that people currently in service can see that there is hope and light at the end of the tunnel if you want it. Anything is possible!” 

Amanda Casey, manager at Via, said: “Mandy Yasities has shown what hard work and determination can do, and the positive impact it can have on your life in all areas.” 

Peter Davies, General Manager at BRIO Leisure said: “Unlike other clubs our centres are fully staffed with professional, qualified and passionate staff that genuinely want to help users improve their lifestyles, be it through exercise, wellbeing or socially.” 

Mel Cairns, Personal Trainer and Fitness Class Instructor said: “Mandy is an amazing example of the work we can do at Brio, and her positivity and determination has been an inspiration. A little extra support is so effective when someone really wants to change their life, but I have to say the real work came from her.” 

Diane Gavin, Receptionist at BRIO Leisure, said: “I first met Mandy Yasities through signing her up on the pilot scheme, and I am so proud and amazed with how dedicated she is. She is an absolute credit to the scheme due to her determination and dedication, come rain or shine. It has been an absolute pleasure to see Mandy grow and get to know her, which has become a lovely friendship.” 

We’re proud to share our Hepatitis C micro-elimination impact report for 2021-2024. 

At Via, working towards eliminating Hep C in our services is a key priority for us and our teams have been working tirelessly through enhanced testing, diagnosis and support, and ensuring that treatment pathways are available and accessible. 

Working in partnership with Gilead Sciences, and as part of the Drug Treatment Services Providers Forum, we’ve reached many milestones over the past 3 years: 

• To date, 7 of our community service sites have achieved Hep C micro-elimination.  

• Our Via Harrow service was our first service to do this and the 6th London borough to reach this impressive goal.  

• So far, 2 of our service sites have also maintained this status after six months and we expect more to follow.   

• Between November 2021 and August 2024, our teams carried out 4,966 dry blood spot tests across our Via-led services. 

• We also helped 156 people who tested positive to start treatment so they could become free of Hep C. 

Carly who attends our Via Greenwich service told us: “Starting treatment was so easy. The whole process was very professional, I felt safe. So happy with the outcome, life changing, and painless compared to old treatments in the past. Thanks for all the support.” 

One of our team members in Cheshire West and Chester, Alice shared: “Often our clients can struggle with engaging with medical interventions, for various reasons. Being able to support our clients at Unity House in Ellesmere Port with accessing Hep C treatment has proved valuable and successful. I believe this is in part due to the fact the service is a safe space for the client. Having seen the reactions of successful treatment, the feeling of improved general health and increased likelihood of exploring health with professionals shows Hep C treatment has a positive impact on all areas of life.” 

Tom Sackville, Executive Director of Services at Via said: “It has been fantastic to see the huge progress that has been made towards the micro-elimination of Hepatitis C across Via. We know what this means for the quality of life and the wellbeing of those who use our services, so this is a really transformational achievement. I want to pay tribute to all of those within Via, as well as all the local and national partners, who have supported this work and we look forward to continuing to celebrate further progress in the near future.”   

Marlon Freeman, National Hepatitis C Coordinator at Via also commented: “I am pleased to present this report, which highlights the significant collaboration and organisational advancements Via has achieved in driving sustainable progress toward Hepatitis C micro-elimination. It is an honour to join our partners at the Gilead Hepatitis C Drug Treatment Services Provider Forum in showcasing the meaningful impact our work has had on the communities we serve. We trust this will serve as evidence of how partnerships with the NHS and third-sector health organisations can effectively enhance health outcomes and reduce health inequalities among those who use substances.”  

To find out more about Hep C micro-elimination, our partnership working, what we’ve learnt on our journey to micro-elimination and what’s next, check out our Via Hep C Impact Report here.

About Via

Via is a leading health and wellbeing charity that supports people to transform their lives for the better and helps them to manage their health and wellbeing independently. Providing safe and effective treatment and care around alcohol and drugs, mental health, smoking cessation, sexual health and employment support, Via supports thousands of people every year across the UK.

For more information about Via, visit: www.viaorg.uk or contact communications@viaorg.uk.