At The Forward Trust, we believe recovery doesn’t happen in isolation – it happens within relationships. The Whole Family Approach recognises that behind every person experiencing addiction, poor mental health, or involvement with the criminal justice system, there’s a network of people who are also affected and can play a pivotal role in recovery and rehabilitation.
At The Forward Trust we define ‘family’ as a group of two or more individuals whose relationship plays a significant role in their lives. This could include parents, siblings, partners, children, or friends. We believe how a family is defined is up to the individual and that we all hold our own unique version of what family looks like.
Addiction, offending and imprisonment affects not only the individual, but also their family, friends and wider community. Taking a whole family approach therefore means we do not just provide support to individuals, but that we also support their family members as well. Wherever possible, we work with whole families to help everyone to recover and move forward.
We also know that families are diverse, dynamic and sometimes complex. That’s why our approach carefully explores both the benefits and challenges of involving family members in the recovery and rehabilitation process.
Our family work aims to strengthen relationships and interpersonal connections, so every person feels safe, supported and valued by the people they surround themselves with.
Research consistently shows that supporting only the individual, without acknowledging their family system, can limit the success of treatment.
“Supportive relationships with family members and significant others give meaning and all-important motivation to other strands of rehabilitation and resettlement activity.”
- Lord Farmer, 2017
“Treating the individual without family involvement may limit the effectiveness of treatment… and it does not recognise the family as a potential system of support for change.”
- Lander, Howsare and Byrne, 2013
People affected by someone else's addiction or offending may also face serious consequences themselves, such as poor mental and physical health, trauma, financial problems, and emotional distress (Templeton and Copello, 2009). Despite this, their needs are often overlooked.
Our Whole Family Approach therefore ensures that family members also receive dedicated support in their own right.
At The Forward Trust, our practitioners use detailed assessments to understand a person’s family situation and support networks. We help individuals identify important relationships in their lives and support them to build healthy connections which enhance recovery and rehabilitation.
Services include:
1:1 support.
Group programmes, such as Relationships Matter.
Whole family support offered in prisons around the UK and through our award-winning M-PACT programme.
Dedicated services for family members, such as Recovering Families UK (RFUK) Online.
Education and training.
No two families are the same, and we never impose a fixed idea of what a family ‘should’ look like. Instead, we listen.
Whether a person’s support system includes grandparents, siblings, partners, or trusted friends, we work with them to ensure their recovery journey is rooted in understanding, compassion and connection.
Our life is a system influenced by many things and our relationships are one of the most powerful. Recovery isn’t just about changing ourselves; it’s about improving the relationships around us.
Recovery is not a solo journey. With the right support, families – no matter how they are defined – can become a powerful part of the solution.
Family members must also be supported in their own right, to recover from the impact someone else's addiction has had on them.
If you're affected by any of these issues and would like to chat with someone now, try Forward’s Reach Out service - an online chat service managed by real people with real experience. Please note that this is not a crisis service.
