Faces and Voices of Recovery UK

What Faces and Voices of Recovery UK does

Faces and Voices of Recovery UK (FAVOR UK) is a UK-wide registered charity (Scottish Charity No SC043961) founded in 2009 and headquartered at 3 Kelvinside Grove, Glasgow. It operates as a membership organisation for people with living and lived experience of alcohol and other drug addiction, and reported 5,000+ members and a small operational team of approximately six staff led by CEO Annemarie Ward (appointed December 2013). Its functional purpose is to advocate for equitable access to addiction treatment, reduce stigma, and influence public policy on recovery in the UK.

FAVOR UK's core offerings are services rather than technology products: an annual UK Recovery Walk (described as the largest annual recovery gathering in Europe, with over 60,000 cumulative participants across 16 editions), the world's first Addiction Advocacy Caseworker Service (launched October 2021, reaching people across 17 local authorities), an ARCO affiliate network supporting local recovery community organisations, and free training programmes (Recovery Ally Training and 'Our Stories Have Power' workshop) delivered in partnership with the Recovery Coach Academy. The underlying technology stack is minimal — no proprietary platform, API, or AI capabilities are disclosed; the organisation relies on standard web tools, social media (Facebook, X, LinkedIn), email marketing, and event-based delivery. Brand assets include the Purple Heart of Recovery emblem (created 2012, 6,000+ distributed) and a suite of downloadable toolkits covering advocacy, anonymity, and recovery community organisation development.

The business model is a diversified non-profit mix rather than a commercial revenue engine. Income streams include individual donations (via JustGiving and PayPal), corporate and organisational sponsorship of the UK Recovery Walk (with FAVOR UK retaining 20% for administrative costs), grant funding from charitable foundations (notably CORRA Foundation and Robertson Foundation underwriting the Advocacy Caseworker Service), conference ticket sales (£30 for professionals, free for individuals in recovery, £30 exhibition stalls), and merchandise (Purple Heart badges at £2.50 each, minimum order 50). Membership and frontline services are free to beneficiaries, consistent with its charity status and community-led go-to-market motion that grows primarily through word-of-mouth, media coverage, annual events, and partnerships with local recovery community organisations.

Name

Faces and Voices of Recovery UK

Legal name

Faces and Voices of Recovery UK

Website

https://facesandvoicesofrecoveryuk.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Faces and Voices of Recovery UK (FAVOR UK) is a Glasgow-based UK charity (SC043961) that provides addiction advocacy casework, training, and community events for people with lived experience of alcohol and other drug addiction, supported by a 5,000+ member network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Addiction Recovery Advocacy Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN), Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE)

Keywords

• Addiction recovery advocacy
• Peer recovery support
• Recovery community organising
• Lived experience training
• Recovery policy campaigning

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Sponsorship: Corporate and organisational sponsorship of the UK Recovery Walk and ongoing campaigns. Sponsorship packages offer brand visibility at events, on social media, billboards, and in promotional materials. FAVOR UK retains 20% of sponsorship funds raised for administrative costs.
2. Donations: Individual donations accepted via PayPal and JustGiving platforms. Bank account details provided for direct donations.
3. Foundation Grants: Funding from charitable foundations including CORRA Foundation and Robertson Foundation to support advocacy projects and operational costs.
4. Conference Revenue: Conference tickets sold at UK Recovery Walk events: £30 for professionals/organisations, free for individuals in recovery. Exhibition stalls also available for £30.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Faces and Voices of Recovery UK (FAVOR UK) is a UK-wide addiction recovery charity that delivers peer-led advocacy, the annual UK Recovery Walk, free training programs, and a network of affiliated recovery community organisations (ARCOs). Its core services include a dedicated Addiction Advocacy Caseworker Service helping individuals navigate treatment access, an annual walk/conference drawing tens of thousands of participants, and Recovery Ally Training plus Our Stories Have Power storytelling workshops.

Product overview

Faces & Voices of Recovery UK (FAVOR UK) is a UK-wide membership organisation and addiction charity offering advocacy, campaigning, and community-building services. The core offerings include the annual UK Recovery Walk (Europe's largest annual recovery gathering), the groundbreaking Advocacy Caseworker Service (the first of its kind in the world), and the ARCO network supporting local recovery community organisations. Training programs include Recovery Ally Training (2-hour session) and Our Stories Have Power workshops (4-hour sessions). The organisation provides downloadable resource toolkits covering advocacy, recovery community organisation development, and anonymity guidance, alongside a free membership program enabling people to advocate and influence policy. Merchandise includes the Purple Heart of Recovery emblem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• UK Recovery Walk and Conference Annual national walk, parade, recovery village, and conference bringing together people in recovery, families, allies, and professionals across the UK. Cities bid to host the event. Conference tickets priced at £30 for professionals/organisations and free for individuals in recovery, with exhibition stalls at £30.
• Addiction Advocacy Caseworker Service Dedicated, personalised advocacy service helping individuals overcome barriers in addiction treatment systems, including access to residential rehabilitation, challenging systemic and DWP decisions, working with ombudsman, and rights awareness. Provided free to beneficiaries across 17 local authorities.
• Recovery Ally Training Free two-hour interactive training session delivered in partnership with Recovery Coach Academy, expanding awareness, sensitivity, and support skills for individuals wanting to support the recovery movement.
• Our Stories Have Power (OSHP) Workshop Free four-hour workshop delivered in partnership with Recovery Coach Academy, teaching recovery storytelling techniques, audience connection, and communication strategies to reduce stigma and engage communities.
• ARCO Network (Addiction Recovery Community Organisations) Membership and support network for recovery community organisations across the UK, providing a toolkit, affiliation criteria, and resources to help local organisations build capacity, unite communities, and tackle isolation.
• FAVOR UK Membership Programme Free membership programme allowing people in recovery, families, friends, and allies to stand up, speak out, educate the public, and influence policymakers, with access to campaigns, events, and resources.
• Recovery Community Organisation Toolkit Comprehensive downloadable guide for organisations involved in addiction recovery, containing tools, strategies, and best practices to empower and enhance effectiveness of recovery services.
• Advocacy Toolkit Downloadable toolkit providing advocacy resources for recovery organisations, including guidance on using stories, answering questions, and working with 12-step fellowships while maintaining anonymity principles.
• Purple Heart of Recovery Badge Charity emblem badge sold in bulk (minimum order 50 badges) at £2.50 per badge plus postage and packaging; over 6,000 distributed since 2012.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60,000 cumulative participants across 16 UK Recovery Walks
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Recovery Coach AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for delivery of Recovery Ally Training (2-hour free training) and 'Our Stories Have Power' advocacy messaging workshop (4-hour free training). Recovery Coach Academy facilitates training sessions in partnership with FAVOR UK.
• Phoenix FuturessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of UK Recovery Walk and supporter of FAVOR UK campaigns. Phoenix Futures wrote a blog about the campaign success in Scotland that helped unlock additional government funding.
• Good ShepherdsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal partner for 2025 UK Recovery Walk in Wolverhampton. Hosted art exhibitions and creative workshops at the Recovery Village.
• SUIT (Service User Involvement Team)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal partner for 2025 UK Recovery Walk in Wolverhampton.
• Recovery Near YousupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal partner for 2025 UK Recovery Walk in Wolverhampton.
• Wolverhampton City CouncilsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal government partner for 2025 UK Recovery Walk in Wolverhampton.
• Arts Council EnglandsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSupported the art exhibitions and creative workshops at the 2025 UK Recovery Walk in Wolverhampton.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Change Grow Live: Major UK provider of drug and alcohol treatment commissioned by local authorities. Comparable as a UK-wide addiction services operation but operates at much larger scale and is more clinical-provider than advocacy-led.
• Turning Point: UK social enterprise providing substance use, mental health, and learning disability services. Overlaps in substance use treatment but is a broad incumbent with diversified service lines beyond recovery advocacy.
• We Are With You (formerly Addaction): One of the UK's largest substance use treatment charities, offering community-based recovery services across all four nations. A larger incumbent with overlapping mission but a more clinical/service-delivery orientation rather than a peer-led advocacy model.

Direct peers

• Alcohol Change UK: UK charity focused on alcohol harm reduction, policy advocacy, and public campaigns. Comparable as a UK-wide substance use nonprofit that combines campaign work, research, and frontline support, with similar policy-influence ambitions.
• DrugFAM: UK charity offering support to families and friends affected by drug and alcohol addiction. Directly comparable to FAVOR UK's family/allies segment and its advocacy-focused, peer-led model.
• Phoenix Futures: UK charity providing residential rehab, community recovery, and family support as well as sponsor of FAVOR UK's UK Recovery Walk. Directly comparable as a UK-wide addiction recovery provider with overlapping service lines (residential rehab, recovery support, family services).
• Cranstoun: UK charity providing recovery, housing, and justice services for people affected by addiction, including lived-experience-led programmes. Comparable peer-led recovery focus and overlap with FAVOR UK's grassroots community model.
• Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs: Scotland-based charity supporting families affected by substance use, including bereavement support and adult/carer services. Comparable mission emphasis on family/allies and lived experience; overlaps with FAVOR UK's family segment.
• Scottish Drugs Forum: Scotland's national drug policy and information charity providing policy advocacy, training, and recovery support. Highly comparable as a Scotland-based addiction-focused nonprofit working on policy and lived-experience engagement, sharing FAVOR UK's policy-influence posture.

Regional players

• Faces & Voices of Recovery (US): US-based recovery advocacy organisation and the original 'Faces & Voices of Recovery' movement from which FAVOR UK takes its name. Direct thematic and brand equivalent but operating in a different geography (US vs. UK).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FAVORUK
• Facebookfacebook.com/FAVORUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/favoruk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Faces and Voices of Recovery UK