Meet The Team
We’re putting together a new Festival Committee for 2026. Some of us have been involved before, and we’re also excited to welcome plenty of new faces this year. Most of the committee members are either in recovery themselves or work in the field. Allow them to introduce themselves...
Helen
Project Manager
Hi, I’m Helen, and I’m the Project Manager for the Recovery Festival, working on a freelance basis through Owl with a Spark. I feel genuinely privileged to work with such a passionate committee to co-produce this uplifting event.
I love bringing together partners, communities and people with lived experience to celebrate recovery in all its forms, share real stories of hope, and create a space where people feel uplifted, connected and inspired.
Megan
Arts & creative
Hi, I’m Megan and I am a Peer Coordinator at DHI Bristol.
I first attended the Recovery Festival in 2019 and last year I was a volunteer there. I loved being part of such an amazing day, so I decided to join the committee to help organise this year’s festival.
It has been great to watch the festival grow each year and I am excited for Recovery Festival 2024
Rob
Volunteer coordinator
Hi, I'm Rob and I am a Peer Coordinator with DHI Bristol.
This year will be my third recovery festival and my first as a committee member. I'm thrilled to be coordinating the amazing team of volunteers who help make the event run so smoothly. The festival embodies everything that makes the recovery community so inspiring and it's a pleasure watching it go from strength to strength each year.
Tom
Website
Hi, I'm Tom. I'm a freelance IT consultant and developer for the Bristol non-profit sector.
This will be my second year volunteering for the Recovery Festival and I'm delighted to be contributing again to this great organisation. It was a pleasure to be involved first time round and the event itself was fantastic.
Natalia
Social Media, Safeguarding
Hi, I’m Nat, I work as a Women’s Housing Specialist at Ara Recovery for All. I first went to the recovery festival in 2024 as a volunteer and loved it. I’m excited to be a part of the committee for the first time this year and to help create a space that celebrates recovery, connection and hope!
Sophie
Entertainment
Hi, my name’s Sophie and I run Creative Communities at Bristol Drugs Project. I’ve been coming to the Recovery Festival since 2015, having brought creative groups including Rising Voices and Bristol Sober Spaces here to perform each year.
I joined the committee in 2021 and am excited about programming the entertainment stage, platforming artists in recovery, and giving everyone at the festival some great music for the day.
Hi, I’m Vicki, and I’m the Senior Lived Experience Coordinator at Shelter. I also oversee the Women’s Action Group — a collaboration of women with lived experience of homelessness who work together to drive long-term change in the city.
Before joining Shelter, I spent over 15 years in housing support roles within drug and alcohol services across Bristol, so I’ve attended and been a stall holder at the Recovery Festival for many years. This is the first year though I have taken an active role on the committee, and I’m really happy to be involved in helping shape such a brilliant and special event.
Ellie
Hi, I’m Ellie, I work as the Partnerships and Development Manager at the Nelson Trust Bristol Women’s Centre. I first became involved in the Recovery Festival as a volunteer in 2024, when I supported with our social media. I’m thrilled to be a member of the committee in 2026 and am looking forward to helping create a welcoming, inclusive space where lived experience is valued and everyone feels seen and supported.
Vicki
Health and safety lead
Ken
Logistics officer
Ive been working within the music and theatre world for over 25 years now. I've gone from starting backstage at a pantomime to now doing most aspects of venue, festival, event and one off show production, logistics and management. I am in recovery myself and love working on wholesome projects now. Its my first year on the committee and loving being part of such a dedicated team to a personal and important cause
Eve
Hi, I’m Eve. I work at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, focusing on health and homelessness. My role includes overseeing a rough sleeping, substance use and recovery programme across more than 80 local authorities, as well as leading on homelessness and health data.
Before moving into government, I spent 10 years working in the homelessness sector and set up the Women’s Action Group, a lived‑experience collective driving change for women experiencing homelessness. I’ve been attending Bristol’s Recovery Festival for the past two years and am excited to join the committee as Impact and Evaluation Lead, using feedback and data to help show just how important the Festival is to Bristol’s community.
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