The Forward Trust

The Forward Trust

Founder	Peter Bond, Jonathan Wallace, Michael Meakin
Location	United Kingdom
Website	www.forwardtrust.org.uk
Formerly called	Rehabilitation for Addicted Prisoners Trust

The Forward Trust is a British charity that helps people with drug and alcohol dependence. Previously known as RAPt (the Rehabilitation for Addicted Prisoners Trust), it was relaunched in 2017 as Forward Trust after merging with Blue Sky organization. ^{[1] [2]}

The Forward Trust delivers services both in the criminal justice system and in community settings. Approximately 20,000 people every year use a 'The Forward Trust' service. The Forward Trust is the only provider of drug treatment programmes within HM Prison Service that has verifiable evidence of effectiveness. ^{[3] [4]}

History

RAPt was established in 1991 as the Addictive Diseases Trust when Peter Bond, a recovering alcoholic, observed the success of abstinence-based programmes in the United States. He, Jonathan Wallace, Isabelle Laurent, Louise Gibbings, Matthew Wilson and Michael Meakin, set up a charity to meet the needs of drug addicts in UK prisons.

In 1992 The Addictive Diseases Trust opened the first intensive drug rehabilitation programme in a UK prison in a Portakabin at HMP Downview in Surrey. The actor Sir Anthony Hopkins, an early supporter, provided much-needed funds and remains a patron. ^[5]

Catherine, Princess of Wales, a patron of the charity, delivered the keynote speech at the launch of the charity's 2021 Taking Action on Addiction campaign. ^[6] She made another high-profile speech calling for compassion towards suffering addicts at the start of Addiction Awareness Week in November 2025. ^[7]

See also

• Alcoholism
• Drug abuse
• Drug addiction
• Drug rehabilitation
• 12-step programme

References

1. "Forward Trust". forwardtrust.org.uk. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
2. "Addiction Treatment". zakshouse.com.^{[ dead link ]} "inpatient and residential alcohol and drug rehab for addiction treatment in Fallbrook California"
3. "Research - RAPt". www.rapt.org.uk. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
4. Carol L. Martin; Elaine Player (31 October 2000). Drug Treatment in Prison: An Evaluation of the Rapt Treatment Programme . Retrieved 24 November 2025.
5. "Fiona Malitsky (londonmarathon statement)". 2023tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
6. "Duchess of Cambridge warns addiction can happen to anyone". BBC News. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
7. "Princess of Wales calls for end to 'stigma' around addiction". www.bbc.com. 24 November 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.

External links

• "Charity Details". beta.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
• Prisoners flee drug culture of open jails, The Times
• RAPt raises £500k for ex-prisoner's centre The Bridges, east Hull, with help of James Nesbitt, Ben Elliot and long-distance cyclist Phil Allsopp, Hull Daily Mail