One of our main priorities at Support Staffordshire, is striving to improve the health and wellbeing of all individuals we work with, whether that be our staff, our members and partners or people in our local communities. All of these will play a vital part in our campaigns over the next few months. However, October’s focus is on recovery and how we can help people who have struggled with their health in any way, get back on the road to being well and thriving in their lives. Therefore, we are shining a light on Better Way Recovery—a peer-led charity that’s transforming lives and communities across Staffordshire through honesty, hope, and the power of lived experience.
The origins of Better Way
To understand what makes Better Way the unique organisation it is, it is really important to look back on its founder Peter Griffith’s own journey. For nearly three decades, Peter battled addiction, mental health struggles, and the isolation that so often accompanies them. His story is one of survival, resilience, and ultimately, transformation.
Peter is very open about his story, “For 26 to 28 years, I was in active addiction and everything associated with that—poor mental health, prison, suicide attempts, crime, breaking up my family, isolation… I realised that addiction is nothing to do with drugs; drugs are a symptom. I used drugs because all my mates were doing it, but it also masked a lot of stuff going on for me internally.”
A pivotal moment came after a traumatic boating accident in his youth, which left Peter with survivor’s guilt and a deep sense of shame. Years of addiction followed, culminating in a suicide attempt in 2016 that led to hospitalisation and, eventually, a diagnosis of PTSD. With the support of family and a rehab programme, Peter began his recovery journey—one that would not only change his life but lay the foundation for Better Way Recovery. Peter’s own journey through addiction, trauma, and recovery inspired him to create a place where others could find the support he once needed.
Building a Peer-Led, Person-Centred Community
When Peter found his path to recovery and felt strong enough to help others, he became an outreach worker with the police, supporting others in the turmoil of addiction. Recognising the lack of local, accessible support for people facing addiction and mental health challenges in the Lichfield area, Peter set out to create something different. With help from Support Staffordshire and a network of allies, Better Way Recovery was established as a charitable organisation, rooted in the values of respect, equality, compassion, and purpose.
“Our charity is run by service users who have been in similar situations themselves, with many years’ experience in active addiction and have all found a Better Way to live life in recovery,” Peter explained “We not only want to save lives but change lives for the better.”
The centre operates an open-door policy—no appointments needed, no judgment, just a warm welcome and practical help. The only criteria for anyone who attends is that they want to be there. Most staff and volunteers have personal experience with addiction and recovery. Many started as service users and now help others on their journey. As soon as you walk into Better Way, you feel that family, positive vibe and it helps make people feel welcome and supported from the second they enter. In fact, Peter’s own family are highly involved in the running and supporting of the charity.
Peter shares that after years of addiction, his journey through recovery led to his family—especially his mother—coming back into his life. He describes how his parents moved closer to support him, saying, “my family came back into my life, mum and dad now live a 20-minute walk for me. They moved home from up north to be near me. You know, addiction ripped us apart, but recovery brought us together.” Later, when Peter founded Better Way, his mother became deeply involved, joining the board of trustees and serving as treasurer. Their renewed relationship became a foundation for both his personal recovery and the organisation’s success.
Supporting the Community: Groups, Outreach, and Practical Help
Better Way Recovery runs nearly 300 groups each year, offering everything from peer support to practical help like transport to appointments and crisis support. Their 12-week “We Programme” celebrates abstinence and personal growth, while family groups and school outreach extend their impact far beyond the centre’s walls.
“We are the change that shows others change is possible.” is one of the mottos Better Way uses to describe their impact.
The ripple effect is powerful: over 12,000 children reached through school outreach, around 1,200 people supported in recovery or in supporting a loved one through recovery, and many who once needed help now leading groups and shaping the future of the organisation. This leads to a ripple that spreads out into the wider community; helping to steer people away from crime; live healthier lives which don’t rely on NHS services; reintegrating people with places and people they may have once lost and being able to give back to the community. An example of this being how the art group create decorations to take part in Lichfield Cathedral’s Christmas Tree Festival.
Amy Moore, Better Way’s Office Manager told us, “We offer our members the chance to go along to the cathedral to visit the festival and see their creations displayed. There is no pressure to attend if they don’t want to but usually everyone does. We go to church and light a candle in remembrance of loved ones we’ve lost so it’s a way of bringing everyone together.” All of these opportunities are fantastic examples of that ripple effect that strengthens the individuals and all the communities around them.
The Power of Lived Experience: Peter’s Story
Peter’s openness about his own struggles is at the heart of Better Way Recovery’s ethos. He shares his story not to dwell on the past, but to show others that recovery is possible—even when it feels out of reach.
“I thought I was always going to be like this and I just had to believe the ones in front of me and just do it anyway. Blind faith, I call it. Even if you think it’s not going to work, just do it anyway. Your alternative is absolutely terrifying and bleak. I always say, give it six months. If you come and you still feel the same, we’ll refund your misery. No one’s ever come back for it.”
Peter’s journey from addiction and despair to community leader and advocate is a testament to the power of honesty, connection, and hope. His story resonates with those who walk through the doors of Better Way Recovery, offering a beacon of possibility.
Partnerships and System Integration
Now a commissioned part of the Staffordshire Treatment and Recovery System, Better Way Recovery works closely with local authorities, the NHS, and other recovery services. Their collaborative model—sharing space and resources with partners—makes it easier for people to access the help they need. These partnerships have enabled the organisation to grow, innovate, and embed itself within the local system of care.
Support Staffordshire has been a crucial ally, providing guidance on governance, connecting Better Way Recovery with wider networks, and helping secure vital funding. Peter highlighted the close relationship him and his team have with their Locality Officer at Support Staffordshire, Claire Ferris. “Claire has been here right from the start of our journey before there even was a Better Way Recovery” Peter explained how she provided significant help at the start, including free hours of support, assistance with policies, and linking Better Way with other people and resources. This practical support was crucial during the early stages of the organisation and has continued to be a crucial part of their successes.
Claire keeps a close link with the Better Way Team and often invites them to speak at Locality Forums and share their story with others. Peter and his colleague Ash also spoke at the VCSE Healthy Community Alliance Southeast Staffordshire forum, to share Better Way’s story and connect with other local organisations to develop important relationships. In fact, their presentation there was so impactful it was highlighted as an organisation who have broken stigmas and lead the way in supporting all of those who in active addiction.
Support Staffordshire has also helped Better Way secure vital funding to grow their organisation. They helped Better Way secure grants, such as providing PPE during COVID and funding for opening the Burton location by providing a grant worth £1,700 of support.
Better Way also received an award for governance from Support Staffordshire, presented at their 10-year celebration event at Alton Towers in 2024. This recognition highlighted the meaningful relationship and was a sign of the organisation’s growing reputation and integration into the local support system. The video below highlights why.
However, it is not just Support Staffordshire that have recognised their impact and achievements. Ash won the Outstanding Contribution, Lived Experience IOM award in March 2025, and in September, received the Community Award at the BBC Radio WM Make a Difference Awards 2025. These well-deserved accolades just highlight the value of the impact and contribution they have made to not only their service users but to the wider communities they support.
Facing Challenges, Looking Forward
Growth brings its own pressures, and leaders at Better Way Recovery feel the weight of responsibility for those they support. Stigma and misunderstanding about addiction remain challenges, but the team is committed to building trust and breaking down barriers.
Looking ahead, the charity plans to expand its reach across Staffordshire, with a new building in Tamworth, plans to have more groups in Leek and North of the county, and a continued focus on peer-led, community-driven support.
However, the real future is the continued hope and impact it brings to those in addiction and their families. Peter finishes by telling us “You cannot ever judge people. The negative ripple effect of addiction is huge, but the positive ripple effect of recovery is just as powerful. My mum sleeps at night now. That’s what matters, that’s the real impact.”
A Model for Community-Led Change
Better Way Recovery is more than a recovery centre—it’s a model for how local action, lived experience, and compassion can create lasting change. By blending social support with honesty and hope, Better Way Recovery is lighting the way for a more connected, resilient future.