About Evolve
Our mission is to provide dedicated services to young people, adults, families, professionals, and organisations to promote understanding, awareness, and education on the consequences of Substance Misuse, Volatile Substance Misuse, Vaping, and County Lines.
We are committed to working towards the prevention of related deaths, illnesses, accidents, crimes, and their impact on families and communities, creating a safer, stronger, and healthier environment.
Our services include education, confidential support, counselling, mental health first aid, and information to all those affected by such misuse. We provide these services free of charge
We actively encourage the involvement of children and young people in all aspects of our service provision.
Our two co-founders bring extensive expertise in Volatile Substance Misuse (VSA), totalling 40 years of combined experience in the field. Barbara Skinner, MBE, a former nurse, established a highly successful VSA charity in 1989, driven by the tragic loss of her son Darren to VSA. Serving as the CEO, she dedicated herself to VSA prevention until her "retirement" in 2012.
Ally Hodgson, a qualified counsellor and educator in VSA, faced the harsh reality of substance misuse when her 23-year-old nephew was murdered in 2007.
After Barbara's retirement and Ally's redundancy, they identified a significant service gap in VSA care, leading to the creation of a new charity - Evolve. Focused on education for prevention, Evolve aims to support individuals struggling with substance misuse by offering counselling and family support.
Operating within communities, Evolve seeks to empower individuals to rediscover their self-worth, make positive choices, and strive for a brighter future through targeted services such as education, early intervention, counselling, and family support programmes.
Our Team
Christian
Drug related murder, aged 23.
Darren
VSA Death. Died four weeks after his 16th birthday.
We're recruiting!
Facilitator
We are seeking a passionate and dedicated Facilitator with lived experience of substance misuse to join our team.
The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in delivering programmes aimed at educating and supporting young people regarding substance misuse, mental health, and overall well-being.
This role requires effective communication skills, the ability to engage and inspire young audiences, and a strong understanding of safeguarding practices.
Our Trustees
