Conference Opening Address by Nigel Skelsey

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" – Isaiah 55:8-9

Throughout the 18 years that The Recovery Course has been running, the most astonishing thing that we have discovered is that it can work in multiple unorthodox ways in all kinds of different situations; it’s not one size fits all. The only limitation to its effectiveness is us. We don’t ask God to bless our endeavours, we ask Him to help us keep out of the way so that he can work his miracles. It’s all about Him and never about us.

TRC25 has an inspiring range of speakers who have had the courage to operate outside of the box and have the humility to give God the space to do what he does best, which is transforming people into the person they were meant to be. And as St Catherine of Siena wrote in the 1300s, “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire''

Healing The Addicted Mind - Trauma and Its Part in My Downfall

(Including Q&A Session)

Robin Lawrence is a Consultant Psychiatrist with decades of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, and has practised for many years from his clinic at 96 Harley Street. An authoritative and respected voice in general adult psychiatry, his special interests include depression, anxiety, bipolar affective disorder, adult attention deficit disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, addictive disorder and the full range of recognised mental health conditions.

He is also a skilled Psychotherapist, combining the ability to prescribe with complementary talking approaches, believing, as he does, that psychotherapeutic insights are often indispensable to the achievement of positive mental health outcomes.

Healing The Addicted Mind - Trauma and Its Part in My Downfall

(Including Q&A Session)

Kay Lawrence is a highly experienced counsellor and works with patients both one-on-one and in groups. Her special interests lie in addiction, obsessive-compulsive behaviour, adult survivors of childhood abuse, self-esteem, sexuality and “inner child” therapeutic work. She is the core facilitator on a BACP-accredited training at CPPD London and frequently designs and delivers workshops and seminars in the public and private sectors. Kay is a regular speaker at national and international conferences.

Kay also recently set up the low-cost psychotherapy service at 96 Harley Psychotherapy, as well as a free counselling service at a prominent church in central London.

Kay has been working as a counsellor for 15 years, having worked in information technology in a former life. Since qualifying, she has worked in the voluntary sector and the NHS as well as running her own private practice. Aside from her integrative training, she has also trained in working with survivors of abuse, eating disorders in clinical practice, anger management, creative group work, couples counselling and psychosexual therapy.

Leading with Hope: Faith-Driven Strategies for Prison Ministry

(Including Q&A Session)

Steve spent more than 25 years working as a broker in the City of London before moving to Alpha International in 2014, where he worked as the UK Development Manager for prison Alpha for 10 years. Steve worked closely with prison chaplaincy and local churches to establish the Alpha course throughout the UK’s prison estate, regularly delivering prison ministry training courses to volunteers. He is married with one grown-up son and is an active member of his local church where he advises on prison ministry. 

With decades of experience in both the corporate world and prison ministry, Steve will share practical insights, and faith-driven strategies to equip and inspire you in your work with those in recovery. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn and connect with others who share your calling to transform lives in prison through the love of Christ.

Leading with Hope: Faith-Driven Strategies for Prison Ministry

(Including Q&A Session)

Join us at the Recovery Conference and hear from Rev. Jo Davies, a seasoned advocate for prison ministry with nearly 27 years of passionate service. Formerly a member of clergy at Holy Trinity Brompton and Managing Chaplain at HMP Pentonville, Jo has witnessed remarkable transformations through The Recovery Course, which she has run multiple times in prison settings. Recently retired, Jo has teamed up with fellow trustee Steve Page to expand & develop The Recovery Course's prison ministry, combining their wealth of experience and shared vision for Christ-centered recovery.

In addition to her advisory role, Jo oversees safeguarding for the charity, ensuring safe and effective ministry practices.

Don't miss this opportunity to be inspired by Jo’s practical insights into faith-based recovery in the prison system.

In Conversation With Scott Tuohy

Scott grew up in North London, losing his mother at age 2 and being raised by a violent, alcoholic father. At 11, he took up boxing, later becoming a London schoolboy champion and fighting for money by 16. A chance encounter led him to Hollywood, where he trained at Legends MMA gym and mingled with celebrities like Mike Tyson, Will Smith, and P Diddy.

He then moved to The Lions Den in Arizona, the world’s top MMA training center, earning his place by defeating 10 fighters in succession. However, his career was derailed by drugs. Returning to the UK with his wife Sel, two profound spiritual experiences changed their lives.

Scott and Sel, together since meeting at a funfair at 15, have been married for nearly 30 years. He now runs a scaffolding business and helps lead Alpha in Prison at HMP Pentonville, where they are pioneering the Prison Recovery Course.

God’s Kingdom in Action: The Salvation Army’s Recovery Church Story

The Salvation Army’s origins are rooted in providing a spiritual home for those caught in addiction and following the destruction and upheaval created during Covid lockdown, Core Recovery, the Salvation Army’s Recovery Church, was born. Eighteen months ago, Darron Boulton, leader of a small Salvation Army church in Atherton, near Wigan came to The Recovery Course Conference thinking about setting up a course. The results have been extraordinary and it's fair to say that his church will never be the same again.

Darron and some of his team will be sharing some of the highs and lows of the journey so far and report on how their ministry is expanding in ways they would never have imagined. As Darron says, “I now witness daily God’s kingdom happening; all Glory to God”

“If God can use me, He can use anybody” - Luke grew up in Portsmouth in an extended family of seven siblings, of which he was the youngest. At 5 he began assisting his much older brother in burgling houses, by 7 he was an accomplished thief and pickpocket in his own right, at 8 he was smoking cannabis regularly, by the time he was 11 he was addicted to cocaine, at 12 he was dealing and at the age of 13 he was addicted to crack. He was homeless for the next 3 years and the only thing that was sure in his life was an early death. God had other ideas though and by the time he was 17 Luke Selway 2.0 was in the pipeline. Luke’s story is a powerful reminder that no one is truly lost or unreachable.

Luke is now the Founder and Director of Inside Out Rehab, a charity that started its life 15 years ago in Portsmouth and now operates out of Hull. Since its beginning Luke has used The Recovery Course as one of his tools, not just within a rehab setting, but in other locations too, such as local churches and not so local churches - his latest venture taking him to Malawi.