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Music Heals: Ex-Punk Drummer Finds Life Again Through Art
1 Nov
Summary
- A Bristol charity celebrates 40 years of supporting individuals in recovery.
- Arts and music programs like the Recovery Orchestra help rebuild confidence.
- Individuals find renewed purpose and freedom through creative expression.
Bristol Drugs Project (BDP) is celebrating 40 years of dedicated service, having been established in 1986. The charity offers crucial support to individuals managing drug use, fostering an environment where recovery is possible.
Through its Creative Communities initiative, BDP provides arts-based recovery programs. Alison Felton, a former punk metal drummer, found her way back to music and herself after a 25-year struggle with drug use. She credits BDP with guiding her through rehabilitation and into activities like the Recovery Orchestra.
Felton described her journey as challenging but ultimately rewarding, regaining freedom and a sense of self lost to addiction. Delroy Decordova, also supported by BDP, found healing through drumming, poetry, and theatre after facing crack cocaine addiction.
Sophie Wilsdon, who now coordinates Creative Communities, established the Recovery Orchestra to provide a weekly space for rehearsing and performing. She emphasizes how music allows individuals to heal without dwelling on past traumas, offering a profound sense of rebirth.
