Davina's Ark

Inspired by the vision of Davina, a group of professional addiction counsellors resolved to set up a counselling service to aid and address the unmet needs of those in rehabilitation and their families.

This gap as defined by Davina’s Ark is ‘that period during rehabilitation where people in addiction remain vulnerable, at risk of relapse and prone to self harm and even suicide’.

Davina’s dream was to create an organisation which would provide professional services to bridge this gap. It would provide a supported pathway to recovery which would equip individuals with skills and renewed confidence and thus restore them to a full, active and purposeful role in society.

Following Davina’s untimely death in June 2011 her colleagues and friends established ‘Davina’s Ark Aftercare Addiction Services’ as a legacy to fulfil her vision. The service now based at 22 Kilmorey Street Newry and operated by professionally qualified counsellors and support staff provides a safe and confidential environment for people in addiction and their families.

Recognising the far reaching ‘ripple effect’ of addiction on a community Davina’s Ark extends its services beyond individuals and families into the workplace and wider community where education and awareness play a major role in the recovery and rehabilitation process.

Davina’s Ark offers hope and new opportunity to the many in our society who are afflicted and or affected by the curse of addiction. A shocking and sobering truth is that alcohol and drug misuse in our society is one of the biggest public health issues we have to address.

There is not a single family in our society that isn’t somehow impacted by the negative effects of addiction.

The Davina’s Ark initiative is both visionary and socially innovative, the brainchild of one who found herself in the depths of ‘The unforgiving nightmare of addiction’ but who through determination battled her way back to recovery and rehabilitation and resolved to create opportunity for other sufferers.