The DDN Conference 2026
Programme
Me, Myself... Us
Conference Timings
REGISTRATION
9.00 – 10.00
SESSION ONE
10.00 – 11.20
Red Rose Recovery – Michael Blackmore – Paul Townsley
REFRESHMENTS
11.20 – 11.40
SESSION TWO
11.40 – 13.00
Chai Burrell & Lea Culshaw – Emma Murphy & Emma Haley – George Charlton & Mark Tudor
LUNCH
13.00 – 14.15
With entertainment from Mishkin – Wake Up Sammy – Paul Hoo
SESSION THREE
14.15 – 15.30
Live Podcast from Believe in People and Michelle Heaton
CLOSE
15.30
Featured Speakers Include
Emma Murphy and Emma Haley
Emma Murphy is a dedicated Service Manager at Aquarius, specialising in substance use services for both young people, adults and families.
Along with her colleague, Aquarius Area Manager Emma Haley they will be looking at supporting young people transitioning into adult services.
Dr Michael Blackmore
Michael is a GP and addiction recovery advocate whose career has been shaped by both professional experience and personal challenges.
After entering medicine later in life he struggled with substance use during training and early practice, before entering recovery and rebuilding his career.
He now uses that experience to support others and promote greater understanding of addiction within healthcare.
Paul Townsley
Paul brings insight from both frontline and leadership roles, with a focus on evolving services and breaking down barriers so more people can access the support they need.
He has experience right across the health and social care sector, from being a volunteer to his current role as CEO of Waythrough.
George Charlton
George is known for developing innovative, user-led projects that place people with lived and living experience at the heart of practice, with a strong focus on engagement, harm reduction and real-world impact.
Building on powerful lessons from his own lived experience, he has become known as an award-winning trainer and consultant with over 20 years’ experience in addiction support.
George will be joined by Mark Tudor, who has worked in leadership roles in the field of harm reduction and substance use for over 25 years both in the UK and internationally, to discuss Peers Powering Up and Building Beautiful Monsters across the UK.
Peer power means don’t wait around to be asked, funded, given permission – just get on and do it!
Sarah O’Mara and Red Rose Recovery explain how they do just that – right down to bringing the crew to the DDN Conference.
Michelle Heaton
Michelle is best known as a member of Liberty X and an Emmy and BRIT award-winning artist – and has now become a powerful voice in the recovery community.
She speaks openly about the realities of addiction and the work required to stay well. In this special live recording of the Believe in People podcast, she will share her journey through addiction and sustained recovery.
Through honest and grounded conversation, she will reflect on the moments that shaped her recovery, the role of peer support and community, and what it means to rebuild a life beyond addiction.
From navigating motherhood in sobriety to managing the pressures of public life, she offers a candid insight into resilience, responsibility and long-term change, challenging stigma and showing that recovery is possible.
Partnership manager Lea Culshaw has 24 years’ experience in substance misuse and criminal justice, working closely with police and probation services across the West Midlands. Lea is passionate about change, driven by a strong belief in people and their ability to rebuild their lives.
Chai Burrell is a coordinator of the Hypermasculinity Project – In Your Corner Coordinator who describes himself as ‘Just a local lad living in the long shadow of lived experience. Aiming to do better helping others along the way.’
