All of the trustees are experienced in working with individuals with addiction, in the role of a befriender -walking alongside and providing moral and spiritual support to individuals in recovery, all having personal and professional experience of addiction. We also have experience working together in running recovery courses.
Revd Dr Mary Nicholson
The founder and chair of Trustees – I am the founder and chair of Trustees for Acorn Chaplaincy, formerly a General Practitioner and a GPwSI (General Practitioner with a Special Interest in Substance Misuse), now a Church of England priest in the Diocese of Winchester. With the Bishop’s authority and encouragement, I am now dedicating my time to developing Acorn Chaplaincy’s ministries (services) and walking with and supporting individuals with addictions.
As a medical doctor, I treated patients with addiction clinically for five years whilst working with Bournemouth NHS drug services. This professional experience opened my eyes to the profound scale of individuals’ sufferings resulting from the poor physical and mental health associated with addiction and the detriment to local communities because of the often associated anti-social and criminal behaviours driven by the compulsion to feed drug habits.
I have seen how the NHS drug services, frequently under immense pressure and under-resourced, cannot delve deeper into addiction’s root cause, meaning patients must navigate the perpetual revolving doors of NHS drug treatment. Clinicians were often demoralised, having not been provided with the necessary resources to deliver a holistic service to help patients tackle their addictions. My conversations with patients often revealed, not uncommonly, that many were victims of abuse.
These issues have led me to conclude that if society were serious about helping individuals with addictions and supporting them in achieving lasting positive transformation, we need to rethink what we do.
We are building Acorn Chaplaincy to be a charity with a difference. Our ministries are about walking alongside our guests (individuals with addictions seeking our help) and providing that safety net that helps bridge the gap. We aim to provide continuous support for our guests for as long as needed so that no one falls through the cracks or goes through the perpetual revolving doors of NHS treatments. I am realistic and do not presume that we can fix people, but we are ready to walk with our guests for as long as we are needed, to give encouragement, hope, love and, with God’s healing grace, a new life to its full potential.
Mr Derek Willis
Trustee – I came to the Christian faith at the age of 20 and, alongside my wife, Helen. I’ve had an active involvement in churches in Southampton throughout my adult life; I currently serve as a home-group leader and am a member of my local fellowships’ council/leadership team, as well as an occasional preacher.
I have previously volunteered as a mentor with another charity to help young people overcome employment-related issues and, more recently, as a discussion group facilitator on the Recovery Course. Over the years, I have taken opportunities to develop a holistic approach to personal growth and development. I am mindful of the psychological and physiological aspects of addiction as well as the theological perspective.
I retired from my career as a Chartered Valuation Surveyor in 2018, working as a Commercial Property Consultant and Estates Manager in private practice, sole proprietorship and local authority settings for over 40 years. Having reached the stage of more time being available due to adult children flying the nest and finishing my career, I am enthusiastic about engaging with Acorn Chaplaincy’s aim of helping people gain freedom from addictions. I believe it is an incredible privilege to play even a small part in helping anyone who takes the courage and determination to fight destructive addictions of any type openly.
Mr Simon Toomer
Social Media and IT Lead – I’m the youngest trustee. I bring a younger person’s perspective to the charity and the IT skills we need. I have lived experience of mental illness and addiction which gives me the unique knowledge that will help direct our services. I have trained with Teen Challenge’s leadership academy and seek to put what I’ve learned to use. I am fully committed to sharing the truth of my experience and knowledge to help liberate others from addictions.
Mr Stephen Curson
Treasurer – Stephen is a retired chemical engineer, who spent most of his career in the oil industry working on all aspects of oil refinery projects, from conceptual development through funding approval, construction and commissioning. He and his wife Karina are both active members of Brockenhurst Church and have undertaken several voluntary roles over the years. In the wider community, Stephen has been a Street Pastor in the New Forest Area and is a volunteer crew member with the Solent Dolphin Charity, which provides accessible boat trips for disabled people and those of mature years. He is now dedicating time and energy to the Acorn Chaplaincy to help those suffering from addictions find a pathway to recovery and a full life.
Mr Paul O’Neill
It is a joy and a privilege to be working with Acorn Chaplaincy. I didn’t grow up in a Christian home but I found God when I was in my teens and became a Christian when I was 17. It wasn’t plain sailing after that though, and when I went to uni I turned my back on God. Fast forward several years and I was working in the City of London and although I was making lots of money I could feel that peace was missing in my life. The attempted suicide and then murder of people I knew made me realise how much I needed God and that got me back on my knees in prayer. That prayer led me to meet my wife Liz and to return to Southampton the city where I was born.
Even in the darkest of situations God is never far away. We just need to turn away from the darkness and turn towards the light of God’s love and mercy.
Mrs Pat Hebditch
‘I’ve been actively involved in churches in Southampton since my early 30’s when I first gave my life to Jesus, nearly 40 years ago.
I’m so grateful that God has taken me into a deep relationship with Him.
He has especially given me a heart for broken, marginalised, vulnerable and hurting people.
I’ve asked him humbly, to break my heart with the things that break His heart.
It’s a privilege to be a part of Acorn Chaplaincy and to be able to share in the lives of those who are struggling with any form of addiction. ‘