Sat in a prison cell, after coming off methadone, James was feeling hopeless. He desperately wanted to go to rehab, but there was no funding.

He pleaded with the Good Samaritan Bursary Fund: "I've never been given any chances in life; all I ask is that you take a chance with me. Please, if there's any way you can help me secure the funding I need to attend Yeldall, I'll do whatever it takes."

When the Bursary Panel met to consider James application, the Fund was empty. We faced the decision of whether to turn him away and let him face homelessness and almost inevitable relapse, but felt compelled to step out in faith and offer him a place anyway.

Stories like James' are becoming increasingly common as local authority budgets are cut, with some areas having no funding at all for residential rehabilitation. With these financial challenges, five UK rehab centres closed in 2018.

It is only thanks to the Bursary Fund, and the generosity of our supporters, that we are able to keep offering places to those who need them. In 2018-19 we raised an additional £100,000 to help keep the fund replenished and we need to do the same again in 2019-20. Thank you for your kind support; we couldn't do it without you!