A Bradford charity has won the 2026 GSK IMPACT Award, earning national recognition for its work supporting people affected by cannabis, opiates, and prescription medicine dependency.

Create Strength Group is one of 10 winners selected from a record number of entries. The ceremony took place in London. The award includes £40,000 in unrestricted funding and a place on a leadership development programme run by The King’s Fund.

Bradford’s Drug Challenge in Focus

Bradford faces one of England’s most serious drug-related public health problems. The Office for National Statistics records Bradford’s drug misuse death rate at seven per 100,000 people. England’s average is five per 100,000. That gap points to a clear and urgent need for effective community action.

Create Strength Group built its model around reaching areas most affected by substance misuse. The charity started in 2015 as Cannabis, Spice and Legal Highs Group. It began as a peer-led support group. Today, it runs more than 440 groups or activities a year. In 2024, it recorded 3,365 meeting attendances.

GSK IMPACT Award Recognises Digital Innovation

Part of what distinguished Create Strength Group in this community health award process was its use of digital tools. The Nitrous Oxide App lets local residents and businesses report canister disposal sites. That data supports targeted local interventions. The Recovery App helps service users track their recovery goals. It also provides meeting times and crisis line information.

The charity works closely with the justice sector too. It briefs judges on cannabis and related harms. It also runs support services for people on probation.

Bradford Council commissioned the charity’s Lived Experience Evaluation Project. That project gathers views from people with direct experience of addiction, their families, local businesses, and residents affected by drug harm. Furthermore, the findings feed directly into healthcare service design.

Community Roots Behind the Award

Lisa Weaks, Senior Associate at The King’s Fund, highlighted what made the charity stand out. She said it showed what happens when community roots, local partnerships, and lived experience come together. Moreover, she said the charity’s impact is felt across Bradford every single day.

She called the GSK IMPACT Award a well-deserved recognition of the organisation’s dedication and leadership.

Dave Memery, Chief Executive of Create Strength Group, said winning was a proud moment. He added: “Our work is rooted in authenticity, mutual aid, and the belief that recovery is not only possible but sustainable with the right support.”

Additionally, the GSK IMPACT Award is run in partnership with The King’s Fund. It recognises charities and community organisations doing exceptional health-related work across the UK.

Source: dbrecoveryresources