About us
About Us
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
At Get Into Recovery, we believe recovery is not just about stopping — it’s about starting over, with purpose. We are a Lived Experience Recovery Organisation (LERO) based on the Isle of Wight, driven by the principle that everyone deserves the chance to live a life that is not just free from addiction, but better than well.
Founded by people who’ve walked the path themselves, we offer a unique blend of lived experience, professional insight, and educational expertise. From virtual rehab and structured recovery courses, to wellness retreats and peer-led training, everything we do is grounded in real-world recovery — not theory.
We exist to support transformation. Not by managing addiction, but by celebrating recovery.
Our Story
What began as a single book — The Sponsor’s 12 Step Manual — has grown into a national movement of hope, education, and support. Since 2012, we’ve created dozens of tools, courses, and audio resources that now reach thousands of people across the UK and beyond.
In 2019, we opened Somerton Lodge, an alcohol-free hotel designed as a haven for people in recovery. It became not just a place to stay, but a place to connect, reflect, and begin again.
In 2025, our journey entered a new chapter. A landmark partnership with Equilibrium, a CQC-registered detox provider, allowed us to develop a full recovery retreat programme at Somerton Lodge — blending clinical excellence with peer-led care in a truly unique setting.
From print to practice, from courses to community, Get Into Recovery continues to grow — not as a service, but as a movement led by lived experience, bound by compassion, and built for those ready to change.
Meet The Team
Nick (Chicane) Bracegirdle.
Our Patron of Get Into Recovery
Internationally renowned musician and producer Nick Bracegirdle, known to millions as Chicane, is proud to serve as Patron of Get Into Recovery @ Somerton Lodge, a unique alcohol-free recovery residence on the Isle of Wight.
As someone who understands both the pressures of the music industry and the transformative power of recovery, Nick brings heartfelt advocacy and lived experience to this role. His patronage supports a space where people in recovery can stabilise, reconnect, and grow — in a welcoming environment free from alcohol, judgement, or clinical barriers.
Somerton Lodge is not a retreat or a rehab, but a hotel with a difference — a place led by people in recovery, for people in recovery. Nick’s involvement reflects his belief that recovery is not only possible, but powerful — and that with the right environment and community, anyone can rebuild a life they’re proud of.
Mark Langford
Company Director
Mark brings depth, warmth, and real-world insight to everything we do. A lived experience expert with many years in recovery, he’s walked multiple pathways — from mutual aid to structured programmes — and understands first hand that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to getting well.
What sets Mark apart is his ability to connect. Whether supporting individuals one-to-one or helping shape our programmes behind the scenes, he brings empathy, clarity, and calm to the team. His knowledge isn’t theoretical — it’s earned through lived reality, personal growth, and a commitment to helping others find their way.
Mark is more than a team member — he’s part of the reason this work matters.
John Elford
Founder & CEO
John Elford is an internationally respected 12 Step specialist and Advanced Addiction Practitioner with a track record that speaks for itself — even if he won’t. His work has been published and distributed across multiple countries, with thousands of copies of his books sold globally in several languages. Over the past decade, he has forged connections with recovery communities from the UK to the USA and beyond, including collaborations with respected clinicians, fellowships, and treatment centres.
Though he’s the first to play it down, John’s contribution to the field is substantial. He has spoken at international conventions, developed CPD-accredited training programmes, and helped shape the way the 12 Steps are taught and understood in modern settings — always rooted in lived experience, never academic distance.
Ask him about it and he might share a story or two — but mostly, he’s focused on what comes next.
John Wood
Company Director
John is one of our founding directors — a steady presence with over two decades in recovery. While he rarely steps into the spotlight, John has been supporting both Get Into Recovery and countless individuals behind the scenes for years. His leadership is quiet, grounded, and unwavering.
You’re just as likely to meet John hosting a local mutual aid meeting as you are sharing stories on a nature walk. He leads by example — not by title — and brings a deep sense of integrity, patience, and kindness to our work.
He doesn’t need recognition, but we think he deserves it.
The People Behind the Scenes
While some members of our team are visible in day-to-day delivery, many others play a quiet but essential role in making Get Into Recovery what it is. From trusted advisors and experienced recovery mentors to volunteers, fundraisers, creatives, and supporters, a network of dedicated individuals contribute their time, wisdom, and resources—often without seeking recognition.
Their commitment, compassion, and belief in long-term recovery form the backbone of our work. Though they choose to stay out of the limelight, their impact is deeply felt in everything we do.
Our Clinical Partners
We’re proud to be working in partnership with Equilibrium, specialists in medical detox and clinical excellence. While Get Into Recovery offers non-clinical, peer-led support, Equilibrium provides the medical expertise where needed.
To learn more about who they are and what they do, [click here to visit their website].