Clouds House Reunion 2025 – celebrating over 42 years of recovery 

Our annual event in Wiltshire welcomed alumni, family, staff and Clouds supporters to enjoy a joyful and emotional day celebrating everyone involved in of the UK’s long-established residential rehabilitation centres. 

On Saturday 14 June, The Forward Trust welcomed over 250 guests to this summer-tinged event in the exquisite grounds of Clouds House in the village of East Knoyle, Wiltshire. 

Watch our Clouds House Reunion 2025 highlights video  

A huge marquee hosted a range of impressive stage talks, including three emotional and uplifting stories of recovery kindly shared by Joseph, Miguel and Tam – all captivating the room. We wish to thank them again for their generosity to share their own unique and moving personal stories with fellow attendees.

Elsewhere, Clouds House stunningly beautiful grounds hosted a range of stalls and activities – with Mair’s Mum’s Marmalade shop, a drumming circle, plant sale, art exhibition and mindfulness marquee. There were also a number of information points about a range of Forward services including fundraising, recovery support (including our Forward Connect peer-led community), and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) staff groups. 

Attendees were encouraged to get involved in some new creative works – including a ‘clean time’ poster board at our designated ‘meeting point’. It provided an opportunity for guests to share and reflect on their own, or a loved one’s recovery, at this year’s reunion.

As one of Forward’s longest recurring recovery events, Clouds House reunions provide an annual opportunity to celebrate the incredible stories of recovery and transformation. With graduates attending from all over the country, Clouds has been supporting individuals seeking intensive residential-based treatment for drug, alcohol, gambling, sex and other forms addiction and substance use since the early 1980s.

Before the main stage talks began, guests enjoyed a buffet, prepared by the wonderful kitchen team at Clouds House (graduates were quick to praise how tasty the food was during their own residency).

Following a tasty lunch, guests filtered into the marquee to hear a formal event introduction from Anya, Service Manager at Clouds House, followed by some incredible live music performances from Clouds graduates – Steve (a virtuoso on electric guitar) and James (a fantastic acoustic singer-songwriter).

The main shares included: 

• Joseph –an inspiring and uplifting share that arched across his initial pessimism of drug and alcohol support, his recovery journey at Clouds, and his new aftercare plan (led by Clouds) which continues to go well.

• Miguel – recounting his previously chaotic life grappling with addiction, and the subsequent impact this had on his family (who live in Spain). Miguel’s recovery began when he was finally able to seek the courage to ask for help. Through Clouds House, Miguel regained control of his addiction – sentiments echoed by sister via a moving video share.

• Tam – an Ambassador of Clouds for over 30 years, who shared his raw and traumatic story which included family poverty, abuse and being in and out of prison. Tam was able to attend Clouds House during his earlier years where it felt like he had ‘no hope.’ After help at Clouds House, Tam’s recovery led him to focus on how deeply his life had transformed during these years – including a better relationship with his daughter and a newfound acceptance of his difficult childhood. Tam is one of our most incredible alumni of Clouds House and so special to us all – as he steps down from his role as a Clouds Ambassador after 30 years, we cannot thank him enough for his years of dedication.

The shares were closed by the Rt Honourable David Bernstein, a longstanding Trustee of The Forward Trust, who earlier this year stepped down as chair after 10 years in the role. David’s unwavering level of dedication and community service has not only been to Clouds House but to the recovery community across the UK. Through David’s service, Forward Trust has continued to be a light on the hill, for tens of thousands of people who may have given up hope.

The shares were closed by the Rt Honourable David Bernstein, a longstanding Trustee of The Forward Trust, who earlier this year stepped down as chair after 10 years in the role. David’s unwavering level of dedication and community service has not only been to Clouds House but to the recovery community across the UK. Through David’s service, Forward Trust has continued to be a light on the hill, for tens of thousands of people who may have given up hope.

Attendee feedback

“I’ve been coming [to Clouds House reunions] every year. I came [to Clouds House] in 1984 for the first time – and I’ve been sober ever since. I’m very grateful – that’s why I’m here and that’s why I come back,” said Brian, a graduate of Clouds House. 

“Basically, they saved my life”, says Jackie, another Clouds House graduate.  
“I’d never been clean before – and I didn’t know what it meant until I came here.”