The Big Picture

In this edition of Novō News, we thought we’d do something a little bit different!

Each year, as part of our fundraising efforts, we approach grantmaking trusts and foundations to request financial support for Novō. Inevitably, that means putting together an application and responding to critical questions about who we are, what we do, why we do it, and where we’re heading.

That’s not something we do in many other contexts, but with Novō at an important turning point, it felt like a good moment to step back and briefly share the same ‘big picture’ with you, the individuals, businesses, and churches who sustain Novō’s ministry with your gifts and prayers.

Novō’s vision is to bring new life to individuals, peace to families, and hope to communities gripped by addiction.

How do we do that? By empowering God’s people in developing nations to create transformational communities that offer healing, wholeness, and hope.

Five core values shape what we do: integrity, empowerment, respect, excellence, and community.

Established in 2015, Novō builds on the work of Yeldall Manor – who have been providing residential rehabilitation for over 45 years – in ways that fit each local context’s cultural, economic, and social realities.

We view addiction as a whole-person (bio-psycho-social-spiritual) problem requiring a whole-person solution. We believe that long-term recovery is achievable, whatever a person’s story or circumstance, and that the best foundation for true freedom is a living relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

The QUALITIES that define each Novō community are found in the white band around the community. The community itself is the seedbed for transformation. Its character depends on the team’s heart and the quality of its relationships.

A life-giving community must be cultivated. It requires effort and intentionality. For example, drug/alcohol testing creates a safe place for recovery, 24/7 supervision fosters care and belonging, and time invested in conversations around the meal table builds trust in which grace and truth can be expressed.

The key ELEMENTS of the Novō programme are found in the blue arrow. Some, like counseling and individual therapeutic exercises, are inward-looking. Others, like unsupervised trips out and family visits, focus outward. Each contributes to a broader process that enables residents to address their addiction and build a new life in recovery.

The coloured boxes represent the seven PHASES of the Novō programme. Together, they lead the resident on a gradual journey that starts by looking back (accepting reality, handing over control, facing the past) before shifting the focus onto the future (forming positive habits, relapse prevention, deepening relationships, preparing for the future).

Recovery from a life-dominating addiction involves a process of change. The whole programme lasts nine months. On Stage Two, the focus shifts to preparations for life beyond Novō. Residents complete voluntary work placements with local businesses, attend church independently, and work on relationships outside of Novō.

On completion of the programme, graduates are invited to stay on for 3-6 months as they establish themselves in the community and to engage with our aftercare support.

Addiction is complex. It’s more than a simple ‘problem’. Recovery is exceedingly hard. The journey to freedom is rarely smooth. In November 2016, Novō’s community in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, opened its doors to help men find healing, wholeness, and hope. Today, the work runs effectively under local leadership and has a measurable impact.

Today, 55% of our graduates are in recovery. Each one is a son, brother, or father whose recovery has an impact that runs deep, far, and wide.

Just as importantly, many more men have taken steps forward in recovery and experienced God’s love, expressed in word and deed, through our team. Half our residents come to us directly from sleeping rough on the streets.

Since 2021, Novō has developed a relationship with the United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime (UNODC) in Bolivia. Having assessed our work against international standards of addiction care, the UN considers Novō a centre of excellence and a model programme.

Novō is at an exciting turning point.

Addiction is a global epidemic and with the work in Bolivia now well established, we are actively seeking to empower local teams elsewhere in the developing world to develop effective and sustainable recovery communities.

Rather than start new works under the ‘ownership’ of Novō, we want to come alongside those called to launch a recovery community using a community franchise model. Novō will offer mentoring, training, the Novō programme, quality control, prayer, financial grants, and a broader sense of fellowship to those we partner with.

In the coming years, Novō’s community in Bolivia will operate as both a rehabilitation centre and a context for equipping recovery workers from elsewhere in the world.

Our long-term goal is to create a community of communities whose heart and approach are a model of compassionate addiction care in the developing world.

Novō depends on the generous support of individuals, churches, foundations, and businesses to accomplish its vision.

Novo’s BUDGET for 2023 is £121,800. Of this, we expect £49,500 to be covered by regular giving and £12,000 through income from social enterprise. We are aiming to raise a further £57,900 from one-off donations.

Additionally, we have long-term CAPITAL PROJECTS focused on our need for vehicles and suitable properties – including purchasing Quinta Totaices, our home in Bolivia.

If you’d like to see a detailed budget for 2023, or to hear more about our capital projects, do get in touch. You can see our latest audited accounts here.

In Latino culture, Padrinos (or Godparents) are much more than honorific titles. Padrinos are involved in the lives of their godchildren in meaningful ways. By supporting Novō financially, you become a Novō Padrino, providing our residents with the precious opportunity to find freedom from addiction and new life in Christ.

Novo’s funding comes from a blend of regular giving and occasional donations. Both are vital to our work!

To make a donation, click on one of the DONATE buttons, which will take you to our website where you’ll find links to portals where you can quickly set up donations from the UK, Canada, and the US. You will also find bank details for donations in Bolivia.

We want to thank you for reading. We are so grateful for your interest, prayers, and support. Do get in touch if you have any questions or if you would like to talk more about our work and plans for the future.

Blessings,

Team Novō