Health chief visits Derry's ARC Fitness to review recovery model

(L-R) Pictured at ARC Fitness HQ is ARC Board Member Sam Barbee and Chris Sinclair, ARC Founder and Strategic Coordinator Gary Rutherford, Mike Farrar, the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health, ARC Board Chairman Bernard Murray-Gates and ARC Board Member, Mark Johnston. | Martin McKeown

placeholder image — (L-R) Pictured at ARC Fitness HQ is ARC Board Member Sam Barbee and Chris Sinclair, ARC Founder and Strategic Coordinator Gary Rutherford, Mike Farrar, the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health, ARC Board Chairman Bernard Murray-Gates and ARC Board Member, Mark Johnston. | Martin McKeown

CEO Gary Rutherford highlights vital community support systems during high-profile headquarters visit

Addiction recovery service ARC Fitness welcomed Mike Farrar, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health, to its HQ ealrlier this week to learn more about the organisation's innovative approach to addiction recovery and family support.

During the visit, Mr Farrar met with staff, participants and partners to hear first-hand about the positive impact ARC Fitness is having on individuals and families impacted by addiction and substance use.

The visit comes at a significant time for the organisation, which is currently undergoing an independent evaluation by PHIRST Light, a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)-funded team of researchers from the University of Nottingham, Loughborough University and the University of Lincoln.

The study, funded by the Public Health Agency, is examining ARC Fitness's Addiction Recovery and Family Support programmes, assessing their reach, implementation and impact on participants' substance use, mental health and overall wellbeing through analysis of service data, interviews and focus groups.

Speaking about the visit, ARC’s founder and CEO, Gary Rutherford, said: “We were honoured to welcome Mike Farrar to ARC Fitness and to showcase the outstanding work being carried out every day in our communities to support people negatively impacted by addiction and substance use.

“Here at ARC people truly are at the centre of everything we do and are the driving force behind our programmes, our services and our vision. We believe that lasting recovery is built through connection, purpose, opportunity and support, and we are committed to helping individuals and families achieve positive change in their lives.

Pictured at ARC Fitness HQ is Mike Farrar, the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health and ARC Founder and Strategic Coordinator Gary Rutherford. | Martin McKeown

“The independent evaluation currently being undertaken by PHIRST Light is a significant milestone for our organisation.

“It provides an opportunity to demonstrate the real impact of community-based recovery services and to build robust recovery capital and a stronger evidence base that can help shape future investment in recovery and family support programmes.

“We are proud of what has been achieved so far and look forward to sharing the findings as the research progresses."

The evaluation, which is due to conclude in October 2026, will provide valuable evidence to inform future investment in recovery services and could support the expansion of the ARC Fitness model across Northern Ireland and beyond.

Pictured at ARC Fitness HQ: Lord Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry, Ian Crowe MBE, Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Manager at the Public Health Agency, Shauna Houston, ARC Founder and Strategic Coordinator Gary Rutherford; and Mike Farrar, the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health, | Martin McKeown

The research is being undertaken in partnership with a range of organisations including the Public Health Agency, Western Health and Social Care Trust, DePaul, ARC Healthy Living Centre, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and local GP Federations.

To learn more about ARC Fitness and its services, visit www.arcfitness.uk.