SIR – I work as a volunteer at the Ministry Of Food in Bradford and one group that attends regularly comes from the Piccadilly Project, based in the city centre.

The project provides a free, confidential and non-judgmental service to those people experiencing problems due to their own or someone else’s alcohol use.

I was at the presentation ceremony at Piccadilly for those participants who had successfully completed a ten-week programme of recovery and was deeply moved by the experience.

As I listened to the stories of those people on the road to a better life and about the enormous support, help and guidance they had received from staff and volunteers at Piccadilly, I forgot about supposed ‘broken Britain’ and the need for a ‘Big Society’.

The overwhelming joy, hope and positive vibes generated in that room was humbling to experience. I was also pleased to hear one participant say they really enjoyed the cooking.

Unless you are privileged as I was to be invited to be part of such an event, we tend to forget all the great and good things that are being done by voluntary and community groups, dedicated staff and volunteers day in and day out in, providing help to all manner of people who seek to turn their lives around.

David Potts, Crosshills Road, Cononley , Keighley