Executive and Key Personnel – Ian Wardle – Chief Executive

Opened in Manchester in 1971, Lifeline is a national charity dedicated to supporting individuals, families and communities affected by drugs and alcohol. Since its establishment, Lifeline has grown and progressed, learning from experience, adapting to change and seeking to contribute to the development of a field fit for the future.

Lifeline has transformed as the drug sector has grown; we have engaged with changes to policy, strategy and commissioning within the drugs field and beyond, while continuing to deliver services in line with our organisational objectives.

Lifeline aims to ensure that people affected by drug use have access to a range of treatment and support options, and to the information and advice necessary to make informed choices about their own drug use and recovery, while minimising the harm to individuals, families and communities associated with drug use.

We understand that substance use takes place within complex individual, community and social contexts and pragmatism is essential. Our approach incorporates medical, social and criminal justice considerations, is built on local needs and priorities, and is able to engage positively with difficult issues and environments. We believe this approach should aim to provide opportunities for real and lasting change.

These underpinnings have enabled Lifeline to build effective partnerships at all levels, to develop innovative and distinctive delivery responses to local and national challenges.

Our philosophy is to get on and do the things that make a difference. Our services provide support for individuals at all stages of their recovery, whether that may be an immediate intervention to reduce acute harm, long term support to develop stability and re-integration or focused access to vocational opportunities.

People who use drugs have few champions and their circumstances are often linked to vulnerability, poverty and inequality. Their marginalization and the addressing of substance use as an isolated or single-impact issue, can exacerbate related problems. Alongside our educational purpose, Lifeline’s mission is "Telling the truth about drugs".

This gives us an obligation to ensure that the needs and perspectives of drug users, their families and their communities are represented locally and nationally and that the services we provide are integrated into the broadest possible range of strategies and delivery pathways.

Ian Wardle
Lifeline CEO