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'Charity helped us amid chaos of Joe's addiction'

Supplied Samantha Nunn sits on a bench with her son Joe. They are sitting in front of a tree. Ms Nunn is wearing glasses, a leopard print top and blue jeans. Joe is wearing a white T-shirt. Ms Nunn is smiling at the camera with her arm on Joe's shoulder. There is another person partially in view sitting on the other side of Ms Nunn who is wearing a blue jumper. Supplied
Samantha Nunn with her son Joe, who died when he was 18

Before Joe became addicted to drugs at the age of 14, his family said he was "relaxed and jovial".

He died aged 18 and his mother and sister said his addiction caused a "switch" in his personality.

They sought help from DAFS (Drug & Alcohol Family Support) - a support group in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire for people experiencing alcohol and drug addiction.

Maddie Nunn, Joe's sister, remembered her younger brother as "really lovely".

Samantha and Maddie Nunn sit side by side on a pink sofa. Maddie has sandy blonde hair pulled back in a centre part and wears a gold jumper. Samantha has blonde hair in a pixie crop cut and wears glasses and a blue jumper.
Samantha and Maddie Nunn said the support DAFS provided was important for their family

"He was the baby of the family... so chilled," she said. "He was a homebody. Funny, but quiet and sensitive growing up."

When Joe's addiction took hold, his family said he became angry and violent.

His mother, Samantha Nunn, said DAFS helped the family cope during the last year of Joe's life.

"During that last year we were living in complete chaos from day to day. That fear factor of what's he going to do, what's going to happen to him.

"Having the outlet of DAFS was so important. You came away feeling lighter," she said.

Joe's family is awaiting an inquest into his death.

Lynn Fox is smiling at the camera, she has white and dyed pink hair, is wearing a red jumper, and is sitting in a cafe environment.
Lynn Fox co-founded DAFS six years ago

DAFS was set up six years ago and has just been awarded charitable status. Since then, it has helped more than 900 families.

One of the founders, Lynn Fox, 76, said families were often forgotten when it came to addiction.

"It's a massive problem. There can be mental health issues, in some cases there's physical abuse," she said.

"People are aware of addiction, of what an addict is. But they're not aware of the knock-on effect for parents, for siblings."

The group offers one-to-one and group support sessions, as well as founding confidential communities on social media where families can connect with one another.

It costs about £3,200 a year to run DAFS, with most of that money spent on IT services.

Charitable status can provide recognition for organisations which can help with fundraising.

The status can also offer tax benefits and potential access to grant funding which is reserved for charities.

Figures from Bedfordshire Police show almost one in 10 people use illegal drugs in Bedfordshire.

A spokesperson from the force said: "Illegal drugs are the driver for much of the violence and exploitation we deal with as a police service every day."

Ms Fox said: "There's still a lot of work to do. There's still a lot of people out there who need our service.

"We're supporting at least 300 active families at the moment. We offer a safe space. People realise they're not alone anymore, there's a lot of people out there in the same position."

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