A REHAB charity has received a donation of more than �100,000 after the documentary “Russell Brand: Addiction to Recovery” was shown on BBC3.

The film followed the comic’s journey from being a heroin addict into abstinence based recovery.

Russell Brand attended Focus12, the Bury St Edmunds abstinence based alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre, in 2003 and is now a patron of the charity, describing Focus 12 as “a really excellent example of a small cost effective rehab that can help people change in dramatic ways”.

Mr Brand counts Chip Somers, the Chief Executive of Focus12, as one of his closest associates, and asked him not just to appear on the documentary, but also to support him when he gave evidence to a Home Affairs Select Committee in Parliament earlier this year and to join him on Newsnight discussing abstinence based treatment last week.

Since the documentary was aired last night on BBC3, Focus12, who has faced well documented financial difficulties, has received many calls and messages of support, most significantly a donation from a local company, Chevington Finance and Leasing, who have agreed a package of support worth �106,000 over the next four years.

Mr Somers, said: “Russell’s documentary and his work this year to raise the profile of abstinence based recovery has got people talking about addiction in a different way, and made them realise that there is a viable alternative to simply giving up on addicts, or parking them on methadone.

“We are blown away by the generosity of Chevington – this financial support will make a huge difference to us as a charity and will certainly mean we can continue to stay open and help those who need us for longer. Raising funds for a recovery charity has never been harder than it is at present, every day is literally a struggle to keep afloat and we are very grateful to Clive and Debbie for their intervention.”

Clive Morris, Managing Director of Chevington Finance and Leasing Limited added: “My wife and I were incredibly touched by last night’s documentary, which inspired us to endorse the local treatment centre Focus 12, and we have today agreed funding assistance for the charity of �106,000.00 over the next 4 years.”

He added: “On a personal level we glean great satisfaction from our involvement with Focus12 and find the work they do quite inspirational and were pleasantly surprised that quaint little Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, has this national treasure. As long as our business continues to thrive, we will continue to support Focus12.”