My name is Araminta Jonsson and I am the founder and editor of Pipe Down Magazine, a magazine written by those in recovery of drugs and alcohol, for those who have had their lives touched by addiction and the havoc it wrecks

IN ALL honesty, I have struggled writing the column this month because I don’t really know that I have much to say.

I feel like we are on a precipice at the moment and the future of the magazine could go either way - crashing to its death on the rocks below, or regaining its balance on the sturdy earth above.

We have no funding.

We haven’t been able to publish a magazine since the beginning of April.

That said, not a single one of the team are giving up.

I still get regular emails with content from people all over the country, and in May we were given a free stand at iCAAD (International Conferences of Addiction and Associated Disorders).

The conference was amazing, with some of the world’s most renowned speakers in the field presenting on a wide range of topics.

Most importantly for Pipe Down, it gave us the opportunity to connect with others in the same line of work.

We made some really valuable contacts there, and one of the most exciting outcomes of the event was that we were asked to be a partner for the Recovery Street Film Festival.

Other partners of the festival include: Action on Addiction, Blenheim, CGL, Phoenix Futures, Steps2Recovery, Turning Point, DDN, Recovery Recruitment, Adfam, amongst many others, so it’s a real privilege to have been made a partner.

The Recovery Street Film Festival focuses on filmmakers who have a lived experience of recovering from drug or alcohol addiction, whether it is themselves or a loved one.

They want to demonstrate through the medium of film the diverse issues that are faced by people overcoming addiction and how those around them can be affected.

The aim is to empower people affected by addiction by giving them a voice, providing a platform for them to tell their own stories of the ‘ups and downs’ and how they reached recovery.

They want the films to highlight the problems that are confronted when someone is attempting to regain their place in society: to gain new friends, to revive links with family, secure a home and get a job.

They want the films to show a different side to the story of addiction: one that shows a true picture of the determination, commitment and courage that is required to start life afresh.

It can be an uphill struggle and one that is not without its pitfalls and disappointments and we want the films to explore all the challenges that people face.

It is such a wonderful initiative and I hope that as many people as possible enter the competition.

The theme this year is 'MY LIGHTBULB MOMENT’.

They want to hear what inspired you to change. What moment or moments led to your recovery journey?

Maybe you haven't realised what that moment was yet.

Now is the ideal time to look back and consider what inspires you to change and help inspire others too.

The submission window is now open, so it's time to start thinking about your story and making your film.

To learn more about the Recovery Street Film Festival, and to enter your film, go to their website: www.rsff.co.uk.

If you would like to contribute to further editions of Pipe Down, either financially or with your written talents, please email araminta@pipedownmagazine.co.uk