Chris Sylvester’s journey began in a school toilet cubicle at age 12, where he was first introduced to heroin. For the next 26 years, his life was a cycle of active drug addiction, marked by periods of incarceration, homelessness, and hospitalizations. "It was a nightmare existence," Sylvester recalled. "Back then I felt lost, lonely and isolated. The drugs made up my personality, they made up my identity."
His path to recovery began unexpectedly in 2017, at the age of 36. Following his release from prison and the recent loss of his father, Sylvester continued to use drugs. An infection from injecting heroin into his groin became so severe that it threatened both his leg and his life. "My legs swelled up and I couldn’t walk. I was in absolute agony," he stated. "I thought I was going to lose my leg at the very least, or potentially die."
After recovering from the infection, his probation officer suggested a recovery program as an alternative to completing his prison sentence. This suggestion proved life-saving, offering Sylvester a community of peers with whom he could identify. "That support and a like-minded community that understands you is paramount, it's the most important thing in remaining abstinent," he said.
During this period, Sylvester began to confront his feelings, something he had previously avoided through substance use. He has since dedicated himself to supporting other recovering addicts, helping them access peer support and employment opportunities.
Sylvester founded Getting Clean, a community organization that initially focused on peer support and voluntary community action, with members engaging in activities like litter picking and assisting elderly residents with repairs. "I realized that I could reach people that professionals can’t. People were willing to sit down and speak with me because they knew I had the same experiences as them and they trusted me," he explained.
The organization emphasizes empowerment, aiming to help individuals redefine themselves as assets to their community. "As an organisation we are focused on empowerment and allowing people to understand that they are assets to the community," Sylvester said. "It’s changing the public perception but also the way they see themselves."
Getting Clean has evolved into a business, a move Sylvester attributes to the difficulties in securing grants. The idea for producing soap, he described, was a "shower thought." "I had a shower one day and realized that I could help people get clean with soap."
What started in his mother's kitchen has now grown into a small factory operation. The soap is naturally derived, cold-pressed, and chemical-free, marketed as both a cleansing product and a support for addiction recovery. Available fragrances include sandalwood and pine needle, orange and patchouli, and lemon grass and sweet orange.
Beyond donating 50 percent of its profits to charities supporting recovery, Getting Clean employs six recovering addicts among its ten staff members. This demonstrates Sylvester's commitment to providing employment for those in recovery.
Sylvester is planning a fundraising event called ‘Tubtrap,’ where he will spend 60 consecutive hours in a bathtub in Leeds City Square. The event will be livestreamed on social media platforms, with the goal of selling £50,000 worth of soap. Sylvester aims to donate £20,000 of the proceeds to fund a collaborative project with Leeds City Council focused on recovery through lived experience.