Amy Winehouse Foundation to help addicts is planned by singer's father

15:56 Amy Winehouse Foundation to help addicts is planned by singer's father 0 Comments

Amy Winehouse's father, Mitch, has spoken out about his plans to set up the Amy Winehouse Foundation, in order to help people with problems with addiction.

Speaking at his daughter's funeral in London yesterday (July 26), Mitch explained that access to NHS affiliated rehab takes two years.

"If you cannot afford a private rehabilitation clinic, there is a two-year waiting list for help," he said.

MP Keith Vaz followed up the comment by offering his support to the foundation, as Mitch helped a home affairs select committee with information about cocaine and addiction in 2009, during a drugs inquiry. He said: "I am very happy to help Mitch in any way I can with his important campaign to help rehabilitate those most vulnerable in our society," reports BBC News.

Despite Mitch's comments, he said that the singer had overcome her addition to drugs and was "trying hard" to conquer her problems with alcohol, saying that she had "just completed three weeks of abstinence" and that she was keen to get sober, telling him: "Dad I've had enough, I can't stand the look on your and the family's faces any more."

Mitch talked about when he was told his daughter had died on Saturday (July 23):
I was in New York with my cousin Michael when I heard and straight away I said I wanted an Amy Winehouse Foundation, something to help the things she loved – children, horses, but also to help those struggling with substance abuse.
The inquest into Winehouse's death has been adjourned until October 26. No cause of death has been given and results of toxicology tests could take anything from two to four weeks.