Activities & Events

my experiences and how Red Rose Recovery supported me in making this transformation. I was in a young offenders institute by the time I was 17 years old and began drinking and taking drugs in my teens. My 20s included long periods of unemployment and heavy drinking/ substance misuse. I received numerous convictions and prison sentences related to this. I realise now that I was also suffering with mental health problems also. At the time I could see no way out and came to accept that this is what my life looked like and would continue to do so. Becoming a father in my early 30s and with the support of my partner I reached out for help to address my drinking. I spent 3 months in a rehab and began to really understand myself and how I had got to this stage. This is where the fight back began and I started to rebuild my life. On leaving rehab I managed to get a part time office job. With renewed hope and optimism I enrolled on a degree course as my ambition began to return. After 3 years I now hold a Foundation Degree in Alcohol and Substance Misuse Work and I have a BA Hons in Health and Applied Social Studies. Still though I worried about how my past would affect my chances of employment. That is when I saw a job advertisement from Red Rose Recovery which was asking for people with lived experience of the Criminal Justice System, Substance misuse or mental health struggles. These were all things which I had experience of and I saw the chance to turn these perceived negative experiences into something positive. I was lucky enough to have been employed and started working with and supporting people who had been arrested. The role of the Peer Support Worker allows you to draw upon your past in order to help people who are currently struggling with all manner of problems such as drink, drugs and mental health. This is a very enjoyable and rewarding job. We work alongside the NHS Liaison and Diversion Service who are based in Police Stations and Courts. As a Peer Support Worker you are supported by both Red Rose Recovery and the Liaison and Diversion Service. The experience has given me confidence and for me it has played a huge part in turning my situation around. People like myself who have a past can flourish and the opportunity which was given to me by Red Rose Recovery has played a pivotal part in the continued rebuilding of my life. With their support I am now about to embark on a new chapter, working in Prisons and with Prison Leavers. Helping and supporting people who are currently experiencing similar issues to the ones which I once faced.

didn’t really have one but today has made me realise I have got one and I am bettering myself every day.

rehab but have failed every time. This time I self referred to Red Rose after being given a leaflet at the hospital. This was followed up by a phone call from Emily almost straight away and an introduction to the women’s zoom group hosted by Lynne. I was hooked after my first meeting. We talk about everything, how we are feeling now positives and negatives, we cry but most importantly we laugh too and we are there for each other. I recently didn’t attend for 2 weeks and missed the group so much I jumped on a meeting that I don’t usually, just to be back. I am also attending my group this evening. Red Rose has become my life line. It has given me confidence that I can do it and in those down times help is just a phone call away. We are all very different women but with one important thing in common and we are there to help each other which in turn helps us. I have been sober now for 2 months and feel I have the help and strength to carry on.

each one adding a different skill. I really enjoyed the session.

and really enjoyed it. I now have my own coaches and helping them to achieve a happy and fulfilling life.

and the amazing response of support I have had has given me the strength to start facing my problems and dealing with them. The LUF Lounge will now be a massive part of my life and the people within have now become my forever friends and I’m looking forward to having the strength to attend the next LUF Lounge in person.

I heard but felt a real connection when talking to individuals there. I enjoyed the opportunity to engage with people I wouldn’t have met in everyday life, I took a lot from their journey and really hope they continue to move in the direction they wish to go. I enjoyed completing the quiz with my partner as this gave us a chance to just be normal, whatever normal means to them. There were no questions about why they where there and no pressure to tell their story if they didn’t want to. It just felt like two people engaging in conversation. I think offering this kind of service to inmates is only going to benefit everyone involved, it gives me personally, the chance to learn about different walks of life and become less ignorant to the reality of a prison sentence. I feel it gives the inmates the chance to talk to someone who isn’t paid to be there and offers the comfort that we chose to go and spend our time with them. I loved the experience and I can’t wait to attend again and get to know more people, I want to thank Red Rose Recovery and the staff at the local prison for the opportunity.

would be lost without all the support.

the community. I gravitated towards Red Rose Recovery because of their non-judgemental approach and their life experience within the individuals I had spoken to. I started showing consistency and to volunteer because I was told I was worth it and I had people believing in me that I could do what I said I wanted to do this was the first time this had happened to me. I volunteered for Red Rose Recovery for 3 months and then applied for a job and much to my surprise I got the job, I was a paid employer for Red Rose Recovery and I was over the moon, I couldn’t believe I now had a job. Shortly after getting my part time job I was introduced to the New You Team. I learned about key performance indicators and many other things that I was oblivious to, not going to lie at the start I was definitely way out of my comfort zone but with the support of my colleagues I achieved my goals and became more confident. I quickly realised I am great at engaging with others and really enjoy it. Red Rose Recovery gave me the opportunity and the platform to do what I am passionate about. 30 months later I am now empowering others to achieve their goals and always share where I have been and where I am today, I am still currently on probation and don’t get off it until later this year so it’s amazing that I am in the position that I am in and it’s a key tool to be able to show other service users that it a different life is 100% achievable It’s my job now to contact new referrals and make them feel comfortable and to build common ground with them and ultimately to break down stigma, I encourage service users to get involved in the many groups and activities that we have available within the New You and to then get them a recovery support network, I have also built really great relationships with other organisation in the community to be able to signpost if necessary. We feed people, support them to gain employment, training and education and also through the pandemic we have got many people housed. Being a part of someone’s journey is a blessing and I am grateful to have been given this opportunity Thanks to Red Rose Recovery I now have a life I now have a career and a FUTURE.

town hall to organise my housing allowance. Over the next few weeks I came to inspire for various groups as a service user. I found that by far the most active and helpful organisation working there was Red Rose Recovery. Through the Red Rose groups, I quickly made friends. This was so very important to me because isolation has previously been a contributing factor to relapses in the past. The staff at Red Rose were so very welcoming, friendly and encouraging. One arranged 1 to 1 counselling for me which proved to be very beneficial to my recovery and another, as well being inspiration on legs, helped me practically too. I was struggling at the house I shared, and he arranged for great accommodation at another recovery organisation. As I write, I am waiting to facilitate a peer lead group. I have progressed so far since arriving in a new environment. Much of this is down to Red Rose Recovery and their staff. I would like to thank them will all my heart.

they made sure I was ok, that doesn’t happen much but I really appreciate the calls daily and the support of the meetings. All the support and gifts I have had from you all over Christmas, thank you so much.

today and without your loving kind, care, and compassion I would still be in the madness and not were I am today. Kim you were my angel at my time of need and I’m forever grateful for to Red Rose and all those involved in my recovery, so for that thank you for seeing me for who I was and gifting me a 2nd chance in life.

I truly admire you and everything that you do at Red Rose Recovery. The work you do is truly life changing. The world needs more people like you.

spirit of mutual help and a commitment to move forward. On the practical side, despite Covid, I have been able to participate in groups that have bolstered my confidence and help maintain the equilibrium of my mental health. This last year would have been difficult in any circumstances but during a pandemic the danger of isolation could have been catastrophic. By engaging with Red Rose, I have been able to be welcomed as part of a “family” and feel truly part of something. Although I have not physically met anybody from Red Rose, I feel I have a solid network of support and can call many of those people my friends. My aim is to set up my own business online and that has been nurtured and supported by members of Red Rose staff, many of whom have walked the path I have walked. Their help has been both inspirational and practical. In December I applied for funding through Stepping Stones and was successful. I have been awarded £1000 towards the setting up costs. The money is extremely welcome but what is perhaps more important is the knowledge that I am surrounded by people who believe in me. I cannot praise or thank Red Rose too fulsomely. Being part of an organisation who are not put off by my past but who are focused on what I CAN do or become is empowering and humbling. It makes me want to be part of helping others and I will be exploring that path as I move forward in my recovery.

gaining transferrable skills in terms of Human Resources and the running of the organisation and it’s structure, but I am also observing the roles of team leaders and volunteers. I get involved with service users and support training by helping set up and have even helped out with the creation, contributing ideas by using the psychology knowledge I already have. The key thing I have gained from this role is the sense of community, everyone has been so welcoming and so supportive that it feels almost like I’ve gained a new family. I will be returning to my studies in the coming weeks but I will remain with Red Rose Recovery and will continue to support both the organisation and my own development. I am now determined to tackle awareness of recovery as part of my studies and will be contacting my high school and college to build greater awareness and education around this matter using the contacts and relationships I already have.

own personal experiences in life to assist her with the difficult time that she has been experiencing in her personal life. From my first meeting with my coachee, I have seen a dramatic change in her out look on life and have seen her go from strength to strength gaining more confidence as each week progresses. I can see the impact that Red Rose recovery has had on her life and she should be so proud of her achievements. Gaining employment with Red Rose I feel has been a massive turning point in her journey and I would say that It has been a massive privilege to get to work with my coachee in this cohort. Not only has the course been good for the participants but I feel it has also been a fantastic development opportunity for the coaches too. I hope to remain as a coach for any future cohorts and would love to keep in touch with my coachee once we have finished this current cohort to see her continue to blossom as she gains more confidence due to her achievements.

inspiring to watch the participants grow in confidence and knowledge. I feel that some of the topics and conversations we have had, have not only helped the participants, but have also helped me to look at myself as an individual, highlighting what skills I have and of course my weaknesses. I am now exploring the possibilities of moving to a career which would enable me to support and work with vulnerable people. In relation to my participant, he has really demonstrated great commitment to the program and has always made himself available for our catch-up chats. The difference in him from start to finish of the course has been fantastic. He has grown in confidence and has much more belief in himself. I truly wish great things to come for him. It has been an absolute pleasure working alongside him.

it, real emotions and trust.

are doing a fantastic job connecting these guys together and if there is any way we can support you in that please let us know.

honest again that suffering with mental health problems started to take me back to CBT cognitive behavioural therapy and I thought here we go again this rubbish as I have had many sessions with professional people using CBT and I honestly didn’t get it and thought it was useless in my situation. I completed the course with a better understanding of my disorder than ever before, I understand my thoughts how to manage feelings and I have defiantly worked on my behaviours. The team taking this program were patient and understanding and kept the whole group involved and this gave me the time I needed that I had never had before to learn and understand CBT and how that everyone in the group had different thoughts feeling and behaviours around the same subject, this was a big turning point as I now know that I can change everything and that my feelings around things are not set in stone I created them so I can change them. I am extremely grateful to have been able to do this hope and beyond and hopefully my feedback will make any professionals realize that now for me this all makes sense and I very easy to grasp but it wasn’t always like that a brain in low mood struggles with taking in information and mine was no different. But this was done in a way that I could relax and take time to take in what was being explained to me. I would say I wish I had done this 20 years ago but that thought would create a feeling I don’t need so this course has taught me to say I am very grateful I had the chance to do this program.

with Red Rose to promote the project.” How has Red Rose Recovery helped you? “This has helped me with learning to listen to the individual’s unique stories, I do not see this as an opportunity to pry but to give them an opportunity to express themselves to an impartial person who is interested in their lives and to offload to a third person.  It has also helped me approach people who I have never met before, this has helped me to combat my anxiety by making the first step with networking and making a difference.  It is helping my professionalism grow with working with people from all walks of life.” What positive outcomes have you achieved since you first engaged with Red Rose? “Visiting the local prison today gave me an amazing sense of self-worth, I was able to use my assets today to forge a friendship with one inmate, he had anxiety and I was able to relax him by introducing myself and using open body language.  Rather than sitting opposite him divided by a table I asked if I was able to sit next to him, so we weren’t having to raise our tone and he felt more comfortable.  He left with a smile on his face and seeming a lot more relaxed.” What other services have you linked in with since you first engaged with Red Rose? “The service I linked in with today was the local prison.”  What do you now have in your life? “Confidence, self-worth, value, friends, management of my anxiety, ability to overcome barriers.”  What do you still want to achieve? “More skills and knowledge with mental health and addiction, progression, to be able to help others with my progression, training. The local prison is able to offer us training exercises and we can partake in other activities within it such as dog therapy sessions, this will be a brilliant experience if this happens as we are able to have a more in depth look at what prisons do to help their inmates.”

My coachee has been amazing! She did not need as much support as what maybe some of the other members did but through our chats I found her inspirational and could not have asked for a better participant. My coachee is very disciplined and is using her experience and transferrable skills to volunteer to help others who have found themselves in similar situations which is amazing! Thank you for the opportunity you have given me and I would love to participate in the next tranch if you need more mentors.  

overcome and work through them. It has also helped to identify areas in my life that could be improved… thank you.

course was delivered at just the pace I needed it to be in order to grow my confidence and self-esteem and to be honest, I was scared of failure at first but then the work coach came into it and this assured me I was not alone and would be given all the help information and guidance I needed and this was greatly important to my progress. I gained so much knowledge in this course about myself and others around me in a working environment and how in order to succeed in life you have to integrate your skill set with others. I gained confidence in myself over the course of the program that now I believe I can do anything I put my mind to and there are resources and people out there in order to help me along the way. Now I am certain that whatever job role I decide to take one in the future I can do better than before as this program showed and gave me confidence in the skills that I already had but never had the mindset to realize them, and then showed me a way in improving my skillset. I learned small very important things that gave me confidence in life such as one day I could get a mortgage what to me sounded ludicrous as I had to be hospitalized but has given me confidence in the financial sector, in that I can ask for help in the work place at any time, I can write a CV to apply for jobs as at the age 43, I still to this day have never had to write one and wouldn’t of knows where to start. Let me tell you what this has done for me I was a man who had given up on ever achieving anything in life. I knew what I wanted to do but had given up trying as I thought it was never achievable. Now I am confident, full of purpose and ready to face the world again, as now I know I need the world and it needs me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart you have truly changed my life.

challenging due to Covid-19 however I was supported and guiding through each process. I was a mentor for a lovely individual who was a service participant. I supported him throughout the 12 week project in the course and 3 levels he has now successfully achieved. Red Rose created a capacity for everyone to achieve goals and learn whilst having mass amounts of fun. Red rose ensured the programme was delivered with high quality sessions. The facilitators and project managers made everything easy to understand and easy to enjoy from start to finish! This made Red Rose the Pleasure it is to be part of.

Listening to others today that were in my position inspired me to stay strong.

really considered recovery. I first came into contact with Red Rose Recovery via the New You outreach during Covid when I was given Naloxone because I was at risk of an overdose. I have since attended support groups and I attend a church on a Sunday now with Red Rose. I feel like they understand, I feel heard. I believe that there is a chance I can one day be in recovery and be abstinent.

isolation period over these last few weeks. Biggest part for me was when I came out of detox last Feb and being forced into lock down. When they first started it was my life line, they have now grown and they are on a daily basis, if I never had zoom or the meetings I wouldn’t be here. I can reach out and connect, I am still learning and I can still help people, the biggest thing for me is connection. I think the women’s group has helped me so much, I am really looking forward to my detox and all these ladies will be here for me afterwards. Thank you so much. I joined this group whilst I was still drinking, they have given me so much encouragement and I am now on detox and it’s the best thing that’s ever happened, I appreciate everything these girls do for me. I just think it’s a brilliant place to connect with strong women I think, when you first come on the group they are so welcoming the facilitation is brilliant and it always makes me smile it doesn’t matter what I’m going through but then it’s also taken seriously and you get the support you need on group and after group. So, I am truly grateful and thankful for this platform as well and it’s a good space to be able to talk about women’s stuff privately. I really look forward to the women’s group, it is serious and everyone is so supportive but we have such a laugh. This group has done me the world of good, I was in such a mess. I was really quiet. This women’s group has empowered me so much, I try not to miss one group, its really friendly and no one judges you. Thank you so much. The women’s group are absolutely amazing, you can come on no matter what the problem if your happy or sad or got things going on, the support around you is amazing, the empowerment and uplift that these women give you each and every week has really brought me out of my shell. It taught me to be who I am and to accept myself. The hard work you do and the platform you facilitate is amazing, thank you so much. I love this group, I don’t know where I would be without this group they check in on me. I have made some amazing friends. Thank you.

are so important and having the opportunity to work with them has really helped me to better my practice and hopefully made a real difference in their lives. How has Red Rose Recovery helped you? Red Rose has helped me to develop my skills as a counsellor and improve my knowledge around Drugs and Alcohol. They have helped me gain confidence in my role and have also offered me multiple opportunities to develop within the organisation. What positive outcomes have you achieved since you first engaged with Red Rose? From working with Red Rose I have developed relationships with other services that work along side them in their mission to help better people’s lives. From these relationships and opportunities I have been able to secure myself a job within the sector with another organisation that works with Red Rose. What other services have you linked in with since you first engaged with Red Rose? I have worked with CGL and had experience with Recovery Homes.  What do you now have in your life? A clearer understanding of drug and alcohol abuse and the physical and mental impacts these have on people. I have seen first-hand the people who make it possible for change and the care and unconditional regard they hold when working with others.  I have Red Rose to thank for a lot over the last few months they have helped me gain employment and a higher education qualification.  What do you still want to achieve? I want to improve my skills further and build greater relationships with service users. Red Rose will help me achieve this. Staff within Red Rose will pour all their resources into helping people get to where they want to be. The only thing they ask is that you’re committed. Red Rose and it’s staff are always looking for ways to improve their service and will always welcome feedback – of which I have also offered. I am not going to claim they are perfect as various factors will impact on their abilities on occasion but what I will say is they are an organisation that genuinely cares and wants the best for its service users. For me that’s the reason I have stayed with them and will continue to offer my assistance for as long as it is wanted.

have 2 adults and 3 teenagers and 2 younger children. I have been finding it very hard to feed so many and struggled through until I came across Red Rose Recovery. When having a conversation with one of the staff, she said she would try to help. She never stopped till she had us sorted with a food bank and a lady who has made us home cooked meals to see us through. She has phoned me to make sure all is well and this has given back the hope I was losing. I’m so grateful to this staff member and to Red Rose Recovery and just want to say she has been my Angel sent from God, Amen.  

one project I love coming to to be with my new friends who cheer me up no end when I’m not feeling at my best.

have started going to the Tuesday group, 5 ways to well-being, I attend the yoga every 2nd Thursday. RRR has helped me realise that I can have aims & goals. It’s ok to be vulnerable and ask for help. What positive outcomes have you achieved since you first engaged with Red Rose? I received my certificate for attending speaker boot camp, I have met new people, a couple have now become friends & I’m going to be engaging with activities at Saltayre, enjoying the yoga class. This engaging is massive for me & is key to my recovery. What other services have you linked in with since you first engaged with Red Rose? Inspire CGL, Strawberryfields, Macmillans. ST Thomas church. What do you now have in your life? i have a few people who are close to me who I now appreciate, I am grateful that I have a place to live that I call home. I have what I need. I have a life, I am able to enjoy my life. It’s the little things that count most. Friendship, kindness, understanding. I’m starting to believe in myself. What do you still want to achieve? To make a difference, to help people, mental health, Addiction, to care for people who have been diagnosed with a disease.

a particularly bad weekend which culminated in 2 hospital visits, her partner decided he had almost reached the end of the road and was going away for the night with their children. That left me with a problem. I was about to take my daughter home from hospital after the second visit but I couldn’t leave her alone in her house. I sat in the car and thought “This situation is getting nowhere. Too many people are giving advice but doing nothing and she is literally crying for help”. I decide I would take control and take her back to our house. It sounds strange but it was as though a light had been turned on and I could suddenly see the way ahead. I phoned my wife to tell her the situation and she immediately accepted my decision. My daughter stayed with us for the next few months, and although she was still drinking we controlled it on a daily basis. She regularly attended Inspire meetings and saw social workers and medical people before being accepted into residential detox followed by rehab. There was a feeling of relief in the family at this stage knowing she was being helped. We visited her at weekends and she seemed to be doing really well. She then moved into a recovery home just before Covid 19 struck and lockdown came into force. The pressure seemed to build up and she began to drift back to her old ways. It all came to a head when she took an overdose of anti-depressants and drink and she jumped off a railway bridge. That day was surreal. As though it was a bad dream. We knew there had been an incident and actually drove past the ambulance and police, who were by the railway line, not knowing what had happened. Our other daughter and family had watched the air ambulance land nearby and it was an hour later when we received the call telling us the news that the person on the train track was my daughter. I can’t put into words the emotional effect that this had on us all and it was only a positive attitude that kept us going. Hopefully, things will now look up as she is now out of hospital and recovering very slowly from her injuries. There is still a long way to go but hopefully she will pull through it for everyone’s sake. The help, advice and support we get from Red Rose Recovery gives an unbelievable boost to us all. One of the many things RRR has taught me is that there is no such thing as a lost cause as long as you stay positive. I do know my daughter loves going to RR meetings (online at the moment) and the highlights of my week are ‘The Families  Matter Meetings’ which give me a chance to get things off my chest and take on board other people’s views. I will be forever grateful to Lorna, Lynne, Barbara and Emma and Red Rose Recovery for the guidance, understanding and help they have shown not only to my daughter but to me and the family. Thank you to the team.

3rd meeting I was ready to show my face on camera and chat to my peers. I suddenly felt a rush of support like I had never felt before and felt comfortable sharing my story that I had hidden so well for the past year. You see, I’m addicted to drugs. Not one person judged me or made me feel like I was a failure although I was beginning to hate myself and the addiction that had gripped me so tightly. After a couple of weeks, I not only joined the women’s group but I also began doing other Red Rose Zoom meetings where I would see familiar faces and people who thrive off each other’s support. Don’t get me wrong, there are times when I’ve been on groups and felt no self-worth beforehand but yet again the group instantly picks you up! I always come off group feeling powerful. So, I made a choice… this addiction needed to be taken control of and with the help of the Red Rose staff I made a self-referral to and adult social worker for rehab. I am beginning my journey in there next week. The process from me doing the self-referral to actually being admitted into rehab is less than 3 weeks. I will spend 3-5 months in there. My son’s birthday I will miss and Christmas with my beautiful children. But… what’s one birthday and one Christmas for their mum to get clean and be happy and healthy again? I’m sure I will make up for it when I’m well again. If you’re struggling out there, please reach out to Red Rose. I feel like I’m a part of the family and you will too. Xx

work that they have done this week has been invaluable and I think everyone would agree that their help is very much appreciated.  They have not only helped with the edible hedgerows but also cleared the wooden compost bins ready for Lancaster Men’s Hub to start the renovation of these bins, thank you.

long time and these sessions helped him to re-adapt into the working world. These sessions have helped me to speak to my mentee on a one to one basis and gain valuable experience of life. Knowing that different cultures and beliefs do not make a difference to the struggles we have in life, with my mentee I have gained a lot of knowledge and a valuable friend. My mentee was keen to learn and was always ready and waiting for the sessions.

struggles that people face due to addiction. I got so much out of this course and it’s given me the confidence to progress in my own career as well as giving me the belief that I can achieve anything. The people on the course were inspirational and a pleasure to work with. I have every faith that they will succeed in whatever they put their minds to. They’ve already overcome so much that I believe that they could do anything, if they set their minds to it! The resilience & determination they’ve shown is amazing and they should all be really proud of how far they’ve come in such a short time.

beneficial as well as the one to one’s. Speaking to others helps me to look at things from a new perspective, and to value myself so that I can make better choices

welcome at all times. The staff at red rose recovery are very supportive I am looking forward to what the future will bring.

residential rehabilitation unit. I’ve been trying to get to rehab for years and it was a lot harder than it should’ve been. I managed to do all the work and I am seeing all the benefits now. I have a really good relationship with my offender manager and she told me about Red Rose Recovery when I was half way through my treatment. I looked on the website and I was really excited about all the things that were on offer to me. It opened up a whole new world that I hadn’t even realised was there! It really gave me the boost I needed and got me excited about my future for the first time in a long time. She linked me in with new groups of people who are in recovery just like me. I have plenty of people to talk to, it has been so helpful to have the support! I’ve been put forward for the leadership course which starts in 7 weeks. I do daily zoom meetings online. I get to chat with people daily and with the current lockdown situation I don’t know how I would’ve managed had it not been for Red Rose Recovery! I have a feeling I will be able to be the best version of myself because of the support they show me.

one staff member in particular, who was the kindest of people and good at their job.

judged by the circumstances that I find my self in.

up perfectly by one of the group stating  ‘you know what, I can do this’. We really appreciate the offer of time your staff and volunteers gave us to inspire our service users about their own recovery.

been through I can connect to Scott on a personal level.