Individuals hitting their 5 Ways to Wellbeing this many times…

Give

And…

thousands of the people we work with achieving life-changing & meaningful hard outcomes, such as…

Reducing contact and attendance with A&E and emergency services

Did you know that a visit to A&E costs on average £1,560, When you factor in emergency care, inpatient admissions, and necessary follow-up treatments?

(Based on NHS England Costings report)

—-

Our work in reducing individuals contact with A&E alone, saved over £330,000 on the public purse throughout 2025/26.

Hours of their time, providing peer support, group facilitation, help at community projects, and much more.

Using the minimum wage a baseline, at £12.21 per hour during 2025/26, our volunteers contributed over  £54,945 into our communities.

At Red Rose Recovery, we believe in…

INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF OUR DATA AND IMPACT

Independent review undertaken by Dr Gerasimos Kakaroumpas, PhD

• Mental Health and Criminal Justice datasets independently analysed

• Participant journeys successfully reconstructed from referral through to programme completion

• Operational data found to support robust pathway and impact analysis

• Recommendations provided to further strengthen governance and future reporting

• Over 900,000 days of participant engagement analysed across the programmes reviewed

Recovery Infrastructure Organisation

Lancashire county council

Red Rose are commissioned by Lancashire County Council’s Public Health Team to deliver a Recovery Infrastructure Organisation (RIO).

For us this means that we:

• Demonstrate visible recovery, and the various routes to this.
• Build and maintain a vibrant recovery community in Lancashire.
• Provide groups, projects, community events and volunteering opportunities for people in recovery to participate in.
• Support the Lancashire User Forum to provide service users in Lancashire a voice and use this to influence service design, to celebrate recovery, to educate the community and to reduce stigma.
• To manage the Building Recovery in Communities (BRiC) fund to enable projects, for and/or supporting those in recovery to bid for public funds to kickstart their business.

In 2024-25 we had…

attendances at our groups, Projects & Events

Red Rose Recovery’s partnership with Lancashire County Council has yielded remarkable results over the past year, demonstrating the profound impact of our collaborative efforts. Through our role as a Recovery Infrastructure Organisation, we have delivered 3,136 group sessions and facilitated 28,295 attendances, showcasing the extensive reach and engagement of our activities.

Our innovative approach has proven to be highly cost-effective, generating an overall organisational return of £13 for every £1 invested, including an incredible £22 return for every £1 spent on reducing substance misuse within our communities. These impressive figures underscore our commitment to creating lasting, positive change in Lancashire.

A Year of Recovery, Community and Opportunity Across Lancashire

Over the last year, Red Rose Recovery has continued to grow its presence across Lancashire, delivering support that is rooted in lived experience, community connection and the belief that recovery is possible for everyone.

Across our North, Central and East localities, thousands of outcomes have been achieved through a combination of structured recovery programmes, peer support, volunteering, outreach and partnership working. More importantly, behind every outcome is a person who has found connection, confidence, purpose and hope.

Building Stronger Recovery Communities

Recovery thrives when people feel connected, valued and part of something bigger than themselves. Throughout the year we have continued to strengthen recovery communities across Lancashire, creating welcoming spaces where people can build friendships, develop new skills and support one another.

Our hubs have become more than places to attend groups. They have become community spaces where people access food support, practical advice, volunteering opportunities, professional services and meaningful social connection. In many areas, people now visit daily, whether to attend a group, meet with support workers, access partner organisations or simply enjoy a safe and welcoming environment.

Volunteer involvement has continued to grow, with many people progressing from attending groups to leading activities, supporting events and helping shape the future of our services. Across Lancashire, volunteers remain the heart of Red Rose Recovery and demonstrate every day the transformative power of lived experience.

Accredited Programmes Creating Lasting Change

This year marked a significant milestone in the development of our recovery offer through the continued expansion of our accredited programmes.

ROAR (Risk of Addiction and Relapse) has become firmly established across all localities, supporting people to understand triggers, manage urges and develop practical strategies for maintaining recovery. The programme has received consistently positive feedback and has seen strong attendance throughout the year.

Alongside ROAR, the LIFE programme has continued to expand, helping people explore subjects such as self-esteem, communication, family relationships, role models, money management and building a pro-social lifestyle. The programme has now been delivered across multiple localities, with participants describing increased confidence, stronger relationships and a greater sense of purpose.

Together these programmes represent an important evolution in Red Rose Recovery’s offer, combining lived experience with evidence-informed approaches to support long-term recovery and personal growth.

A Diverse and Dynamic Group Offer

Our groups continue to reflect the diverse needs and interests of the communities we serve.

Across Lancashire, people have connected through activities including Here and Now, Building Hope, 5 Ways to Wellbeing, Warrior Women, Reach Out for Men, Family Matters, Creative Therapy, Community Cafés, Dance Fitness, Thai Boxing, Football, Sports Clubs, Pool Groups, Gardening, Fishing for Mental Health, Walk and Talk sessions, Recover in Nature, Gaming Groups and Creative Space sessions.

These activities provide far more than entertainment. They create opportunities for connection, routine, confidence building, physical activity, emotional wellbeing and mutual support. Whether someone joins a gardening project, attends a recovery group, participates in sport or simply shares a conversation over tea and toast, every activity contributes to stronger recovery and healthier communities.

The continued success of volunteer-led groups demonstrates the strength and sustainability of our peer-led approach.

Working Together to Achieve More

Partnership working has remained central to everything we do.

Throughout the year we have strengthened relationships with treatment providers, local authorities, mental health services, housing providers, universities, employment services, recovery organisations and community groups.

Across Lancashire, we have worked alongside organisations including Inspire, The Well, Active Lancashire, Healthier Heroes, Lancashire Women, Calico, LDHAS, We Are With You, Hepatitis C Trust, Community Mental Health Teams, Forest of Bowland Trust, Offload, Safenet and many others.

These partnerships have enabled us to create smoother referral pathways, improve access to specialist support, develop innovative projects and ensure people receive joined-up care that addresses the many challenges they may face alongside addiction and recovery.

Taking Recovery Into the Community

One of the most striking features of the year has been the increasing visibility of recovery within local communities.

Red Rose Recovery teams, volunteers and beneficiaries have represented recovery at train stations, job centres, universities, colleges, community open days, Pride events, health conferences, recovery conferences, sports tournaments, public awareness campaigns and local festivals.

Our presence at these events helps challenge stigma, raise awareness and demonstrate the reality of recovery. It also creates opportunities for people who may never have engaged with support services before to start conversations and access help.

Whether delivering lived experience talks to students, supporting rough sleepers, promoting wellbeing at community events or sharing recovery stories through public forums, our community has continued to show that recovery belongs in the heart of society.

Celebrating Recovery Through Events

This year has once again been filled with memorable events that have brought people together from across Lancashire.

LUFStock continued to provide a unique opportunity for families, volunteers, staff and beneficiaries to celebrate recovery together through music, activities and community spirit. Lancashire User Forums have continued to evolve as genuinely peer-led spaces where lived experience shapes discussion, planning and decision making.

We also celebrated achievements through Recovery Games, sports days, recovery walks, charity fundraising events, litter-picking competitions, community outreach projects and seasonal celebrations.

These events remind us that recovery is not simply about overcoming challenges. It is about creating new experiences, developing confidence, building relationships and enjoying life.

Learning, Development and Lived Experience Leadership

Throughout the year, staff and volunteers have continued to invest in learning and development.

Training has covered subjects including co-occurring conditions, trauma-informed approaches, harm reduction, naloxone, gambling awareness, HIV stigma, smoking cessation, chemsex, first aid, boundaries, public speaking and mental health awareness.

At the same time, lived experience has remained at the centre of everything we do. Volunteers and beneficiaries have shared their stories with professionals, students, employers and community groups, helping to educate others and influence how recovery is understood across Lancashire.

Many people who once came to Red Rose Recovery seeking support are now delivering groups, leading projects, speaking at events and helping others begin their own recovery journeys.

Looking Ahead

This year has demonstrated the strength, resilience and ambition of Lancashire’s recovery community.

We have supported people through some of the most challenging moments of their lives whilst creating opportunities for growth, learning and achievement. We have strengthened partnerships, expanded programmes, developed volunteers and increased our presence within local communities.

Most importantly, we have continued to create spaces where people feel accepted, understood and valued.

As we look to the future, we remain committed to ensuring that recovery is visible, accessible and celebrated across Lancashire. Together, we will continue to build communities where people can recover, thrive and realise their full potential.

Roots Community is a forum advocating for recovery in the Blackburn-with-Darwen area. By bringing together individuals who have been affected by addiction alongside partner organisations in the recovery sector, the Community seeks to:

• empower and amplify the voices of people accessing services through the maxim ‘nothing about us without us’;
• build recovery capital through the creation of training, development, volunteering and employment opportunities;
• develop positive, practical solutions to the systemic challenges faced by Community members.

Roots Community is a sister organisation to the Lancashire User Forum, a pioneering collective which has grown since its inception in 2006 to become one of the largest forums of its kind in the UK. 

Roots Community: Strength in Recovery, Leadership in Action

Roots Community has continued to grow in strength, influence and impact throughout the year, remaining a vibrant and welcoming recovery community for people across Blackburn with Darwen.

What began as a grassroots initiative continues to evolve as a recognised and respected part of the wider recovery landscape. Through the commitment of our staff, volunteers, partners and members, Roots has created a safe and inclusive environment where people are encouraged to connect, develop and thrive.

Building Capacity, Growing Support

Throughout the year, Roots Community has continued to provide a consistent programme of support, creating opportunities for people to access wellbeing activities, peer support, volunteering, personal development and meaningful social connection.

Alongside regular group activities, the team has continued to provide one to one support, wellbeing check ins and practical guidance, helping people overcome barriers, access wider services and continue progressing towards their personal goals.

Our person centred approach ensures that activities continue to evolve in response to the needs of the people who attend, creating a community that is shaped by lived experience and driven by those it exists to support.

Meaningful Activity, Every Day

The variety and consistency of our activities continue to make Roots a reliable anchor within many people’s recovery journeys.

Whether attending wellbeing sessions, creative activities, community projects, peer support groups or social events, members have opportunities to develop confidence, establish routine, build friendships and discover new interests within a supportive recovery environment.

Every activity is designed to promote connection, improve wellbeing and strengthen recovery capital, whilst encouraging people to play an active role within both the Roots Community and the wider Blackburn with Darwen community.

Recognition and National Interest

The continued success of Roots Community has attracted growing interest from organisations both locally and nationally.

Our peer led approach continues to demonstrate the value of lived experience in building sustainable recovery communities, with organisations increasingly seeking to learn from the Roots model and explore how similar approaches can be developed within their own areas.

This recognition reflects the commitment of our staff, volunteers and members, whose passion and dedication continue to make Roots Community a place where people feel welcomed, valued and inspired.

Looking to the Future

Roots Community continues to evolve through new ideas, stronger partnerships and the creativity of the people who shape it.

By remaining responsive to local need and encouraging members to influence the future direction of the service, Roots continues to create opportunities for people to develop confidence, discover purpose and build lasting recovery.

Rooted in Recovery, Growing in Purpose

Roots Community has remained true to its mission: supporting individual recovery whilst empowering people to contribute, lead and connect.

Working alongside local partners and the wider recovery community, Roots continues to provide a welcoming environment where lived experience is valued, relationships flourish and people are supported to realise their potential.

Throughout another successful year, Roots Community has continued to demonstrate what can be achieved when recovery is led by the community itself.

What is North Yorkshire Connected Spaces (NYCS)…

North Yorkshire Connective Spaces (NYCS) is Red Rose Recovery’s growing recovery initiative in North Yorkshire, designed to connect individuals, build resilience, and make recovery visible in a region where support can often feel fragmented and out of reach.

NYCS provides a collective voice for the recovery community in North Yorkshire, bringing together people and groups from all walks of life to meet shared needs around wellbeing, addiction recovery, mental health and social connection. It reflects a grassroots movement where lived experience leads, relationships matter, and communities are strengthened through mutual support.

By hosting regular events and activities, NYCS creates opportunities for people to meet up, socialise, support one another, share ideas, and exchange resources. Whether through group sessions, one-to-one peer support or local partnerships, the project helps people build recovery capital; the social, emotional and practical foundations that help recovery thrive.

It is a space where connection replaces loneliness, experience becomes strength, and everyone has a seat at the table. With every group, every conversation, and every act of kindness, NYCS is helping to grow a recovery community that is inclusive, hopeful, and here to stay.

North Yorkshire Connected Spaces (NYCS): Building Recovery Through Connection

Over the past year, NYCS has continued to foster a vibrant recovery community across North Yorkshire. By bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds, NYCS has provided a platform for mutual support, shared experiences, and collective growth.

A Community Built on Connection

North Yorkshire Connected Spaces (NYCS) continues to provide a vibrant, inclusive recovery community where people can connect, share experiences and build positive futures together.

Working alongside people with lived experience, local partners and communities across North Yorkshire, NYCS creates opportunities for individuals to build confidence, reduce isolation and strengthen recovery capital through meaningful community involvement. By bringing people together in welcoming, recovery focused environments, the service continues to demonstrate the power of peer support in creating lasting change.

Growing Our Reach

Throughout the year, NYCS has continued to expand across North Yorkshire, strengthening its presence and increasing opportunities for people to access support closer to home.

Building on the success of the service in Harrogate, the team has now expanded into Northallerton, supported by the introduction of a dedicated Team Leader and two Community Peer Engagers, each providing local support within their respective areas.

This expansion marks an important milestone in the development of NYCS, enabling the service to build stronger local relationships, increase community engagement and ensure more people can benefit from peer led recovery support across the county.

Building Stronger Recovery Communities

At the heart of NYCS is the belief that recovery flourishes through connection, belonging and shared purpose.

Throughout the year, the team has continued to facilitate community forums, wellbeing activities, peer support opportunities and local events that encourage people to reconnect with their communities whilst developing confidence, skills and lasting relationships.

Alongside community activities, NYCS continues to work collaboratively with statutory services, voluntary organisations and local partners, ensuring that people with lived experience have opportunities to influence services, contribute to local decision making and help shape the future of recovery support across North Yorkshire.

By placing lived experience at the centre of everything it does, NYCS continues to empower individuals to move beyond recovery and become active contributors within their communities.

Looking Ahead

As North Yorkshire Connected Spaces continues to grow, so too does its ambition.

With an expanding team, stronger partnerships and an increasing presence across North Yorkshire, the service is well placed to continue developing opportunities that promote wellbeing, strengthen recovery communities and ensure that lived experience remains at the heart of local service development.

By continuing to invest in people, partnerships and community led recovery, NYCS will remain a powerful voice for positive change across North Yorkshire.

What is Project Free…

Project Free is a lived experience recovery initiative working across Greater Manchester, supporting adults with substance-related offending behaviour to rebuild their lives. The project empowers individuals to break free from addiction and criminality, using the strength of peer support and credible role models to create lasting change.

At its core, Project Free offers more than just support, it provides connection, purpose and belief. Led by a team of individuals with personal experience of both recovery and rehabilitation, the service delivers honest, empathetic support that resonates deeply with those it reaches. Through one-to-one guidance and community-based activity, the project helps people address not only substance use, but also the underlying trauma, social barriers and life circumstances that often drive offending behaviour.

By working with compassion, consistency and lived experience at the heart, Project Free is making a tangible difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities…one person, one conversation, one breakthrough at a time.

Project Free: Recovery, Rehabilitation and Real-World Change

Project Free has had an inspiring year across Greater Manchester, continuing to support individuals with substance-related offending histories as they journey toward recovery and reintegration. With lived experience at the heart of the service, Project Free has strengthened its impact through bold visibility, personal connection, and authentic community action.

A Different Approach to Recovery

Project Free continues to demonstrate the power of lived experience in supporting people affected by substance misuse, offending behaviour and mental health challenges across Greater Manchester.

Built on the belief that recovery is strengthened through connection, purpose and community, the service provides a welcoming environment where people can rebuild confidence, develop positive relationships and take meaningful steps towards long term recovery. Through peer led support and visible recovery activities, Project Free continues to challenge stigma whilst creating opportunities for people to become active members of their communities.

Building Recovery Capital

Throughout the year, Project Free has continued to expand its programme of groups, community activities and events, providing opportunities for people to build recovery capital through connection, learning and shared experience.

From creative wellbeing sessions and recovery forums to community action projects, accredited learning and peer support, every activity has been designed to help people rediscover purpose, strengthen resilience and develop the confidence to move forward. The service continues to work alongside individuals both within the community and as they transition from prison back into local neighbourhoods, helping to create sustainable pathways into recovery.

Making Recovery Visible

One of Project Free’s defining principles is making recovery visible within local communities.

Throughout the year the team has delivered a range of community action projects, recovery forums and public engagement events that have brought together beneficiaries, professionals, partner organisations and local residents. These activities not only promote positive wellbeing but also challenge stigma, demonstrate the value of lived experience and encourage stronger community connections.

Project Free has also continued to strengthen relationships with local partners, voluntary organisations, health services and the criminal justice system, ensuring that people receive joined up support whilst contributing to the wider development of recovery communities across Greater Manchester.

Influencing Change Through Lived Experience

Project Free is about more than delivering support. It is about ensuring the voices of people with lived experience help shape future services.

Throughout the year the team has continued to involve beneficiaries in co production, consultation and service development, ensuring that local people play an active role in influencing how recovery support is designed and delivered. By creating opportunities for people to share their experiences, develop new skills and become community leaders themselves, Project Free continues to demonstrate the lasting value of peer led recovery.

Looking Ahead

As Project Free continues to grow, our ambition remains the same: to create communities where recovery is visible, people feel connected and lived experience is recognised as a powerful catalyst for change.

By continuing to invest in peer leadership, community engagement and partnership working, Project Free will remain committed to helping people build meaningful lives beyond addiction and the criminal justice system whilst strengthening recovery communities across Greater Manchester.

From Lived Experience to Leading Change: The Story Behind Project Free

Two Years of Hope and Transformation

For two years, Project Free has been a beacon of hope for individuals navigating the complexities of addiction recovery and the criminal justice system. Born from a deeply personal journey, the project stands as a testament to the power of lived experience and the unwavering belief in the possibility of change. 

The founder’s story is one of profound transformation. From the age of ten, entangled in the care system, followed by years within the criminal justice system from the age of fourteen, culminating in decades of imprisonment, the path was challenging. Early experimentation led to entrenched drug use by the age of 21, and a long period of reliance on prescribed medications. At 45, a pivotal decision was made: to seek genuine recovery. Entering rehabilitation marked the beginning of a new chapter, encompassing detox and comprehensive aftercare. 

Twelve months into sustained recovery, a significant opportunity arose: a role within the criminal justice sector with Acorn. This experience paved the way for further involvement in innovative approaches to support those facing similar challenges. The onset of lockdown prompted a shift to online learning, with the founder successfully completing Health and Social Care qualifications, further solidifying their commitment to this field. 

Maintaining recovery for over 20 months post-release brought profound personal rewards. Reconnecting with family, witnessing significant milestones like brothers and daughters’ weddings, and nieces’ weddings, reinforced the value of the journey. Yet, a sense of purpose remained, a desire to give back. 

Reflecting on the lack of local heroes with lived experience within the community, the founder was driven to act. A passion for supporting individuals leaving prison ignited the creation of Project Free, a Community Interest Company, established two years ago in 2023. 

A reconnection with a former drug worker, encountered 25 years prior within the community, proved instrumental. Upon learning of Project Free’s mission, this individual became a dedicated supporter, attending drop-in centres and collaborating with probation and prison services. Drug services provided crucial support by securing venues for events and group sessions focused on addiction recovery and criminal justice. This collaboration demonstrated that, with the right support, hope can be rekindled. 

A pivotal moment in Project Free’s development came through a mutual friend of the founder, who connected the project with Matthew Kid. Matthew’s support proved invaluable, helping to secure crucial funding. Alongside Tom Woodcock and Peter Yarwood, Matthew provided essential oversight and facilitated the holding and raising of resources through his existing company’s bank account. His continued support as part of the steering group remains a cornerstone of Project Free’s ongoing success. 

Throughout the past two years, the project has fostered a strong partnership with Peter Yarwood from Red Rose Recovery, a relationship built on years of shared experience within the system. This collaboration has been pivotal in securing funding and developing Project Free, demonstrating the power of shared values and lived experience. 

Project Free is committed to empowering individuals with lived experience by offering volunteer opportunities within the organisation. This not only provides valuable experience but also fosters a sense of belonging and purpose. Expanding its reach beyond Bury, Project Free has established services in Oldham, extending its support to the wider Greater Manchester area. 

The project has achieved remarkable outcomes and forged strong links with partner organisations, including Acorn, Calico, and Achieve Action Together. The dedication and lived experience of the Red Rose Recovery team have been invaluable, providing unwavering support to those who have lost hope and are trapped within the criminal justice system. 

At the heart of Project Free is a commitment to maintaining personal recovery and demonstrating that a path to a fulfilling life is possible. By sharing their own journeys, the team at Project Free offer a tangible example of hope and transformation, proving that recovery is not just a possibility, but a reality. Just like the team at Red Rose Recovery, Project Free believes in the potential of every individual to find their path to a brighter future.

Mental Health Services

We are commissioned to deliver several Mental Health based contracts throughout Lancashire & South Cumbria, which includes, amongst others, Mental Health Peer Support, Long-Covid, Dual Diagnosis, Initial Response and Harm Reduction Support Services.

OUR MENTAL HEALTH CONTRACTS IN A NUTSHELL…

Red Rose Recovery continues to deliver a range of Mental Health services across Lancashire and South Cumbria, supporting people experiencing a wide variety of mental health challenges through compassionate, person centred and recovery focused support.

Working alongside NHS partners, local authorities and community organisations, our Mental Health teams help people build confidence, improve wellbeing, reconnect with their communities and regain control of their lives. Every service is underpinned by lived experience, recognising that genuine understanding, hope and meaningful relationships can play a vital role in recovery.

During 2025/26, our Mental Health services continued to evolve to meet changing local need. Led by an experienced Service Lead and four dedicated Team Leaders, our workforce has adapted throughout the year to ensure resources are directed where they are needed most, allowing us to remain responsive whilst continuing to deliver high quality support across Lancashire and South Cumbria.

MENTAL HEALTH PEER SUPPORT

OVERVIEW OF THE MENTAL HEALTH PEER SUPPORT CONTRACT

Our Mental Health Peer Support service, delivered through the Calico led Zest partnership, continues to provide one to one support for hundreds of people living with mental ill health across Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Using the strength of lived experience, Peer Support Workers help individuals identify goals, develop coping strategies, improve confidence and rebuild connections with their local communities. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, the service supports people to rediscover purpose, independence and hope.

Throughout the year our teams have worked closely alongside Community Mental Health Teams, Primary Care Networks and voluntary sector partners, attending regular operational meetings, transformation groups and Enhanced Multi Disciplinary Team meetings to ensure support remains joined up and person centred.

As the service has matured, our teams have become increasingly flexible, adapting resources across localities to respond to changing levels of demand whilst maintaining continuity of care. This approach has enabled more people to receive timely support whilst strengthening relationships with our NHS and community partners.

Every day our Peer Support Workers help people overcome isolation, rebuild family relationships, improve their emotional wellbeing, access education and employment opportunities, engage with community activities and develop the confidence needed to sustain long term recovery.

Physical Health Checks for People with SMI

Our Physical Health Checks service continues to play an important role in addressing the significant health inequalities experienced by people living with Serious Mental Illness.

Working alongside Primary Care and Community Mental Health services, the team supports individuals to access essential physical health checks, navigate healthcare systems and engage with services that many have previously found difficult to access.

By reducing barriers and providing practical support, the service helps ensure that physical health receives the same attention as mental wellbeing, improving early intervention, reducing health inequalities and encouraging people to take a more active role in managing their own health.

As the service has become more established, it has become an increasingly integrated part of local mental health pathways, strengthening collaboration between statutory services and community based support.

Immediate Response Service (IRS)

During the year we concluded delivery of the Immediate Response Service following changes to local commissioning arrangements.

The service provided rapid, short term support for people experiencing mental health crisis, helping individuals access housing, domestic abuse support, addiction services and wider community resources during periods of acute need.

Although the contract has now ended, the learning, relationships and experience gained through this work continue to strengthen our wider Mental Health services, ensuring people experiencing crisis remain at the centre of our approach.

Dual Diagnosis Workers

Our dedicated Dual Diagnosis Workers continue to provide specialist support for people experiencing both mental ill health and substance misuse.

Recognising the close relationship between these challenges, the service offers tailored one to one support alongside opportunities for peer connection, recovery planning and practical problem solving.

Working collaboratively with mental health teams, treatment providers and community organisations, our Dual Diagnosis Workers help people navigate complex systems, improve wellbeing and build sustainable recovery through coordinated, compassionate support.

Looking Ahead

Across every Mental Health service we deliver, one thing remains constant: recovery is built through relationships.

Whether supporting someone leaving hospital, helping an individual regain confidence after years of isolation, improving access to physical healthcare or walking alongside people experiencing multiple and complex challenges, our teams continue to demonstrate the unique value of lived experience.

We remain proud of the trust placed in us by commissioners, NHS partners and, most importantly, the people who choose to share their recovery journeys with us. As demand for mental health support continues to grow, Red Rose Recovery remains committed to delivering services that are compassionate, innovative and centred around the belief that recovery is possible for everyone.

Criminal Justice and Recovery Pathways

Almost half of the people using probation services have a drug and/or alcohol misuse need (HMIP, 2021).

 

Substance use interventions are vital given that drug-related deaths have increased by 80% since 2012, and the harms from drug misuse cost £19.3 billion per year (DHSC, 2021)

Over the past year, our Criminal Justice programme has made a substantial impact in supporting 167 individuals to reduce reoffending, generating nearly £6 million in social, health, and economic value and returning £12 for every £1 invested.

Through a multifaceted approach that combines personalised interventions, comprehensive support services, lived experience and strong partnership working, we continue to support individuals to reduce offending behaviour, improve wellbeing and build safer, healthier futures.

Criminal Justice: Sustained Support from Custody to Community

Our Criminal Justice team continues to play a vital role in supporting individuals involved in the justice system across Lancashire and South Cumbria. With a well established and trusted presence across the region, we operate consistently within nine police custody suites and work directly within local communities, providing support at some of the most critical points in an individual’s recovery journey.

Working in close collaboration with the Probation Service, NHS Liaison and Diversion, forensic mental health services, community policing teams, Integrated Offender Management, local authorities and treatment providers, our approach remains deeply embedded within the wider support system. This integrated model allows us to provide seamless support from first contact with the criminal justice system through to long term recovery within the community.

Our tailored interventions are designed to break cycles of offending and build pathways towards sustainable recovery. These include risk reduction planning, one to one peer support, mental health and wellbeing interventions, recovery focused groups, practical support and access to community resources. Every interaction is shaped by compassion, lived experience and a belief that recovery is possible.

A core element of our work continues to be the NHS Liaison and Diversion service. Our Peer Support Workers, many of whom have direct lived experience of addiction and the criminal justice system, are embedded within police custody suites, providing practical support, empathy and a vital connection to community based recovery services. Their presence often provides the first opportunity for individuals to consider a different future.

Alongside Liaison and Diversion, Red Rose Recovery now delivers additional Criminal Justice support through the Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Grant (SSMTRG). This work strengthens our ability to support individuals whose offending behaviour is closely linked to substance misuse, helping people engage with treatment, access recovery support and address the wider issues affecting their lives, including housing, mental health, family relationships and social isolation.

By maintaining strong partnerships and a deeply person centred approach, our Criminal Justice services continue to play a critical role in reducing reoffending, supporting recovery and helping individuals build positive futures for themselves, their families and their communities.

changing futures

What is Changing Futures?

Changing Futures was a national programme led by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, designed to improve outcomes for adults experiencing multiple disadvantage, including homelessness, substance misuse, mental ill health and contact with the criminal justice system.

The programme aimed not only to improve outcomes for individuals, but also to transform the way organisations worked together, creating more joined up, person centred services for those facing the most complex challenges.

Following the successful delivery of the programme across Lancashire, the Changing Futures contract concluded during 2025/26.

Changing Futures: Rebuilding Trust, Transforming Lives

Throughout the final year of delivery, Red Rose Recovery continued to play a significant role within the Lancashire Changing Futures partnership. Our teams of Navigators, Associate Navigators and Peer Mentors worked alongside some of the most marginalised individuals within our communities, supporting people who often experienced multiple and overlapping challenges including homelessness, addiction, poor mental health and repeated contact with the criminal justice system.

Using a trauma informed and person centred approach, our staff built trusted relationships that enabled individuals to access services, rebuild confidence and begin making positive changes at their own pace. Rather than expecting people to fit around services, our Navigators worked alongside them, advocating on their behalf, coordinating support and helping remove the barriers that had previously prevented progress.

The programme continued to demonstrate the value of lived experience, with Peer Mentors offering hope, understanding and credibility that helped many people re engage with services they had previously avoided.

Alongside supporting individuals, Red Rose Recovery contributed to the wider aims of Changing Futures by strengthening partnership working across Lancashire and helping shape more collaborative approaches to supporting people experiencing multiple disadvantage. The learning, relationships and innovative approaches developed through the programme continue to influence the way we work across many of our current services.

Although the programme has now concluded, its legacy remains evident throughout Red Rose Recovery. The principles of trauma informed practice, partnership working, lived experience and person centred support continue to underpin the services we deliver every day, ensuring the impact of Changing Futures will continue long after the programme itself has ended.

Reach

Introduction and Focus

REACH is Red Rose Recovery’s dedicated outreach and engagement service, delivered in partnership with Change Grow Live (CGL) across Lancashire.

The service has been developed to support individuals who experience barriers to engaging with substance misuse treatment, particularly those who have disengaged from services, struggle to attend appointments or require additional support to begin their recovery journey.

Rather than waiting for people to access support, REACH takes recovery into the community. Through proactive outreach, practical assistance and relationship based support, the team works alongside individuals to reduce barriers, improve engagement and help people reconnect with treatment and wider recovery opportunities.

Using evidence based approaches, including the COM-B behaviour change model, the team identifies the individual factors preventing engagement and develops personalised interventions that support sustainable change.

Outreach and Engagement

REACH provides flexible, person centred outreach across North, Central and East Lancashire, supporting some of the most vulnerable individuals within our communities.

The service offers practical engagement support including welfare and wellbeing checks, attendance at appointments, support accessing detoxification and residential rehabilitation, and outreach to people who have lost contact with treatment services.

By meeting people where they are, both physically and emotionally, REACH helps remove many of the barriers that can prevent individuals from accessing the support they need.

Supporting Recovery Pathways

REACH works with a wide range of individuals, including those who have disengaged from Change Grow Live services, people struggling to maintain engagement with treatment, and individuals known to Red Rose Recovery who would benefit from accessing specialist substance misuse support.

The team works closely with CGL staff, healthcare professionals and community partners to strengthen recovery pathways, ensuring individuals receive timely support whilst reducing the likelihood of people falling through gaps between services.

Support is tailored to each individual, recognising that recovery looks different for everyone. Whether accompanying someone to their first appointment, rebuilding confidence following relapse or helping overcome practical barriers such as transport, housing or anxiety, REACH provides the additional support needed to keep recovery moving forward.

Partnership Working

Partnership working sits at the heart of REACH.

Working alongside Change Grow Live and a wide range of statutory and voluntary sector organisations, the team provides an additional layer of engagement that complements existing treatment services and improves access for individuals who may otherwise struggle to engage.

By combining lived experience, outreach and evidence based practice, REACH strengthens local recovery systems whilst improving communication and collaboration between services across Lancashire.

Looking Ahead

Although still a relatively new service, REACH has already established itself as an important part of Lancashire’s substance misuse treatment pathway.

By reducing barriers, increasing engagement and supporting individuals to access treatment earlier, the service is helping more people begin and sustain their recovery journeys.

As the service continues to develop, Red Rose Recovery remains committed to working alongside Change Grow Live and our wider partners to ensure that nobody is left behind simply because they find it difficult to access support.

Ketamine Addiction

Veteran Support