Recovery Charter Launch

Enquire to learn more about the Charter 

One of Telford & Wrekin’s greatest assets is its inspirational Recovery Community, built around three peer-led community organisations and a network of mutual aid organisations. It connects clinical addiction treatment to long term addiction recovery in the community, by providing a strong social network and makes recovery visible and contagious in the local communities.

Recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs benefits the whole community by reducing demands on the NHS, emergency services and social care. Employees in recovery make a valuable contribution to the local economy as they have higher retention rates, and miss fewer workdays, than their peers. Their resilience and optimism can also inspire colleagues.

People in early recovery, who are turning their lives around, exhibit extraordinary courage and a rare determination to succeed. However, they need practical help to rebuild their lives, for example opportunities for education, training and employment. The Telford & Wrekin Recovery Charter is an a set of pledges from local public and voluntary sector organisations, and the local business community, committing some of their organisations time and resources to help make recovery a reality for more people in the Borough, and new pledges will be added as they are made.

 

Recovery Charter Pledges:


Recovery Community organisations


A Better Tomorrow will…

  • Offer supported accommodation in Telford for individuals on their journey of recovery from alcohol and other substances.
  • Commit to creating a safe, secure, and positive environment to empower residents to fully engage with their recovery, build essential life skills, and successfully reintegrate into the community, providing a vital steppingstone towards a healthier, independent future.
  • Actively support individuals through their substance misuse recovery journey in Telford through offering a holistic approach that goes beyond just accommodation, embracing therapeutic group work, invigorating physical activities (like badminton and football), and creative art and cooking sessions.
  • Continue to ensure authentic, empathetic, and effective guidance through every step of the journey by continuing to build on our dedicated team of experts through lived experience.


Telford After Care Team will…

  • Continue to raise awareness and reduce the stigma associated with addiction within Telford & Wrekin.
  • Provide peer support in a safe, non-judgmental space to those in recovery from addiction and problematic drug use.
  • Advocate on behalf of those in addiction beginning their recovery journey.


Recharge will…

  • Continue to give opportunities to those with lived experience from the Recovery Community to build on their work-based skills through providing volunteering opportunities.
  • Continue to provide support to our service users through placements for student counsellors and social workers including psychology students.
  • Pursue charity status and our plans for growth proving paid employment opportunities to those with lived experience.

 

Public Sector Organisations


Telford & Wrekin Council will…

  • Commission high quality, safe and effective alcohol and drugs treatment services to give everyone an opportunity to start their recovery journey.
  • Commission innovative peer-led community recovery organisations to support adults and young people early in their recovery journeys.
  • Provide funding for the annual Telford recovery Conference.


The Department for Work and Pensions will...

  • Champion the voices of lived experience by continuing to co-design services with individuals who use them, ensuring dignity, respect, and empowerment are central to every interaction in our Jobcentres making their journey a positive one. 
  • Uphold our Customer Charter values, ensuring that every person engaging with DWP receives clear, accurate information, respectful treatment, and support tailored to their needs.


Telford STaRS will…

  • Work collaboratively with Telford’s Lived Experience Recovery Organisations (LEROs). We will actively listen, respect and value lived experience. We will co-produce care and champion the growth of services that reflect personal recovery goals, strengths, and choices.
  • Within our young people service, make early intervention and education a priority, providing young people with the key knowledge, skills, and confidence to make informed choices and build resilience against drug and alcohol use.
  • Tackle Stigma and Health Inequalities. We will challenge harmful stereotypes and identify and address structural barriers to care, to ensure people who use our services have equal access to wider health care systems to support their recovery journey. 


Telford College will...

  • Provide bespoke courses to improve the accessibility of education to those in recovery in Telford & Wrekin.


West Mercia Probation will...

  • Work collaboratively with health and justice partners to ensure that offenders with alcohol and drug problems continue to receive the support they need in the community when leaving prison and diverting those from custody into community treatment when possible.


West Mercia Police will…

  • Test for class-A drugs when they suspect offending is linked to drug use, and refer the person to STaRS so they have an opportunity to begin their recovery journey.


Enable will...

  • Commit to promoting employment as a part of Recovery by supporting individuals on their recovery journey into sustainable paid employment.
  • Continue to support the reduction of stigma in the workplace through our ongoing conversations with employers from across the Telford & Wrekin area.
  • Embed Lived Experience into our service delivery through the creation of a Lived Experience Support Worker post.


Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust will…

  • Educate our frontline patient facing staff to help them better understand the needs of our most vulnerable patients and deliver evidence-based care that best supports their recovery.
  • Continue to work collaboratively with the Drug and Alcohol Liaison Team and community support services to help ensure patients experience a seamless and safe transfer of care into the community.
  • Bring a community perspective to the in-patient setting by supporting the utilisation of peer support volunteers from community support services.

 

Voluntary Sector Organisations

 

Telford MIND will…

  • Through our Social Prescribing service, work in partnership with individuals, families, community groups, and recovery services to identify needs at the earliest opportunity and connect people with the right support for their needs.
  • Place each person’s needs, strengths, and aspirations at the heart of their recovery journey through our work within the Dual Diagnosis Cafe.
  • Listen without judgment, respect lived experience, and provide compassionate support for those living with both mental health challenges and substance use. 

KIP will...

  • Work to achieve registration of all accessing its services to register with a GP.  A crucial first step for those with addiction.
  • Monitor health as individuals make contact and provide a Blood Pressure service as part of that.
  • Actively promote preventative services and open opportunities to connect.
  • Identify, where Possible, accommodation that will advance opportunity to recover from addiction.


Yellow Ribbon will…

  • Strive to give those in the recovery community vibrant housing support, courses and volunteering opportunities.
  • Open up Halfway House on the Wrekin as a venue to deliver programmes and wellbeing activities for those facing addiction challenges.


Maninplace will…

  • Offer accommodation in Telford for individuals on their journey of recovery from alcohol and other substances.
  • Recognise that addiction can be a symptom of trauma and poor mental health, and so are committed to offering a trauma-informed, non-judgmental service to our customers at every stage of the recovery journey.

 

Business Community


The Clothworkers’ Foundation will...

  • Provide capital funding to a local charity that plays a vital role in supporting individuals on their journey to recovery.


The Business Company will...

  • Support the expansion of peer-led recovery support across Telford & Wrekin for individuals on their journey to recovery.


Triangle HR will...

  • Through partnerships, specialist advice and the raising of awareness, Triangle HR are committed to driving opportunities within the world of employment for those on the journey to recovery from addiction.


VHM Consultancy will…

  • Support recovery charities in Telford & Wrekin, helping to enhance governance and develop strategies that increase their impact for individuals and communities in recovery.


McPhillips (Wellington) Ltd will...

  • Support a local Recovery Community Organisation and help expand/enhance the capacity and capability of the board of trustees.