Belper: New recovery hub opens for drug and alcohol support

The Recovery Hub is for individuals and those affected by recovery from drug and/or alcohol use.

A new drug and alcohol recovery space has opened to give people a place to get additional help and support.

Derbyshire County Council funded £40,000 towards the Belper-based pilot project, which opened on Monday.

Delivered by a family-based recovery service, the hub offers a range of support to individuals and families.

Councillor Carol Hart, cabinet member for health and communities, said: "It provides a safe, welcoming place for people to come together.

"Evidence shows that people undergoing recovery from addiction can really benefit from additional health and wellbeing support", Ms Hart added.

The centre hosts a variety of sessions, such as yoga, mindful crafts, mindful treatments, and even silent disco events.

Run by the Kelsey Family CIC, the service has a range of support and activities to help people sustain long-term recovery, and encourages and strengthens recovery networks by connecting people and families in recovery.

Steph Kelsey said the family approach to recovery is an opportunity to "rebuild broken connections"

Founder Steph Kelsey said her husband developed a "secret" alcohol addiction during lockdown and said their journey inspired the new drug and alcohol recovery centre.

'Gap in service provision'

Mrs Kelsey said: "Embarking on our own journey of recovery as a family, we felt lonely, unsure, and isolated.

"The Kelsey family CIC was set up to ensure no other family that had decided to recover together felt the same.

"We had a vision to create a safe and open space where everybody, and I mean everybody, affected by substance misuse felt heard."

The Kelsey family said that they felt there was a "gap in service provision" when it came to her husband's recovery, which is why they set up the support company.

"There was support for him, and their was support for me, but we felt that separated us", Mrs Kelsey said.

"We wanted something that we could do together to rebuild those connections. That's why we are really focused on making sure everybody is supported together."

The county council said the new centre is open to anyone, but under 18's need to be accompanied by an adult.