A ceremony to celebrate the twinning agreement was held on the 5th October and attended by Phil Valentine CEO of the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery. The official opening saw the exchange of plaques to mark the occasion. These will hang in both centres to symbolise the twinning and to recognise the significance and benefits of one recovering person helping another.
The Cyrenians were keen to replicate the service in the UK following a visit by two members of staff to the Hartford Recovery Community Centre in Connecticut. The Centre there is a beacon of hope for all involved with addiction and The Cyrenians wanted to see the same sense of belief and hope that recovery from addiction is possible within the North East of England.
The NewcastleGateshead Recovery Centre like the centre in the United States, aims to show that recovery from addiction to drugs and alcohol is a real and achievable goal by supporting people into healthy lives, free from addiction and full of hope. Staffed by people who themselves are in recovery from addiction, the Centre offers a confidential service and can help to direct people who recognise that they have a problem into the most appropriate sort of treatment service. It is also a focal point for the many people in early recovery in Newcastle and Gateshead and will be providing volunteering opportunities, telephone recovery, employment orientated recovery, recovery coaching and positive social networks. The ceremony saw a coming together of people in recovery and friends of the recovery community. The theme of children ran throughout the event and the belief that the cycle of addiction can be broken was clear.
The Cyrenians are looking forward to continuing to develop links across the Atlantic with CCAR ensuring the twinning gives benefit to both organisations.
The NewcastleGateshead Recovery Centre has been funded by North of Tyne PCT, South of Tyne PCT, Northern Rock Foundation and NHS HIEC.
