About
Us

Mission, Vision & Values

At the core of everything we do, these essential qualities, co-created from within our own recovery community, guide us in every decision. Welcoming people from all cultures and backgrounds, our goal is to coach, nurture, train, educate, inspire and empower individuals and communities to achieve their full potential. Scroll down the page to learn more about our history, and the team behind the work.

How it started

On the 26th of March, 2008, three members of the Middlesbrough Recovery Community established an idea, and founded an the organisation, then called Hope North East.

Today, close to 150 staff, and dozens of ambassadors, continue this remarkable work across the North East, while supporting the growth of LERO’s in other areas. Building on on these positive foundations with Lived Experience Recovery Organisation (LERO) principles, a focus on co-creation, innovation and community-led values, we now embody more than six centuries of recovery.

This powerful example of hope is now in community rooms, high street businesses, university campuses, public services, and being discussed in more influential forums than ever before.

Partnerships & Portfolios

In subsequent years, we expanded into Stockton, Gateshead and Sunderland, in sub-contract partnerships with Change Grow Live.

We also diversified our portfolio by taking over Fork in the Road Cafe, in Middlesbrough, placing a charity presence into the busy highstreet in the heart of the town.

Now Connections Community Cafe, we also run 131 The Venue and Connections Community Deli, on the same premises, and own the Fork On The Road catering van. In Hendon, Sunderland, we also run Hendon Community Cafe.

These social enterprise businesses are not only a place for affordable, quality services, but also provide a safe space for our wonderfully diverse communities to create and us to host events.

Find out more about our social enterprise businesses

Building Recovery Communities

In 2023, Recovery Connections long-term presence in the area led to Middlesbrough being recognised as the UK’s first, official, Inclusive Recovery City.

Already a long-standing member of the College of Lived Experience Recovery Organisations, the organisation’s work and network has since inspired multiple towns and cities across the UK to work towards becoming genuine, inclusive recovery landmarks in the country.

Today, the movement is gaining traction across the UK, in Europe, and the US, as local planners and decision makers recognise the immense potential of their local recovery communities.

Learn more about Middlesbrough's Inclusive Recovery City

Pioneering recovery support for students

Between summer ‘23 and ‘24, we led on the creation and development of www.collegiaterecovery.uk, a
platform designed to provide universities with everything they need to create Collegiate Recovery Programmes on UK campuses.

The first such programme, at Teesside University, was established by Recovery Connections in 2017, and we
have had a member of staff supporting students onsite, barring lockdown periods, ever since.

Also based at the University of Sunderland, we provide support and advice to university wellbeing services, and administrators, as Collegiate Recovery support is considered across dozens of higher education establishments.

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Continued Growth Across the Region

More recently, we expanded our charity services into Darlington, as part of the STRIDE Partnership, and
Redcar, working alongside WithYou. And, since summer 2024, we also employ staff in Hartlepool. Also supporting the growth of other LERO’s in other parts of the country, including East Hampshire, our LERO work continues to create positive impact in communities across the country.

View our portfolio of recovery projects and services

Meet our Senior Management Team

Our Senior Managers oversee the development of recovery support across the North East of England, and manage several innovative projects in other parts of the country, across a series of diverse business sectors.