Social Impact & Enterprise

Our CPD Accredited Recovery Ally Training has been completed by 100’s of people across the UK. With both face-to-face and online programmes available, this training is an ideal learning component for a wide range of positive, personal and organisational goals.

Our Employee Support Consultancy package provides several ideal options for employers looking to better support, educate and retain staff. We already work with one of Teesside’s largest and most prominent employers on delivering this innovative support.

Launched in 2025, New Central Media publishes lived experience stories and gives a voice to people in recovery. The first titles by New Central Media are available to buy, now.

Since 2017, we have been dedicated to developing recovery support in UK universities. With staff on site at the Universities of Teesside, and Sunderland, we also provide a weekly online meeting for any student interested in finding recovery.

In 2024, we led on the development of the UK’s first Collegiate Recovery toolkit and online platform. Funded by the Society for the Study of Addiction, this project brings recovery support to all UK students much closer.

Working with students and university staff to develop a series of simple commitments, the Recovery Friendly Pledge has been signed by several UK universities, guiding campuses towards becoming recovery-positive environments.

The home of our social enterprise hub in Middlesbrough, Connections Community Cafe and Deli provide cost-effective food to eat in and take out, in the heart of Middlesbrough.

Our venue for hire is home to many community events within the LERO, but also available to hire for a wide variety of parties, events and functions.

Our cosy social enterprise cafe on the outskirts of Sunderland city centre, Hendon Community Cafe is a place for home-cooked food and community connection.

After 15 years of developing a LERO in the Middlesbrough, in 2023 it became home to the UK’s first official Inclusive Recovery City.

Since founding the UK’s first Inclusive Recovery City, we have remained a prominent member of a growing community of LERO’s and public services dedicated to creating recovery friendly town and city environments.

Recovery Connections is a founding member of the College of Lived Experience Recovery Organisations (CLERO), founded in 2020.