“Before coming to the Women’s Recovery Academy, I felt that my life was non-existent. I felt like I had nothing or no one,” recalls Jamie-Lee. She turned to Women’s Recovery Academy Durham (WRAD) for help after using alcohol to cope with the grief of losing a family member.
Based in Consett, WRAD offers a 12-week community-based recovery programme for women in County Durham who have experienced issues with drugs and alcohol. It is just one of a number of services Durham County Council commissions the County Durham Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service to deliver, to help people overcome drug and alcohol dependencies. The programme was developed in response to identified needs of women and equips people with the skills and knowledge needed to sustain their recovery within the community.
Jamie-Lee’s recovery journey began with attending one of the groups offered by the WRAD. She then moved onto the pre-recovery programme, which supports people to move into abstinence as a prerequisite for joining WRAD.
The WRAD is more than just a service; it’s a community. The staff’s welcome people with open arms, helping to ease their nerves from the start. Relationship building, bonding over shared experiences, and showing people they are not alone are central to the programme.
That culture is what helped Jamie-Lee feel comfortable in a completely new environment early on in their treatment along with the wellbeing activities on offer, like music groups.
“Everyone feels like a family,” Jamie-Lee said.
“It can feel like you are alone initially, but you have so much help and support around you. You gain friends for life.”
“Before I came to the service, I couldn’t even imagine traveling alone. But the strength and focus I developed here gave me the courage to face my fears and embrace independence.”
With support from the service, Jamie-Lee achieved her goals.
“A key takeaway from my time at WRAD was that the way I thought about alcohol had to change. I realised that binge drinking could easily develop into something more serious.” Jamie-Lee reflects.
“Even though I might feel good in the moment, my problems were still there the next day.”
Today, she has secured a role in a sector she is passionate about and has worked on strengthening relationships with those closest to her.
Karen King, a Recovery Coordinator at WRAD, emphasises the transformative power of the programme.
“We have extensive experience working with people and witnessing their achievements. I believe we inspire people to thrive. Nobody should be afraid of seeking help when they need it. We’re real people and recovery can happen to anyone. We’re here with open arms to help anyone who needs us.”
“It is incredibly rewarding to see individuals leave their first session with a renewed spark of hope.”
Visit our website to find our more about the WRAD and other Durham County Council commissioned services offered by County Durham Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service www.codurhamrecovery.co.uk
