Free Weekly Support for Students in Addiction Recovery

Students across the UK now have access to free, weekly, Addiction Recovery Support online. Click here for details of how to login and access lived experience recovery support.
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Funding for new platform to bring recovery support to students across the UK

This academic year will see the creation of a brand new platform and curriculum that brings Collegiate Recovery closer to students all over the UK. Read more about this exciting new project, here.
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Why Collegiate Recovery could have changed my experience of University

Reflecting on a successful three years at University, this personal account highlights where Collegiate Recovery could have made an even bigger difference to one student's life.
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A Day With The Dean: Texas Tech's Tim Dodd Visits Recovery Connections

Tim Dodd, Dean of the College of Human Sciences at Texas Tech, visited the Recovery Connections Middlesbrough HQ this month, while visiting England. We spoke to him about the decades of experiences he brings to his role, and involvement in the Collegiate Recovery Programme at the University.
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On Campus at the University of New York, Prague

In June, we visited the University of New York, Prague, to present to students of the Texas Tech Collegiate Recovery Programme, and learn about how the community supports their studies, recovery and wellbeing.
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Dealing with stress during end of term deadlines: an approach of awareness and purpose.

End of term stress is almost unavoidable. And while there are plenty of productive ways to manage stress, here we look at one that any person can engage with.
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A Round-Table-Recovery-Chat at The University of Sunderland

As the work at Sunderland University progresses, and a Collegiate Recovery Programme is formed, current student and Recovery Connections employee, Sarah, and university alumni, Simon, joined Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Manager, Justine Gillespie, for a discussion on what we do, and why.
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National Student Drug & Alcohol Conference

Recovery Connections attended the 3rd annual Student Drug & Alcohol Conference, at the University of Leeds. Presenting Collegiate Recovery, during a strong focus on harm reduction across the country, it is clear to see that both approaches can work in tandem, and lead to positive outcomes.
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University of Chester Signs The Recovery Friendly Pledge

At the start of March, 2023, the University of Chester officially signed the Recovery Friendly Pledge. Dr Wendy Dossett hosted us for the afternoon as part of the university's Diversity Festival.
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University of Chester Signs The Recovery Friendly Pledge

At the start of March, 2023, the University of Chester officially signed the Recovery Friendly Pledge. Dr Wendy Dossett hosted us for the afternoon as part of the university's Diversity Festival.
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What is a Collegiate Recovery Programme? (From the people who really know!)

Three visitors from Texas Tech University spoke to us about Collegiate Recovery Programmes at their university, and others, and how they perceive the development of the programmes in the UK.
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In the news, November - December 2022

Our work with universities and students gained some great traction in the media over the last month. Simon Lee, from The University of Sunderland, wrote about Recovery Friendly Universities in the Times Higher Education line, while Harm Min Specialist, Peter Da Silva, was published in The Big Issue.
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Adam Petson talks to Neil Green on BBC Radio Tees

This month, Recovery Capital Development Lead, Adam Petson, spoke to BBC Radio Tees' Neil Green about his role, recovery, and recent academic achievements. Listen to the whole conversation, here.
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Join us and start the conversation on student recovery!

HEART is now fully live, and our forum available for fellow students in recovery to access. Read the full article on how to register, engage with the site, and get involved in either the forum or story board.
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Alcohol ruined my student life. But recovery made me who I am

Marketing and Communications Lead at Recovery Connections, Simon Trelfa has experienced student life as both an active alcoholic, and a person in recovery from addiction. Here, he reflects on these very different experiences, and what the charity he works for offers for students experiencing similar issues.
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Reducing harm from addiction while maximising academic opportunities

Peter Da Silva is employed as a Harm Reduction Specialist. Upon completion of his BA at Teesside University, which he completed while in recovery himself, he reflects on several years of personal growth, and seeing other students learn about addiction recovery.
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How working in recovery has worked wonders for my studies

Working in Programme Support, in Gateshead, while studying towards a degree in Psychology, it's been a busy year for Jennifer Armstrong. And as she begins the final year of study, she reflects on what she's learned about the role, and herself, while working for Recovery Connections.
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Growth, graduation, and helping students get into recovery

A new academic year means new faces, opportunities, and challenges for students all over the UK. And for Adam Petson, Students in Recovery Lead for Recovery Connections, it means more students who may need to access specialist support over the next academic year.
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From Texas to Teesside: Being Part of Recovery in Middlesbrough

This summer, Counselling and Addiction Recovery Sciences Majors, Stephanie and AD, joined Recovery Connections for a 6 week internship. Travelling all the way from Texas Tech University, to Teesside, in this blog the students reflect on their experiences working in rehab and community.
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Towards a Recovery Friendly University - Dr Wendy Dossett

Dr Wendy Dossett, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Chester, and HEART Ambassador.
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New ways to support students: Partnering with Student Space

This summer, we're delighted to announce a brand new partnership with Student Space. Created by Student Minds, the service provides a growing, diverse student and university population with access to a wide range of support services. With 1-2-1 sessions, group support, and free recovery ally training, we're glad to be on board. Read more on our website.
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Recovery Concepts: Coping with end of term stress

Late April, and that end of term stress might just be starting to kick in. Whether it's dissertation time, or the end of another year of study, it's a time when sleep, routine and emotion can get the best of anyone. Here are some useful recovery-based tips to help you through the next few weeks.
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Collegiate Recovery Day 2022

April 15 is officially #CollegiateRecoveryDay - worldwide! And while it may remain a far more prominent occasion in the US, than the UK, the conversation about student recovery is building.
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Young people in contact with treatment services falls again: latest OHID report

The Young people's substance misuse treatment statistics 2020 to 2021: report has just been published by @OHID
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Being Better Than Well at Birmingham University

Luke Trainor is the Project Manager of Better Than Well, a Collegiate Recovery Programme launched at The University of Birmingham in July 2021. In this article, he reveals the journey of challenge, learning and dedication that took him there.
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Think twice before you ask someone why they’re not drinking this Christmas Comment

Our marketing and comms lead, Simon, penned this timely article for Metro News this month. Discussing loneliness, socialisation, and recovery over the Christmas period,
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The views of recovery from the academic world - disclosing an alcohol recovery identity in academia

This academic article, by Victoria F. Burns, was published in summer 2021. It provides research and insight into the topic of recovery identities in an academic world.
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Adam Petson interviewed by The Independent

In October, Adam's thoughts on and insight into how UK universities approach the topic of students in recovery was published in The Independent.
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BBC Look North visit our On Campus Recovery project

Media intrigue around our collegiate recovery programme at Teesside University continues to build, as the cameras of BBC Look North visit us on site to take a look at what we've been doing.
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UK universities have their heads in the sand on student addiction - in Times Higher Education

HEART Ambassadors, Suzi Gage and Shahroo Izadi, discuss how isolation and shame pose big risks to recovery from addiction problems, yet on-campus support programmes remain rare in the UK.
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Process addictions - compulsion comes in many forms

Addiction can occur in many forms. Addiction is often characterised by a physical dependence that results in withdrawal symptoms when not met, but behavioural addictions can occur with negative consequences in a person’s life without some of the physical symptoms experienced by those who experience substance use.
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It was right in front of me, and I still couldn’t see it was addiction

Addiction isn't just a physical battle. Sometimes the mental side is far more overwhelming.
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HEART Forum Set for Launch

Our new platform is almost ready to launch! Become part of this new, safe, online community by registering your details.
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I realised I wasn’t drinking to socialise, but to mask what was really going on

As a mature student, the heavy drinking norms of freshers’ week have thankfully passed me by. However, growing up amidst the 90s rave scene normalised a lot of things for me that were, in reality, extremely damaging.
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Our conversation with BBC Radio Tees about recovery on campus

Adam Petson and Peter Da Silva discuss how the presence of recovery on campus can make a big difference to students, and how it is already working at Teesside University.
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Short story: I needed you

Writing can be therapeutic, for an abundance of reasons. Here, we have a short story, written by author and PR Consultant, Lucy Nichol. If you ever feel inspired to add your own creative writing to HEART, please do - we'd love to read it!
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10 top titles to read on addiction and recovery

Working with many recovery charities over the years, Recovery Connections and HEART PR Consultant, Lucy Nichol, noted 10 of the most inspiring reads she has come across, on the topics of addiction and recovery. Here, we see the 10 titles she covered, and a link to her vlog where she discusses them.
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SMART recovery

SMART (Self-Management And Recovery Training) Recovery can help people recover from all types of addictive behaviour.
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