I remember before North Wales Recovery Communities (NWRC) had started, standing outside Penrhyn House, an impressive looking building that was once a youth hostel, with James Deakin. He outlined his vision for NWRC and said, ‘Wulf, what do you think?’ James’s vision, and the potential do something so radically different from the normal treatment world, got me very excited. It still does today.
The first year was bumpy, to say the least. There was an inheritance of residents, all strongly connected with criminal justice and prison release. Not too much clean time, or ambition for such. Not necessarily the best place to develop a recovery community.
Yet, progress was made. A small nucleus of recovery-orientated folk began to inhabit the space. The proverbial acorn took root, sprouted, and began to turn into a small tree. Ten years on, NWRC has grown beyond recognition from the first few months. Progress has been magnificent. We have realised the vision of a group of peers who continually learn how they can grow into a larger group of peers, that flourishes and spreads a positive contagion effect within NWRC, and into the wider community.
For me, there have been many highlights. Firstly, the annual September (Recovery Month) 100-mile challenge week. The notion that a ‘bunch of addicts’ can get it together to sort out transport, accommodation, gear and other logistics, to then support another ‘bunch of addicts’ walk 100 miles in a week. Publicly challenging stigma and showing what is possible is just one of the ways NWRC continues to show how poor the ambitions of the treatment world really are.
Secondly, the early days of taking the bit of land out the back of Penrhyn House and turning it into a significant allotment-style plot, poly tunnel and chickens included. For those who didn’t take to the physical activities offered by NWRC to help create lifestyle change, they could engage in the growing and nurturing of organic produce that would ultimately reach the wider community through the fantastic Growing for Change.
Thirdly, NWRC’s response to the Covid outbreak and subsequent lockdowns. Rather than the chaos which many might expect as the outcome from twenty plus ‘addicts’ being locked up to together, there was a brilliant resolve of supporting each other. The strong sense of the recovery community as family. The building of the ARK [1] to manage social distancing and allow continuation of the various mutual aid meetings and like. But perhaps even more striking in my memory was the way the group quietly went about feeding isolated, local residents in need, when big organisations could not do so. In Covid, NWRC showed what is possible.
There are numerous other positive moments that could be reflected on, or stories that could be told. For example, the amazing establishment and achievements of Bwyd Da Bangor, and the weddings, babies and jobs that have flourished from within NWRC.
The organisation has also faced challenges, most notably around the false expectations of external organisations, wanting to get the feel-good factor of NWRC, but without being prepared to accept it as an organisation that must and does operate differently from ‘standard’ norms. In these and other such moments, we have had buckets of anger, frustration, tears, and despair.
But they are not the abiding moments. Those moments are sitting on the top of a mountain with people who are enjoying a first-time experience. They are the laughter, joy, smiles and, of course, all the recovery hugs that occur in NWRC. We hope you enjoy this month’s blog posts celebrating ten years of NWRC.
[1] The ARK (Act of Random Kindness) is a large wooden structure in the back garden for which all the sides could drop down, allowing it be completely open and fully aerated during meetings to abide by Covid regulations. Spacings between people were then measured out. The ARK allowed outside community members to again attend mutual aid groups at Penryhn House during Covid.
