Volunteers and Peer Mentors

We recognise that many people who have used our services are highly motivated and want to give something back through volunteering and peer mentoring.

Peer mentors and volunteers make a valuable contribution to the organisation and promote the following:

• Meeting, greeting and hospitality
• Administrative support
• Assisting with structured groups – Staying Stopped, Life Change and DRIVE
• Running social activity groups – music, art, gardening, social outings
• Befriending – home visits, accompanying people to the shops, hospital/GP
• Accompanying staff on initial home visits
• Providing one-to-one support.

All volunteers and peer mentors undergo training and are supervised and supported by Volunteer and Peer Mentor Coordinators.

We are proud that so many of our volunteers are people who have used our services or have otherwise had lived experience – but volunteering is open to everyone. Have a look at the different ways you can volunteer for Recovery Focus and learn more about how you can get involved.

Family Support

Families, friends and loved ones of people who have a problem with alcohol, drugs or gambling often struggle to find support and feel alone.

The harms of substance use and gambling affect the wider community and family around a person with a problem, and people may experience aggressive, abusive, intimidating or violent behaviour from a loved one. Having a family member, partner or friend who has a drinking or drug problem can lead to many different forms of stress, and can lead to strain upon family or friends which can show up in your physical and emotional health.

Aquarius offers support and information for the wider community around a person with a problem. We also support kinship carers, many of whom look after a child as a result of the child’s parent’s substance use. This also has a huge impact on the children in question. Aquarius offers individual, family and group support for kinship carers and children, as well as running activities, groups, resources, and training professionals in the needs of kinship carers

We offer a full, holistic service for individuals, families, and communities. Visit the Aquarius website or specific service pages to learn more.