Nearly 70 people joined us in Chelmsford for our latest Community Voice, a forum led by people with lived experience of addiction to help shape positive and radical change within drug and alcohol services in Essex.

A special part of the day was our annual Recognising Recovery Awards, celebrating the individuals whose recovery, dedication and support for others make a real difference across the county.

What do people get wrong about sober festivals?

From "I can't dance sober" to "it'll just be meetings all weekend", we hear plenty of assumptions about what a sober festival looks like.

The reality? Essex Recovery Festival is a weekend of live music, comedy, wellbeing, adventure, creativity and community, where hundreds of people come together to connect, have fun and make memories without alcohol or drugs.

We're tackling 10 of the most common myths and sharing what actually happens when recovery, wellbeing and connection take centre stage.

Recovery is about more than support services and treatment. It is also about belonging.

This Pride Month, we're exploring why inclusive recovery spaces matter, and how projects like Rainbow Recovery are helping LGBTQIA+ people and their allies find connection, community and acceptance across Essex.

Because recovery should never require people to leave parts of themselves at the door.

As part of Volunteer Week, we're celebrating the incredible people who help make recovery visible across Essex. From building confidence and finding purpose to developing new skills and supporting others, volunteering can be life-changing. In this blog, volunteers and staff share their experiences of how volunteering has strengthened their recovery, opened new opportunities and helped create communities of hope.

After nearly a decade of leadership, commitment and advocacy, Nathan has made the decision to step down from his role as Chair of Essex Recovery Foundation.

Recovery isn’t just about stopping. It’s about staying stopped—especially when life gets difficult.

Rainbow Recovery is evolving, with new ways to get involved through the café, film club and upcoming workshops in Harlow and Chelmsford.

Phil is 15 months sober and part of our recovery community. In this blog, he reflects on the gifts sobriety has brought into his life - from clarity and gratitude to rebuilding relationships and rediscovering purpose.

More than 100 people came together at the sold-out Community Voice event at Colchester Arts Centre, where members of the Essex Recovery Foundation recovery community shared research, lived experiences, and ideas to help shape the future of drug and alcohol support services across Essex. Find out what was discussed!

We’re excited to announce that Community Voice, our groundbreaking forum amplifying the lived experience of addiction, is coming to Colchester on Thursday 5th March 2026.

Written by Jo Horgan, Workforce Development & Training Lead at Essex Recovery Foundation

Mike shares an honest reflection on living in recovery: from accepting alcoholism without shame to finding strength, purpose, and connection through community.

Stigma remains one of the biggest barriers facing people affected by drug and alcohol addiction. It silences voices, fuels shame and prevents people from seeking help or feeling accepted. At Essex Recovery Foundation, we believe recovery is not something to hide… it is something to be heard, understood and celebrated.

We have carefully reviewed and brought together the ideas, suggestions and concerns that were raised by the community at or Community Voice event in October. Here is a summary of what you told us… and how we are responding.

We are proud to share that the first-ever UK clinical guidelines for the treatment of alcohol dependence have now been published by the Department for Health & Social Care - and the voices of people from Essex played an important part in shaping them.

Written by Sarah Tinker, Radical Change Lead at Essex Recovery Foundation

At Essex Recovery Foundation, we’re always inspired when our community members take initiative to create spaces that support recovery and wellbeing. One such inspiring example comes from Liz, who has recently set up a Neurodiverse Peer Support Group within the recovery service.

Ben Hughes' professorship bridges academia and community, transforming addiction recovery in Essex. Emphasising lived experience, it fosters integrated, person-centred support, challenging stigma and enhancing recovery pathways.

Earlier this month, we visited Boys and Men UK CIC in Colchester – a community-led project empowering boys and men through sport, education, and open conversations. Supported by the Essex Recovery Fund, their work is helping to build confidence, reduce isolation, and create lasting change for the recovery community.