I'd always dabbled with substances, but losing my job in 2014 triggered a downward spiral that lasted nearly a decade - alcohol became my main coping mechanism. My arrest in 2021 was a pivotal moment, a wake-up call that pushed me to seek help. i was referred to Plummer Court, where I completed a detox, and soon after I was introduced to the IPS service.
Through IPS, I first came to George Street in June 2022. At the time, I didn't fully grasp the difference between treatment and recovery, but now I understand that I'm actively building my recovery capital and sustaining meaningful progress. Without George Street, I wouldn't have found my volunteering role with CleanSlate. That opportunity gave me a renewed sense of purpose. I'm developing new skills and discovering how my past struggles - especially with debt and financial hardship - can be transformed into tools to support others.
George Street has opened up possibilities I never imagined. I've always battle insecurity and low self-worth, but now I'm breaking through those barriers and beginning to thrive. I started by attending a few meetings, and over time I've built supportive connections that continue to strengthen my recovery.
The space at George Street is incredibly accessible - welcoming, relaxed, and informal. Its positive, non-clinical atmosphere makes a real difference for people in recovery. I genuinely enjoy being there and engaging with others. It's a non-judgmental, safe environment for those who've felt marginalised by addiction. Places like this are rare, and we need more of them.
Firstly, I just would like to say that I love George Street. I have been going since in opened in 2016. Without it, my mental health would decline. Not only has it helped me in my recovery, it has given me the connection with liked minded people. We help each other.
There is always something going on. I have done mindfulness meditation there. They also have counsellors in to help others. There are opportunities to sit down with a professional to review your financial situation as well as craft and crochet sessions and even yoga, and we have a lovely coffee shop where we can chat. I honestly don’t know what I would do without George Street. The people who work there are always there to answer any questions.
My name is Nathan: I am an Alcoholic/Addict - my sobriety date is 11/12/2017.
I've been around Alcoholics Anonymous since 2012 but couldn't surrender and fully admit what I was, who I am or what I needed and wanted to be. I arrived at George Street Social (GSS) on Thursday 14th of December, day 4 of not drinking, still rattling and feeling very unwell. But was here for my first meeting this time round. I can remember that day like it was yesterday, I was welcomed with open arms and met some amazing people and finally felt safe.
I heard an inspirational share that day and left the meeting with loads of hope. GSS became a place I came to on a regular basis in my very early recovery. I got to know the people who attended meetings here and the friendly staff downstairs. I can remember when I got sober saying “that's it I'm hanging up my knives, I'll never cook again” after being in the catering industry for many years.
I also always remember saying at the start of this journey I didn't know what I wanted - I just didn't want what I had, my life was a mess, and I was at rock bottom. Everyone at GSS helped me massively and when I reached just over 10 months sober a job came up at the Road to Recovery Trust at GSS working in the kitchen and I jumped at the opportunity, working in a safe environment surrounded by people in recovery.
I felt I'd landed on my feet and for the next 3 years loved working there, training and working with others in recovery, giving them hope too. I thought I'd never leave but I did. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity I was given at the Road to Recovery Trust and for helping me build a foundation in both my recovery journey and work / life balance - one day at a time anything is possible.
My name is Kelly, I'm a 46-year-old alcoholic and addict. My clean date is 29/12/2023.
I first tried getting into Recovery in my early thirties. At the time I thought alcohol was my only problem, so going to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) seemed natural. I had previously used drugs, but because I could swap from one to another, I really didn’t think that drugs were an issue. The longest period of clean time I had was 3 yrs 10 months.
Fast forward to my late 30s - I found myself living in Sheffield after spending six months in a rehab down there. I got myself into a relationship with someone that I had met in the rehab. His drugs of choice were heroin and crack cocaine. It wasn't long before we were both using these drugs, along with alcohol and any tablets that would have an effect on us.
After 7 months of daily doing this, he decided that we should come to the North East to try and get away from it all - I reluctantly agreed to this. Due to the pressures of Covid lockdown and domestic violence the relationship eventually ended. I was now on my own, and I justified using cannabis, alcohol, tablets, and occasionally cocaine. In my addict head, I had done well to stop the other drugs, so it was OK to use these every day. It reached a point in 2023 where I felt in a very dark place and truly did not want to live anymore. It was only because of the pain I knew I would cause my family that I swallowed my pride and contacted the Gateshead based drug and alcohol service where I had previously worked.
Through doing this I eventually got a detox in Manchester and in January 2024 started a 6-month day rehab in Gateshead. Every week in rehab, we were taken to an Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meeting at George Street Social. At the start of my journey, when I was really physically unwell, Jimmy, the CEO, saw me and showed genuine concern. It was lovely to see a friendly face from when I had previously been in recovery in Newcastle.
Over the months of rehab, and after leaving rehab, I have continued to use the meeting rooms at George Street for the various Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings that are based there. I have a friend who attends Cocaine Anonymous (CA) at George Street - I am going to try one of those meetings as well. I also attend the occasional Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting at George Street. It really is a wonderful place with a lovely coffee shop where people can meet, chat, and enjoy a lovely environment.
It's good for me also as it's close to local bus and metro routes as walking too far is painful due to a condition I now have due to years of abusing my body.
I also took part in the day trip to Seahouses last year. It was a wonderful fun day organised by the Road to Recovery Trust. I am now 15 months clean and sober thanks to having the support of NA meetings that are accessible to me. It's also lovely that my friend Jimmy has seen me get more physically well in the time I have been accessing George Street.
For most of my life I have struggled with alcohol.
It took me a long time to realise that I wasn't just drinking for the sake of it - I was self-medicating. Alcohol became a way to block out the fear and anxiety that came with my paranoia and Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Looking back, I can see how my drinking was rooted in deeper emotional pain. School was tough, I found it hard to make friends, and trust was a major issue. My dad was a drinker too, He used alcohol to cope with PTSD from his time serving in Korea. I guess I followed in his footsteps without fully understanding why.
Now, I'm working with mental health services and actively addressing my drinking. I've been sober for about six weeks, and that's a milestone I'm very proud of. I first came to George Street about a year ago. At the time, I was feeling isolated and just needed to get out of the house. I didn't expect much, just a change of scenery, but it turned out to be so much more. Social isolation had been feeding my addiction, and George Street offered a lifeline. I still have reservations about meeting new people and attending groups, but George Street feels safe. It's become an essential part of my daily routine. I've learned that I'm not alone, and that connection is key to recovery. I've also challenged some of my own assumptions about addiction, realising that stereotypes I held didn't reflect the reality of the people I've met.
I've attended SMART recovery sessions, but mostly I come for the social contact. A coffee and a chat can go a long way. I enjoy exchanging jokes with the team and catching up with familiar faces. These small interactions have helped me grow in confidence. I'm now open to attending events, and I'm interested in attending the Service of Hope and Remembrance in September, as well as the Recovery Walk.
These feel like meaningful steps forward. To anyone who's scared or anxious about seeking help - Come to George Street. There's no pressure. You're made to feel welcome, and you can just be yourself. That's where healing begins.
My name is Charlotte and my Sober Date is 10/09/2020
There was a time when drinking controlled every corner of my life. I wasn't just drinking to cope - I was drinking to survive. What began as a way to numb the pain, slowly became the very thing that stripped everything away from me. At my lowest, I lost access to my children. That shattered me in ways I can't fully express. The guilt, the shame, the relentless self-hatred - it all spiralled into a cycle I couldn't escape. My physical health deteriorated rapidly. I was sick, exhausted, and barely functioning. Mentally, I was drowning. Anxiety, depression and isolation became my daily reality. I looked in the mirror and i didn't recognise the person staring back. I had become a shell - empty, broken and lost. That was my rock bottom. Not one single moment, but a slow and painful collapse of everything that mattered. An emergency detox in hospital was the first step.
From there I was referred to North Tyneside Recovery Partnership (NTRP), and my true recovery began when I attended Oaktrees 12-week day-hab program. It was there I was introduced to 12-step recovery, and it changed everything. After lockdown, I started attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings at George Street. For the past 3 years it's been my lifeline. Without the creche, attending live meetings would've been incredibly difficult -if not impossible.
George Street has given me more than just a meeting. It's a place of connection, a safe space where I've made friends, socialised and even gone on trips. Through George Street, I've discovered other recovery groups like SLAA and valuable services like Everyturn.
Oaktrees gave me the foundation - George Street helped me build upon it. I'm truly grateful for everything they've provided - and for the life I've been able to reclaim.
George Street Social has played a massive part in my recovery.
When I began my Recovery Journey it felt like a safe place for me to be as I was navigating my new sober life. The peace in knowing there are meetings there every day is a huge thing for me.
The creche George Street provides was an integral part of me learning how to be a member of AA as a new mum, and the ladies there are just wonderful. They still ask about our daughter when they see us. Knowing that I could go to a meeting, and our daughter was cared for just next door was brilliant.
I love the new Coffee Shop. Meeting up with friends for a catch up and some fellowship before heading to a meeting. I've just recently attended the sound bath meditation in the snug which adds an extra layer to my Recovery.
My name is Nicolle and I am a proud member of 12-step recovery.
I first walked through the doors of George Street Social in 2018, at the age of twenty six, feeling completely lost. At that time, I was dependant on alcohol and burdened by a range of mental health struggles. My coping mechanisms, desperate attempts to numb and escape, only deepened the pain. I had lost everything and everyone. Life felt hopeless. I hadn't wanted to live for a long time, and I truly believed that would never change.
But, George Street Social welcomed me exactly as I was. It became a sanctuary, a safe space where I could begin to explore the possibilities and beauty of recovery. Before long, it became the beating heart of my healing journey.
I joined Alcoholics Anonymous, and as I put down the drink, the chaos began to settle. That sense of calm came naturally. AA saved my life. Yet, even after 5 years of sobriety, I still felt unloved, unlovable and disconnected. I had no sense of belonging. My only prayer was to die. Though sober from alcohol, I remained deeply unwell.
Then I found Co-Dependants Anonymous (CoDA), and everything began to shift. CoDA helped me build self-worth, self-respect and integrity. I learned to adopt healthy, safe coping tools. I began nurturing my inner child and re-parenting myself with compassion.
Today, I don't just want to live, I'm excited to live. George Street, and everything it represents, loved me - until I could love myself.
