Recovery cafe to open in Exeter

Exeter will soon be home to the county’s first ever permanent recovery café.

A fund-raising drive is being held to fund the café, which will provide a much-needed community hub for people who have experienced issues with drugs or alcohol and their families.

The café will be based at RISE Recovery Integration Services, which provides drug and alcohol support and treatment services for people across the area.

As part of the fund-raising drive, a Fun in the Sun fete is taking place on July 11th between 12pm and 3pm at the Exeter service in Uplands Business Centre, Heavitree Road.

The fete will feature a jumble sale, cake sale, book stall, raffle, BBQ, face painting, live music and a tug of war.

RISE already runs 11 pop up recovery cafes across the county in their waiting rooms, libraries and community centres. RISE Peer Mentor Co-ordinator Nik Sutherland said: “The cafes are all about building community and connecting people so they aren’t facing their problems on their own. Isolation is how many people end up turning to alcohol or drugs.

Bringing people together and giving people a support network is key to overcoming this. It’s all about knowing you’re not alone and being able to chat to people who have lived it before.”

The aim is to raise £1,000 to get the café started, and it will then be open Monday to Saturday. Anybody who is interested in recovery or already in recovery can drop in for a friendly chat, to get information and support from people with experience or simply to meet new people in a supportive environment. This includes family members, partners, carers or friends.

People will also be able to come to the café to get help with IT or to use the peer support phone and get help contacting agencies such as the housing office.

A range of events are being planned for the café including open mic nights and exhibitions.

To support the fund-raising drive, head along to the Fun in the Sun event on 11 July betwen noon and 3pm or contact Nik Sutherland about donating a raffle prize or funds on 07738 716625.