THURSDAY, 12 DECEMBER, 2019

Photograph attached of (l-r) Liam McLaughlin from Perth & Kinross ADP, Audra Webster and SCYD development worker Ashleigh Mustard at the Strathmore Recovery Café

Recovery cafés in North Perthshire

Three community recovery cafés are now running in towns across North Perthshire with support from NHS Tayside.

Community support worker Audra Webster has helped develop the support groups in Aberfeldy, Blairgowrie and Pitlochry.

The recovery cafés have a community focus and are intended to be led by people in recovery or with an interest in recovery. They are supported by staff and mentors from Perth & Kinross Alcohol & Drug Partnership (ADP), Hillcrest Futures and NHS Tayside, as well as local community volunteers.

Audra said, “From my role in the community I first became involved with the existing café in Aberfeldy which was looking for some support and we identified that there was a similar need for recovery cafés to be established in other areas of North Perthshire.

“We were delighted to be able to secure funding from the Perth & Kinross ADP to help develop the cafés, which allow people to access advice and support as close to their local community as possible, where previously they would have had to travel to Perth or other areas. The funding assists with advertising, activities and the ongoing development of the groups.

“The drop-in cafés provide a very relaxed and welcoming environment to support people to improve their wellbeing during recovery from substance use and/or mental health issues in rural areas of North Perthshire.”

Breadalbane Recovery Café takes place every Wednesday from 2-4pm at Aberfeldy Parish Church

Strathmore Recovery Café has recently been established with its first session taking place last week. It takes place every Monday from 1-3pm at SCYD, Wellmeadow House in Blairgowrie.

The Pitlochry Recovery Café has its first drop-in on Thursday 12 December from 1-3pm in the Atholl Centre and will run every Thursday thereafter.

For more information please contact Audra on 07896 280852 or audrawebster@nhs.net

Contact:

Louise Wilson

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740718