Newcastle wins bid to host UK Recovery Walk

The annual walk celebrates people who are recovering from drug and alcohol addiction and supports people who are on their recovery journeys.

Organised by Faces and Voices of Recovery (FAVOR UK), the walk is held every September as part of International Recovery Month.

Newcastle was one of two places in the UK who were bidding to host the walk in 2020 and the city received 54% of the public vote to beat Huddersfield in the final.

This year’s public vote received the most votes in its history, with over 13,700 people casting a vote.

Cllr Clare Penny-Evans, cabinet member for communities said: “Hosting the annual recovery walk is a great opportunity for Newcastle to raise the profile of recovery and show that Newcastle is much more than just a party city.

“We are an inclusive and welcoming city and having the walk here for the first time will show how the recovery community can come together to send a positive message of hope and show that people can, and do recover from addiction”

“We look forward to working with FAVOR UK to host this inspiring event.”

Newcastle City Council will work with partners including Northumbria Police, Public Health England and the Newcastle User Carer Forum to host the event.

Newcastle is also home to George Street Social, a recovery café that provides a relaxed and safe place downstairs where people can meet for coffee and food while upstairs hosts training courses and recovery-based activities. George Street is managed by the Road to Recovery Trust, a charity ran by people in recovery for people in recovery.

Other recovery focused provisions include Ridley Villas, accommodation for mothers and children and Fenham Library and Community Hub, a recovery base in the west of the city.

The 2018 recovery walk event held in Shrewsbury attracted approximately 10, 000 visitors.