Nottingham Recovery Network is a free drug and alcohol support service that is available to anyone who wants to change their relationship with substances. Our podcast is dedicated to raising awareness, sharing knowledge and advice, and hopefully helping many more people on their path to recovery. In each episode, you will hear from talented professionals or listen to the powerful stories from the people that they have helped. Whether you are in recovery, supporting someone who is, or just curious to learn more, this podcast is for you.
This bonus episode features a special guest appearance from Jake Hook, founder of PrideSpace counselling services and The Pride Shop in Nottingham, and a qualified counsellor with over 10 years of sobriety. Jake shares honest reflections on navigating Pride while avoiding drugs and alcohol, and the emotional pressures that can come with it. From feeling overwhelmed in crowded spaces to questioning where you belong, Jake explores how to separate connection from substance use and rediscover what Pride can mean on your own terms. With practical advice and reassurance, this episode is for anyone wanting a sober, more grounded and genuinely connected Pride experience. You can find more information about Jake and Pride Space below: Home - Pride Space CIC The Pride Shop
In the final episode of the series. we hear from Tyler, an Employment Specialist at Nottingham Recovery Network, and Scott, who has accessed the New Path to Employment project as part of his recovery. Scott shares how returning to employment has changed hislife, from gaining confidence to finding purpose in supporting others in his current role. We learn how having the right support, strong employer relationships and a focus on individual strengths can help people move forward in recovery.
Employment was once seen as something that comes at the end of recovery, but this episode challenges that idea. Rich Oskwarek and Apollos Clifton‑Brown discuss NRN’s New Path to Employment project and how the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model helps people move quickly into meaningful work based on their own goals. In part one of our employment episode, they explore how embedding specialists within treatment teams creates joined‑up, personalised support, while close partnerships with employers help open up real opportunities. The conversation highlights how work can provide structure, purpose and confidence, and play a powerful role in recovery from day one.
When someone you love is struggling with substance use, it’s easy for your own needs to get forgotten. In this episode, we hear from Tanvi, a Family and Carers Recovery Worker at Nottingham Recovery Network, and Sara, who has accessed the service as a carer. Tanvi explains how the service brings together group support, one‑to‑one sessions and wellbeing activities to help people understand substance use, set boundaries and prioritise their own wellbeing in a safe, non‑judgemental space. Sara shares how joining the group changed her perspective, helping her move from feeling overlooked and overwhelmed to building understanding, compassion and resilience.
In this episode we’re joined by Damien, Community Engagement Officer in the Triage team, who shares his powerful journey from long-term alcohol and substance use to recovery. Damien reflects on a decade of engaging with services, the moment he realised it was “stop, or die,” and how community rehab at NRN's Academy became a turning point. From learning to manage triggers and cravings to completing multiple courses and volunteering, he charts the steps that led him to a full-time role supporting others. A candid conversation about persistence, identity, and what it takes to rebuild a life, showing how recovery can open the door to new possibilities.
In this episode of the Nottingham Recovery Network podcast,we’re joined by Lou Wilkins, Team Leader at The Health Shop in Nottingham city centre. Lou talks about frontline harm reduction work: from needle exchange, naloxone and sexual health services to hepatitis C testing and treatment. We explore how The Health Shop removes barriers, challenges stigma, and meets people where they are, supporting some of the city’s most marginalised communities with compassion, dignity and practical care. A powerful conversation about safety, choice, and why harm reduction saves lives.
Leaving prison can be one of the most dangerous moments in a person’s recovery journey. In our first episode of Season 2, Jez and James from Nottingham Recovery Network’s Clean Slate team discuss how they support people on the day of release and beyond. Clean Slate uses trauma‑informed, one‑to‑one support to help people break cycles of substance use and reoffending. With lived experience at its core, the team prioritises trust, engagement and realistic progress, even in the most challenging circumstances.
Jess Rowe, Team Leader of RSDATT (Rough Sleeper Drug and Alcohol Treatment Team), joins us to discuss how this proactive and compassionate service supports people facing homelessness, substance use, and multiple disadvantage in Nottingham. With a flexible, trauma-informed approach, RSDATT takes treatment to the streets — breaking down barriers and meeting people where they are.
In this episode of the Nottingham Recovery Network Podcast, Consultant Clinical Psychologist Dr. Anna Tickle joins us to unpack how trauma, mental health, and addiction are deeply connected — and why therapy shouldn’t wait until someone stops using substances. We explore psychological models like ACT, the importance of psychological support for frontline staff, and what it really means to be trauma-informed in substance use services.
In episode 2 of the series, we hear Matt’s inspiring story of recovery from heroin use. Matt grew up in Barnsley and was using substances from his early teenage years. At 42, he chose to move to Nottingham for a fresh start. Found by our rough sleepers drug and alcohol team, (RSDAAT) Matt was taken into treatment at NRN, and offered a place in a residential rehab facility. He has gone from strength to strength ever since.
In this episode, we speak with Katie, Registered Manager at Edwin House Care Home, a unique service supporting people with complex needs such as substance use, mental health issues and homelessness. Katie shares powerful insights into the challenges and rewards of working with individuals facing severe multiple disadvantage (SMD), the importance of advocacy, trauma-informed care, and how Edwin House helps residents take the first steps towards recovery and independence.
