Recovery Steps Cumbria

We’re free, confidential and here to help you – you can tell us as much or as little as you like.  Phone us to speak to one of our trained staff members. 

Recovery Steps Cumbria is run in partnership with The Well Communities, a local organisation where support is provided by staff and volunteers who have lived experience of drug and alcohol use. 

We know that everyone is different so you’ll be allocated a member of the team who will work with you to develop your individual recovery plan. Services available include: 

• Health and Wellbeing Services including clinical services​ 
• IPS Employability specialists who can help people in treatment prepare for, secure and maintain employment as part of their treatment and recovery.
• Support to find and secure suitable housing ​and prevent homelessness 
• Access to work and skills opportunities through MoreTime, our social enterprise ​
• Specialist support for vulnerable children, young people and families 

As well as providing services to people who use drugs or alcohol, Recovery Steps Cumbria also offers support to their friends, carers and family members.

To contact our IPS team please email contact IPS here ips_recoverystepscumbria@recoverystepscumbria.org.uk

For more information, visit one of our hubs or get in touch via email or phone using the details on this page. You can also read our service’s simple fact sheet.

Make a referral

People can refer themselves to Recovery Steps Cumbria, or they can be referred by someone else such as a friend, family member, carer or professional. Everyone referred to the service will speak directly with an experienced staff member to identify the best way of supporting you.

You can use our online referral form to refer yourself or someone else.

Make a referral

Please note:

• We have a county-wide team meeting every third Tuesday of the month between 9.30am-12.30pm. Our offices will be closed during these times but you can still call us.

The Well Communities

Recovery Steps Cumbria is delivered in partnership with The Well Communities, a peer led Lived Experience Recovery Organisation (LERO).

The Well provides a range of services and initiatives that support mental health and addiction recovery and minimises the harm caused by problematic alcohol and substance misuse.

Their key beneficiaries are drug and alcohol users and their families. They provide housing, hospital and street outreach, therapeutic programmes and activities, through the gate support and peer run community hubs. Much of their work also involves local placed based community activism including initiatives such as a social supermarket and satellite outreach.

Over 85 per cent of their staff and volunteers have lived experience of overcoming substance dependence and associated issues such as criminal justice involvement, homelessness and mental health issues, and the majority of them live in the communities they serve.

Volunteering with Cumbria Recovery Steps

There are a number of different ways that people can volunteer with Recovery Steps Cumbria. We particularly encourage people who have lived experience of the challenges related to alcohol and drug misuse to get involved with our service. Full training is provided to anyone who volunteers and people will have the opportunity to help others with their recovery. If you are interested in volunteering, email info@recoverystepscumbria.org.uk.

Feedback on our service 

If you have made use of the Cumbria Recovery Steps service we would like to hear about your experience. If you would like to provide feedback, please email referrals@recoverystepscumbria.org.uk.

Needle exchange provision across Cumbria

Get access to clean needles and equipment for free at one of your local needle syringe programmes (NSPs)/pharmacies in the below locations.

Barrow & Ulverston

• Recovery Steps Cumbria, 92-96 Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria LA14 1RD
  Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
• Cohens Chemist Ormsgill, 44 Middlefield Ormsgill, Cumbria LA14 4BX
  Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
• Ulverston Cohens Chemist, 10 Market Place, Cumbria LA12 7DX
  Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
• Barrow Island Cohen Chemist, 3 Anchor Road, Cumbria LA14 2QW
  Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
• Ainslie Street Cohen Chemist, Ainslie Street, Cumbria LA14 5AY
  Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm.

Kendal

• Recovery Steps Cumbria, White Horse Yard, 39 Stricklandgate, Kendal, LS9 4LT
  Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm
• Well Pharmacy, Maude Street, Kendal, LA9 4QD
  Monday to Friday 8.30am – 5.30pm

Whitehaven/Workington

• 21b Lowther Street, Whitehaven, Cumbria CA287DG
  Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am to 5pm
• 6 Finkle Street, Workington, Cumbria CA142AY
  Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9am to 5pm.
• Egremont Cohens Chemist, 31 Market Place, Egremont CA22 2AG
  Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturday 9am – 12pm

Penrith

• Joseph Cowper Pharmacy, 49 – 50 king street, Penrith CA117AY
  Monday to Saturday 8.45am to 5:30pm

Carlisle

• Recovery Steps Cumbria, 1 Floor Stocklund House, Castle Street, Carlisle CA3 8SY
  Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm
• Fusil Medical Centre pharmacy, Fusehill Street, Carlisle CA1 2HE
  Monday to Friday 9am – 6pm

Wigton

• Well Pharmacy, 14 King street, Wigton CA7 9DT
  Monday to Friday 9am – 5:30pm, Saturday 9am – 1pm

Alternatively, you can set up an account NSP direct and enter the code 15 30 00 87 55 for free needles/equipment online to ensure you’ve always got access to needles and equipment if we are not accessible/available.

If you would like to advertise these locations, you can download our posters on the following links:

• Barrow/Ulverston
• Kendal
• Penrith
• Carlisle/Wigton
• Whitehaven/Workington

Privacy notice

If you would like to know more about how we use your personal information, please read our privacy notice and our IPS Employment Service privacy notice.

24/7 support

• Talk to Frank – friendly, confidential advice
• Samaritans – someone to talk to, whatever you’re facing, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Drink Coach – a range of tools supporting you to reduce your alcohol intake
• Breaking Free Online – talk to your keyworker to get a free access code to this confidential wellness and recovery support program for alcohol and drugs
• Cumbria Police – report a crime
• NHS North West Ambulance Service – urgent and emergency care (999)
• Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service – a community-focused, professional and trusted fire and rescue service
• West Cumbria Mental Health Partnership – mental health crisis support in West Cumbria
• Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team  – mental health crisis support in North Cumbria
• Crisis Line – mental health crisis support in South Cumbria

Core hours support

• Alcoholics Anonymous – group support and meetings for alcohol use
• Narcotics Anonymous – group support and meetings for drug use
• Cocaine Anonymous – group support and meetings for cocaine use
• Counselling Directory – information and contacts for substance use counselling
• Living Well in Cumbria – information and advice on health and wellbeing, managing at home, money and more
• Cumbria Addictions Advice & Solutions – support for individuals, family members, and carers affected by substance use
• Cruse – support for bereavement