Recovery Month 2026

1 September - 30 September

Challenging stigma. Inspiring hope. Celebrating recovery.

Every September, people and organisations across Newcastle come together to mark Recovery Month, a city-wide season of events celebrating the strength, hope and community found in recovery from addiction.

This year we've got more going on than ever: walks, workshops, creative sessions, sport, gardening, community lunches, open recovery meetings, awareness days, and a few chances to simply sit down with a cup of tea and a good conversation. Whether you're in recovery yourself, supporting someone who is, working in the sector, or just curious — there's a place for you at almost everything on this page.

It all builds towards the Revival Recovery Community Awards on 1st October, where we'll celebrate the people and organisations making a real difference in our recovery community.


Where Recovery Month Comes From

Recovery Month has its roots in the United States, where it began in 1989 as "Treatment Works! Month" a chance to recognise the work of addiction treatment professionals. In 1998 it became National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, and by 2011 it had grown into today's National Recovery Month, coordinated by SAMHSA and marked by hundreds of partner organisations every September.

The UK has built its own tradition alongside it. The UK Recovery Walk began in 2009, and since 2012 a different city has hosted it each year, chosen by public vote through FAVOR UK (Faces & Voices of Recovery UK). What started as a small gathering has grown into one of the biggest dates in the UK recovery calendar. This year it's Bradford's turn, on 12th September, and you'll find the details on this page.

Here in Newcastle, Recovery Month has become a chance for every organisation working in recovery across the city - treatment services, charities, faith groups, sports clubs and community projects - to open their doors, mark what they do, and celebrate recovery together in public, rather than behind closed doors.

What to Expect

Connect

Community lunches, walks and social events designed to bring people together.

Create

Hands-on sessions including gardening, art, flower crowns, yoga and storytelling.

Learn

Awareness days, exhibitions and honest conversations about addiction, recovery and stigma.

Get support

Open recovery meetings and drop-in services, for anyone who needs them, no referral required.



What’s On, By Type

Community & Social

Free lunches, socials and open events - just turn up.

Community Lunch x5, Coffee Morning in the Garden, Stim Café Wellbeing Picnic ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Support & Recovery Meetings

Open recovery services and peer support meetings - welcoming to anyone who needs them.

Joint SMART Group, NA Steps and Topics open meeting, Harm Minimisation drop-ins x3, Restore at 4, Tune into Recovery

Awareness & Learning

A closer look at recovery, stigma and what's changing in our city.

Recovery Month Awareness & Knowledge Sharing Day, Recovery Exhibition Opening, Human Library

Active & Outdoors

Walks, sport, gardening and time outside.

Recovery Walk 2026, Newcastle Recovery Festival, Annual Recovery Shield 7-a-side Tournament, Secret Garden Gardening Sessions x2, Gibside Family Recovery Day, Yoga & Flower Posey Building

Creative

Art, reading, and reflection.

Read Reflect Recover, Art Workshop, “Your City, Your Recovery” Exhibition ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Stand Out Events

The month's headline moments.

Recovery Month Launch Event, UK Recovery Conference & Walk (Bradford), Revival Recovery Community Awards 2026


Recovery Month Events

Who’s Involved


Recovery Month closes with a celebration


Join us on Thursday 1st October for the Revival Recovery Community Awards - an evening honouring the people and organisations going above and beyond for our recovery community.

Got a question about any of these events, or want to get involved next year? Get in touch.