Celebrating recovery and the power of lived experience at The Harbour
Last month The Harbour marked National Recovery Month with an uplifting celebration themed “The Power of Lived Experience.” The event shone a light on the incredible impact of Peer Mentors - people who’ve turned their own recovery journeys into hope and support for others.
A moving and empowering day and a reminder that there is life after addiction. I felt enormously proud to take part as a current peer mentor” - Debbie Noonan, Peer Mentor.
It was both an inspirational and emotional event, with peer mentors sharing their personal stories of their own recovery journeys. All in all, a very special occasion” - Dawn Brecken, Harbour Manager.
The Harbour is part of the Lambeth Drug and Alcohol Treatment Consortium, a partnership led by SLaM, alongside voluntary sector organisations Phoenix Futures, We are With You, and Way Through. The service consists of Lorraine Hewitt House, which provides clinical and treatment support to Lambeth residents struggling with problematic substance use, and The Harbour, which provides ongoing support for recovery through group work and one to one interventions. The Harbour also recruits service users as Peer Mentors.
Since its launch, 42 Peer Mentors have volunteered with The Harbour. Many of them are now successfully employed, including in roles across, teaching, homelessness services, and in addictions services, including at the Harbour and Lorraine Hewitt House.
During the event, five people received their Open College Network Level 2 Peer Mentoring Award, marking a total of 23 who have successfully completed the course since it launched at The Harbour 2 years ago. The Level 2 Peer Mentoring Award is a recognised intermediate level qualification – equivalent to a GCSE Grade 4. The course covers: understanding the role of the Peer Mentor and developing skills as a Peer Mentor, including confidentiality and boundaries, listening skills and managing difficult situations.
The journeys of these Peer Mentors are powerful examples of how volunteering can open doors to meaningful changes, including employment and education - and are a real testament to the outstanding support, training, and opportunities provided by the Consortium. The celebration was also a celebration of partnership in action - of voluntary sector organisations, NHS teams, Peer Mentors, and service users working side by side to support recovery in the community.
Over 4 years ago, I was that newcomer seeking reassurance and guidance and now I am a proud Peer Mentor helping the person I once was! The day was truly inspirational - recognising all the past, present and future peer mentors who bring more strength and knowledge to the Harbour" - Emma Logan, Peer Mentor.
With its moments of purpose and pride, this event highlighted what it means to be a great place to work and care. The achievements of the Peer Mentors bring to life our commitment to empowering people with lived experience, supporting recovery, and building stronger communities.
You can find out more about the Lambeth Drug and Alcohol Treatment Consortium here: https://www.lambeth-drug-alcohol.co.uk/
