Sunderland college leads the way signing recovery pledge

Sunderland College is the first in the UK to sign a pledge supporting students in recovery or in need of guidance around substance use.

On Thursday 24 September, Sunderland College welcomed representatives from Wear Recovery to sign the Recovery Connections Pledge at the college’s Bede Campus, forming a partnership to support students in recovery and in need of advice and guidance around substance use. External partners were also present, joining to mark the occasion and celebrate this important step.

This is a significant milestone for the College, as it will become the first college in the UK to sign the Recovery Connections pledge alongside Wear Recovery. The pledge demonstrates the commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive environment. It also reflects commitment to reducing barriers and helping students thrive.

The pledge outlines how the college will raise awareness around recovery, support students and their families, provide safe and welcoming spaces on campus, and remove barriers to students pursuing higher education and seeking support. Recovery Connections also helps students who may have grown up around addiction and could benefit from a safe space to talk.

By signing the pledge, the college is committing to increasing awareness and understanding of recovery, supporting staff and students, creating recovery-friendly opportunities and ensuring the college is a safe and inclusive place for everyone.

Recovery connections is a lived experience organisation operating in Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Darlington, Redcar, Hartlepool and Gateshead, providing support to those struggling with drug or alcohol use.

Sunderland College is the first college in the UK to sign this pledge alongside the University of Sunderland, which was the first university in the country to sign back in 2022.

Ruth Magnus, Strategic Lead for Safeguarding & Wellbeing at Sunderland College said: “We are the first college in the country to sign which is a really big statement.”

She added: “It is really important to be working and collaborating with the local community in this partnership. We are really looking forward to working to reduce the barriers for young people and provide more support so they can thrive.”

The pledge signed by Sunderland College and Recovery Connections creates a confidential and safe space for students to talk openly and freely about substance use without judgement or stigma.

Sunderland College hope this pledge will help raise awareness and educate its students so they know where support is available.

Poppy Beall, regional manager at Recovery Connections, said: “It is much more than a support service. It is a conversation. It is having people around you who understand and who have lived experiences. It is creating positive relationships and conservations.”