Running Local Groups

Why run a local group?

Every recovery group starts the same way: a few people who have been through something difficult deciding that they do not want anyone else to face it alone. If that sounds like you, this guide is for you.

Local recovery support groups fill a gap that formal services often cannot. They offer connection, belonging, and practical help in a way that feels personal and accessible.

Choose your format

Mutual aid groups — AA, NA, and SMART Recovery have established structures and national support. Contact aa.org.uk, na.org.uk, or smartrecovery.org.uk to start a local meeting.
Peer support groups — locally organised with a facilitator who has lived experience, focused on mutual support
Activity groups — built around a shared activity (walking, cooking, art, gardening) with peer support woven in
Recovery cafes — informal drop-in spaces with refreshments and connection
Skills groups — structured sessions on practical topics (budgeting, CV writing, digital skills)
All-recovery groups — open to people in any form of recovery, regardless of substance or pathway

The first meeting

The biggest barrier to starting a group is the belief that you need to have everything figured out first. You do not. The first meeting needs a venue, a time, and at least two people who will definitely show up.

A good first meeting:

Welcome everyone — remind them this is a safe, confidential space
Go round the circle: names and a brief word about why they are here
Discuss: what do we want this group to be?
Agree a ground rule or two
Confirm the next meeting date

Choosing a venue

Look for somewhere that is:

Accessible by public transport
Physically accessible (ground floor, step-free, accessible toilets)
Neutral — not a treatment service or clinical setting
Warm, clean, and welcoming
Available at times that work for your members

Community centres, libraries, church halls, and recovery cafes are good options. Many offer free or low-cost room hire for community groups.

Ground rules

Agree ground rules with the group at the first meeting. Common ones include:

What is shared in the group stays in the group (confidentiality)
We speak from our own experience — no advising or diagnosing each other
We respect different pathways to recovery
No pressure to share — it is okay to just listen
No judgement about where someone is in their recovery
Mobile phones on silent

Facilitation

A good facilitator creates the conditions for everyone else to contribute safely. The Scottish Recovery Network describes this as “holding the space.”

Key skills

Active listening — give people your full attention, reflect back, do not jump in with solutions
Managing airtime — gently draw in quieter members, manage dominant voices
Holding difficult moments — acknowledge pain without rushing past or resolving too quickly
Ending well — a clear, warm close helps everyone leave feeling contained
Signposting — know what services exist locally for when someone needs more support

Training is available through the Scottish Recovery Network, Imroc, and many local NHS trusts.

Safeguarding

Any group working with vulnerable people needs basic safeguarding awareness. This means:

At least one facilitator should complete a basic safeguarding course (many free online)
Have a clear policy on what happens if someone discloses abuse, harm, or risk
Know the local safeguarding contact numbers (adult social care, mental health crisis team)
Keep an emergency contact list for group members (with consent)
If your group involves children or young people, facilitators will need DBS checks
Be clear that confidentiality has limits: if someone is at serious risk of harm, you may need to break confidentiality

Wellbeing for facilitators

Running a peer support group is emotionally demanding. Build in protective structures:

Regular supervision or peer support for facilitators
Clear handover processes so no single person is essential
Boundaries around contact outside the group
Annual reviews of whether facilitators want to continue

Funding

Source	Typical amount	Good for
National Lottery Community Fund (Awards for All)	Up to £20,000	New groups, pilot projects
National Lottery Reaching Communities	Up to £500,000	Established organisations, multi-year funding
Local authority community grants	£500 – £5,000	Venue hire, refreshments, materials
NHS Integrated Care Board commissioning	Varies	Recovery groups aligned with local strategy
Local community foundations	£1,000 – £10,000	Neighbourhood-based groups
Housing association community funds	£250 – £2,000	Neighbourhood-based groups
NHS Charities Together	Varies	Health-related community groups

Group setup checklist

Before your first meeting

☐ Written a clear purpose statement for the group
☐ Chosen a format (peer support, activity, drop-in, etc.)
☐ Found a suitable venue and agreed regular dates
☐ Identified at least two facilitators
☐ Facilitators have completed basic safeguarding training
☐ Written draft ground rules to agree with the group
☐ Prepared a simple registration / sign-in process
☐ Arranged refreshments
☐ Told local services and partners about the group
☐ Checked insurance cover (venue or host organisation)

Session plan template

Peer Support Group — 90 Minute Session

Time	Activity	Notes
0:00	Arrival, tea and coffee	Informal settling in
0:10	Welcome and ground rules reminder	Brief — especially for new members
0:15	Check-in round — one word or sentence from each person	Gives everyone a voice early
0:25	Main discussion or activity	Topic chosen by the group or facilitator
1:00	Open sharing — what is on people’s minds?	Facilitator manages time and inclusivity
1:20	Closing round — one positive thing or intention for the week	End on a forward-looking note
1:25	Practical announcements and close	Next meeting date, any events

Building for the long term

Develop multiple facilitators — never let the group depend on one person
Diversify income so no single source represents more than 50% of your budget
Document your processes in a written handbook
Stay connected to the wider recovery community (LENP, CLERO, your local LERO network)
Celebrate your impact — stories are the foundation of future funding and future members

Example: The Hartland Recovery Community

Composite case study.

A group that had been running for three years almost closed when its founder moved to another city. He was the only person who knew the bank login, the landlord’s number, and how everything worked.

Two things saved it. A long-standing member stepped into the facilitation role — she had trained as a peer mentor the year before. And the group reached out to their regional LERO network, who sent a development worker to help them document processes, set up proper governance, and apply for funding.

After the crisis, the group made structural changes: a lead facilitator with two co-facilitators on rotation, a written group handbook, two separate funding streams, and an annual review.

Sandra, the new facilitator: “Running the group changed my recovery. When Richard ran it, I was a member. When I ran it, I was a leader. The group saved me as much as I saved it.”