Your voice matters

At Essex Recovery Foundation, we believe that the lived experience of addiction needs to be at the centre of the drug and alcohol commissioning process in Essex.

When drug and alcohol services in Essex are reviewed, monitored and funded, it is so important that we listen to the experiences of the people who have used the services first-hand. We have employed a talented team of Community Researchers, all with lived experience of addiction, to speak to you - the recovery community! They are here to ensure that our experiences of addiction are at the forefront of decision making… every single step of the way.

Contact our researchers: community.research@essexrecoveryfoundation.org

Meet the researchers

What have the team discovered?

  • Group of people gathered around a table enjoying sandwiches and conversation at a community event, with a banner in the background reading 'Join the Recovery Community' from the Essex Recovery Foundation.

    Psychosocial Alcohol Intervention Recovery Service (PAIRS)

    Our Community Researchers have been involved in the retendering exercise for the Essex Psychosocial Alcohol Intervention Recovery Service (PAIRS). They asked you what you thought should be included in services in Essex and what makes a good service. With the existing contract coming to an end, this was an opportunity for us to review what the contract is asking services to deliver. Thank you to everybody who shared their experiences of these services to provide our researchers with a clearer picture on what is needed in Essex.

    You can download their findings by clicking the button below.

    Download the report
  • Three friends sitting outdoors, smiling and engaged in lively conversation on a sunny day, with a scenic background of blurred landscapes.

    Community Rehabilitation

    Our Community Researchers asked for your thoughts surrounding community rehabilitation services in Essex. With the existing contract coming to an end, this was an opportunity for us to review what the contract is asking services to deliver. Thank you to everybody who shared their experiences of these services to provide our researchers with a clearer picture on what is needed in Essex. You can download their findings by clicking the button below.

    Download the report

Take part in our research

Your experiences of addiction can make a real difference.

There are currently no surveys or focus groups. Please register with Essex Recovery Foundation to be the first to hear about these opportunities - or scroll down to take part in research facilitated by our Health Research partner, Mid & South Essex ICS.

We’re supporting Mid & South Essex ICS’s health research

Take part in research which helps to shape healthcare

Every time someone receives treatment for a health condition, it’s because of the many people who took part in health and care research. But to improve health and care for all of us, we need everyone to get involved.