12 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| December 2011
Peer support |
Community initiatives
www.drinkanddrugsnews.com
T
he Brink is a new Liverpool bar, with a difference – it doesn’t serve
booze. But it’s also so much more – a new recovery social
enterprise recently launched by Action on Addiction. With so many
people in recovery, and so many people choosing abstinence, we
were getting feedback that there was nowhere that integrated the
recovery community with the mainstream community – a place that
was safe yet state-of-the-art in terms of art, culture, food, drink, entertainment and
socialising. So we set about creating a focus group that could add more to the
original vision.
The Brink was born, with the name chosen from a list offered up by the focus
group. The Brink is a song by the band I Am Kloot about alcoholism, but it also
conjures up images of those in active addiction who went over the brink and never
came back, as well as those in recovery who went to the brink and came back to
live another day.
In Liverpool, The Brink has quickly come to be viewed as a central point for the
‘hub and spoke’ model of treatment services across the area. Not content to have
a range of wonderful drinks and delicious food, the venue also has meeting rooms
and an alcohol counselling service.
‘It’s an amazing venue to work from,’ says counsellor for A-Pass (Alcohol, Pre-
Abstinence Support Service), Maureen Smith. ‘When I became an addictions
counsellor, I never once thought I’d be counselling from a bar. What I love about
this place is how clients can come in and immediately feel a sense of belonging.
There is a lot of positive role modelling happening here, and it’s great for new
clients to meet other customers and staff who are in recovery. As well as that, it’s
been great to be able to provide an immediate response to people who have
recently lapsed – I can see them and support them to get back on track before a
major relapse occurs, all done over a cuppa or a dandelion and burdock!’
During its development, we were adamant that The Brink had to be designed
to a high specification. The philosophy was ‘why should addicts/alcoholics always
get backstreet rooms, mission cafes, church halls or rundown community
centres?’ They aren’t ‘less than’, so why should they receive ‘less than’?
So we set about bringing on board a top architect with a reputation for
designing amazing bars and restaurants, along with a marketing company to
design the brand. The experience of working with them was funny, because here
were two guys who’ve worked with the top restaurateurs and bar owners with me
and a focus group full of recovering addicts and alcoholics. I think they were a bit
in shock at how vociferous and confident this group were, and they soon realised
they weren’t going to get an easy ride.
Once they understood that, however, they used every bit of energy they had to
really understand us all – the design architect even came and spent a full day in
the SHARP Liverpool treatment centre. From there, the branding guy played on all
the personality and character he saw in us all, and he really captured the diverse
audience now frequenting The Brink in building the brand.
‘I visit The Brink because the venue has a really warm vibe,’ says lecturer Sarah
Maclennan. ‘This comes from the staff who greet everyone with genuine
friendliness and make us all feel really welcome – it's like being a 'regular'. The
food is delicious and excellent value for money and I like the range of drinks on
offer. As a parent of teenage children and as a university lecturer, I worry about
the emphasis on alcohol-related social activities – there seems to be a message
that unless you're part of the glamorous cocktail/shots lifestyle, you're somehow
missing out.
‘For me, The Brink provides the glam factor with a full programme of exciting
events like live music, poetry and comedy but proves that we don't need to be high
on any artificial substance to have fun,’ she continues. ‘I defy anyone not to feel
'lifted' by the atmosphere of caring, energy and the sheer joy of living in the
moment that you get from The Brink. This may sound a bit 'hippy-dippy' but there’s
something to be said for being around people who have made really positive
choices in life, who have struggled and who have won. Maybe that's why the vibe
is so good – it's contagious!’
When Jacquie Johnston-Lynch’s
brother was killed by a drunk driver
nearly 20 years ago, she had no idea
she would be honouring both him and
the man who killed him with a
landmark new venture in Liverpool
‘There’s something to be
said for being around people
who have made really
positive choices in life, who
have struggled and who
have won. Maybe that's
why the vibe is so good...’
back from
THE BRINK