Local conference celebrates recovery in East Ayrshire

The annual event took place at the Park Hotel in Kilmarnock on Thursday 8 December, and featured keynote speeches from leading national experts, including Alcohol Focus Scotland’s chief executive, Alison Douglas, who spoke about issues surrounding the pricing, availability and promotion of alcohol, and Leeds Trinity University’s professor of addiction recovery, David Best relayed the importance of connections and community in recovery.

As well as discussing the latest themes in alcohol and drug recovery, the conference explored addiction and recovery from a family viewpoint. Workshop sessions also allowed delegates to delve deeper into a variety of topics. A consistent theme throughout the conference was celebrating recovery, which was wonderfully demonstrated by a performance from musicians based at the newly opened East Ayrshire Recovery Hub.

Neil Kerr, Chair of East Ayrshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership, who opened the conference said: “The local response to providing recovery services and support in East Ayrshire has been above and beyond, and showcases what partnership working can achieve. We are very fortunate to have dedicated and compassionate organisations developing such an effective network.

“The issues discussed today at the annual conference helped us to explore together the challenges we face, and the new opportunities open to us. But most importantly, we celebrated the recovery that’s happening every day in East Ayrshire, thanks to the joined up support in our communities.”

Councillor Jim McMahon, spokesperson for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Addiction and Recovery at East Ayrshire Council added: “The East Ayrshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership conference has fast become a key date for organisations and groups across the area to hear about latest developments and emerging themes in recovery from addiction. The annual conference is going from strength-to-strength, and this year’s event was no exception.

“As well as the top-class speakers who expertly set the scene, the conference provided space for our community of service providers to come together to reflect on local concerns and opportunities. I would like to thank all of the delegates and speakers for their contributions and unfaltering support for recovery and wellbeing in East Ayrshire.”