The Recovery Course
The Recovery Course is a Christian charity established to equip and encourage churches to run The Recovery Course in order to help people break the power of addiction in their lives. Our vision is to see anyone who is suffering from the pain and grip of addiction restored to wholeness and a new sense of purpose in life.
Through participating in the course, the guests are able to take back control of their lives and find the support they need, knowing that they do not have to face addiction alone and can begin to live a happy and fulfilled life free of addiction. We believe that with the right support, recovery and lasting change is possible for anyone.
Background
Through participating in the course, the guests are able to take back control of their lives and find the support they need, knowing that they do not have to face addiction alone and can begin to live a happy and fulfilled life free of addiction. We believe that with the right support, recovery and lasting change is possible for anyone.
Background
The Recovery Course was written by Nigel Skelsey in 2007 whilst working at a church in Central London and is run by volunteers, many of whom have experienced recovery from addiction in their own life. Over the 8 years that it ran there, around 2500 people went through the course, many of them finding lasting freedom from their addiction. The first-ever course was attended by 8 people, but 6 courses later around 120 were attending each week with all forms of addiction issues, ranging from Alcohol, Drugs and Gambling, through to Pornography, Gaming and Eating Disorders.
Our main vision now is to equip churches around the country to run the course. Nigel has written a comprehensive course manual that builds on his years of experience running The Recovery Course and the manual and all other supporting resources are available free of charge to any Church wishing to run a course, once they have attended the training that is also provided free of charge by The Recovery Course leadership team.
Overview
The Recovery Course is based on the 12-step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous, incorporating Christian principles and designed solely for anyone seeking to break a dependence on an addiction. We welcome all onto our courses, regardless of ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation and/or gender identity. The course offers essential tools and practical ideas and support to help understand addiction and help people find lasting recovery. And most important of all there is no charge whatsoever for anyone: all resources and training are free to churches and there is no cost whatsoever for those attending the course.
What is involved?
The course runs for fifteen weeks and each session includes a teaching video and testimony from a recovering addict. This is followed by quality time in single-sex groups, exploring the 12 steps from a Christian faith perspective and gaining knowledge and skills about addiction and how to beat it.
Our main vision now is to equip churches around the country to run the course. Nigel has written a comprehensive course manual that builds on his years of experience running The Recovery Course and the manual and all other supporting resources are available free of charge to any Church wishing to run a course, once they have attended the training that is also provided free of charge by The Recovery Course leadership team.
Overview
The Recovery Course is based on the 12-step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous, incorporating Christian principles and designed solely for anyone seeking to break a dependence on an addiction. We welcome all onto our courses, regardless of ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation and/or gender identity. The course offers essential tools and practical ideas and support to help understand addiction and help people find lasting recovery. And most important of all there is no charge whatsoever for anyone: all resources and training are free to churches and there is no cost whatsoever for those attending the course.
What is involved?
The course runs for fifteen weeks and each session includes a teaching video and testimony from a recovering addict. This is followed by quality time in single-sex groups, exploring the 12 steps from a Christian faith perspective and gaining knowledge and skills about addiction and how to beat it.
“The tools I learnt on the course were massive in keeping me away from drink, and I believe that the prayer I said, God honoured it.”
To hear the story of Pete Shearman please click the link.
The Recovery Course for Prisons
In 2025 we are also excited to offer the newly developed Recovery Course for Prisons, a six-session version specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of those in custody. This is headed up by two of our Trustees with huge experience within the prison estate. Rev Jo Davies has been passionately involved in Prison Ministry for almost 27 years, the last 7 of these as Managing Chaplain at HMP Pentonville. She is joined by Steve Page who spent the last 10 years at Alpha International where he worked as the UK Development Manager for Prison Alpha.
A team of volunteers has been trained up to run this new course at HMP Pentonville early in 2025 and another prison in Kent has already asked us to run one for them later in the year. More details in due course.
We also have a Central London Conference on Saturday 5th April where delegates will be able to learn from experts in their field of addiction as well as hear at first hand many of the inspirational things that have happened throughout the UK over the last 12 months.
For more information please see The Recovery Course website by clicking here.
