The perfect team to help aid recovery

The SMISA stadium is set to open its doors to more people battling addiction as the charitable arm of St Mirren FC joins forces with a leading recovery centre.

- EDEL KENEALY

St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation has teamed up with Abbeycare to deliver a hub dedicated to people recovering from alcohol and substance use issues.

The organisation, which runs a residential rehab centre in Erskine, will put addiction experts and people with lived experience at the heart of the service that launches on September 3.

The three-hour Abbeycare Buddies sessions will begin with a hot meal and provide a safe, welcoming and inspiring environment for people in the local community to access recovery-focused interventions.

Each week, a guest speaker will share their recovery story during a session chaired by an expert from Abbeycare or a volunteer with lived experience of addiction and recovery.

Everyone who attends will also be given the opportunity to share their own experiences with the group, and receive support and advice from the Abbeycare team.

The sessions will run from 6pm to 9pm every Wednesday.

The initiative is being made possible thanks to Renfrewshire Council and a donation by Saints fan Ken Mearns.

Gayle Brannigan, CEO of St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation, told the Express: "Recovery is an area we have always been very passionate about.