Re:Charge R&R have received a £2,000 donation from the Shanly Foundation to support people recovering from addictions in newly launched Freedom Café sessions.
Re:Charge R&R assist with addiction recovery without the need for an official referral and run the café entirely on voluntary donations. They provide hot meals and refreshments every week along with valuable advice and support.  
Open from 10am – 2pm every Wednesday at the Maidenhead Marlow Community Centre, the Freedom Café provides invaluable information about housing and benefits. Catering is generously donated by FoodShare in Maidenhead who provide a well-balanced hot meal to all those who attend, forming an essential part of the early stages of recovery for addicts.
Co-founder and manager of Re:Charge R&R, Hannah Lucas says; “As a long-term recovering addict myself, I know how scary early recovery can be. You have lost all self-worth and motivation. Daily support and encouragement is vital to a recovering addict. We have, as an affluent town, finally recognised and accepted the disease of addiction and all the unmanageability that comes with it.”
“We are soon to start a twelve-step workshop to encourage, support and equip individuals into a life of recovery, freedom, hope and fulfilment, and watch them grow and achieve their initial goals.
We are very excited to see the impact we know this donation will have in our community. It’s a great privilege to be a part of something so rewarding!”
To aid recovery, the charity hosts arts and crafts afternoons, where those who are recovering can paint on canvases or write poetry. Recovering addicts can take part in these activities, improving lines of communication and encouraging them to express themselves in positive, new ways.
Donations also help individuals in the later stages of their recovery with Maths and English tuition so that they can get GCSE qualifications and increase job opportunities.
Since the beginning of this year the three employees, who are themselves long-term recovered addicts, see an average of eleven people per week.
For more information on Re:Charge R&R please visit: rechargerandr.org.uk