About Share

Empowering everyone affected by addiction

We are a small local charity, who want to make a difference to the lives of people affected by addiction. In particular, we will fight the stigma around alcohol addiction, make the public aware of the latest research in the field, and give a voice to the friends and family of anyone who is suffering with alcohol dependence.

Inspired by the kindness shown by those in our local community, Share offers support and advice to those seeking recovery, and their friends and family. We recognise that the road to recovery can be difficult, and so we offer small grants to help solve some practical problems along the way.

The friends and families of those with addictive behaviour are often overlooked, and do not receive the support they need in order to help their loved one. An important part of the work of Share is to give them a voice, by setting up friends and family support groups and by providing them with  information and advice. We also consider that those who are supporting someone with addictive behaviour, should be fully involved in their loved one’s recovery journey. Their experience is valuable, and we always encourage their participation in the work of Share.

We believe that our strength lies in listening to the voice to our volunteers, who have either experienced addiction themselves, or have supported someone who has. We will always seek to represent their views and to be led by their experience.

The Team

What We Do

Share was established to support everyone affected by addiction, living in and around Shrewsbury. We aim to do this by creating a visible presence in…

Share was established to support everyone affected by addiction, living in and around Shrewsbury. We aim to do this by creating a visible presence in Shrewsbury, where we can start a conversation with people about addiction and recovery. Wherever possible we want to set up and support recovery groups for the individual in recovery, and their family and friends. We also want to challenge the myths about addiction and to enable our community to understand that addiction is a progressive, terminal disease, and that sufferers deserve the same services and sympathy, that is given to those with other physical conditions.

The Share Centre

We are pleased to say we have a base within the Riverside shopping centre in the middle of Shrewsbury, just a few minutes walk from the bus and railway station. Here we are able to deliver individual counselling, co-ordinate our volunteer activity and run a charity shop, selling beautiful items made by volunteers in recovery. We provide a relaxed space where the public can meet with us and have a chat and seek advice on themes surrounding addiction and recovery. We also offer  information about events, groups and organisations that can give support and treatment.

In the Share Centre we have several individual consulting rooms and a meeting room, which are available to hire at very reasonable rates. Please get in touch for more information.  

Other services at the Share Centre

Within the Share Centre we host a friendly community cafe, called the Links cafe, where drinks and snacks are sold at a very reasonable cost.

There is also a twice weekly “Let’s Talk Local” drop in service in the Share centre, which is run by Shropshire Council. These individual sessions allow members of the public to receive information and support in a friendly and informal way from trained social care practitioners. For more information go to  www.shropshire.gov.uk/lets-talk-local

Click here to see where we are!

 

 

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Max

My name is Max, I am in recovery from alcoholism and have been for almost 18 months having dramatically changed my habit patterns and lifestyle…

My name is Max, I am in recovery from alcoholism and have been for almost 18 months having dramatically changed my habit patterns and lifestyle over that time. I now feel at a point where I may be able to offer my experiences in order that I may help and inspire others with this illness to come to recovery.

I received a card for Share Shrewsbury, and after a phone call with Jane I realised its something I could be a part of, after we met for coffee we decided getting me involved with Share as a social media volunteer would be a good thing. I very much look forward to the future being part of an exciting charity with a compassionate driving force and a clear vision.

I feel like charities such as Share Shrewsbury are vital for local communities to thrive and am grateful to be involved.

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Matt

Matt is committed to enabling people to turn their lives around and make a new start. He is the Managing Director of the Willowdene group,…

Matt is committed to enabling people to turn their lives around and make a new start. He is the Managing Director of the Willowdene group, which is the premier provider of rehabilitation and training for those suffering from a chaotic lifestyle of substance misuse and or offending. Set a beautiful rural location in South Shropshire, Willowdene farm is also home to Matt and his family. The Willowdene group is part of the management team delivering  drug and alcohol services across Telford and Wrekin, and Matt has considerable experience and expertise in the sector. We are delighted that he has agreed to join Share as a trustee, and we will benefit enormously from his input.

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Susan

I became interested in volunteering for Share because I know what a devastating effect alcohol addiction can have on individuals and their families. In February…

I became interested in volunteering for Share because I know what a devastating effect alcohol addiction can have on individuals and their families. In February 2018 my brother David, who lived in France, died as a result of alcohol dependence. In 2017 his drinking had caused brain damage, so that he was sectioned and strapped to a bed. This made it hard for us, as family to get a clear idea of what was happening and what we should do to help. He got through this but was told not to drink again or it would kill him. Well he did and he died.  Addiction can effect anyone, young, old, rich, poor, male female. There’s not just one type of person. I believe that individuals and their families need support when this becomes their story.

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Colin

I became involved with Share Shrewsbury as a result of being the President of Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club in the same year that Jane was…

I became involved with Share Shrewsbury as a result of being the President of Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club in the same year that Jane was Mayor of Shrewsbury.  Our club supported the Mayor’s charity, which was raising funds to support people and their families recovering from addiction. My professional background had been in the field of Trusts and Estates,  and therefore I was able to help register Share Shrewsbury with the Charity Commission. I was very happy to offer my support as a Trustee primarily keeping an eye out for its finances.

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Chip

Chip has worked in the field of addiction and substance misuse for over 34 years. He has set up two charities associated with this issue.…

Chip has worked in the field of addiction and substance misuse for over 34 years. He has set up two charities associated with this issue. One, Focus12, a residential rehabilitation unit in Suffolk, and the second, the ABR Trust, a fund to help those unable to access statutory services. He has worked at all levels of service provision and has worked with the Priory Hospital Group as addiction Manager. He has worked with several London Boroughs with their Family Support groups and has sat on 3 government advisory boards. He currently works in private practice in London. He is Clinical Director of HelpMeStop, a new rehab facility that provides the cheapest drug and alcohol treatment in London. He is a Trustee of 3 charities associated with social care.

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Jane

As the founder of Share, I am proud to have established a charity to support everyone affected by addiction in our local community. I learnt…

As the founder of Share, I am proud to have established a charity to support everyone affected by addiction in our local community.

I learnt about addiction from my eldest daughter, Amy, who struggled with alcohol dependence all her adult life. Watching her going slowly downhill, and being powerless to stop the progression of this dreadful disease, was a very painful experience for myself, our family and her friends.

I became an expert in understanding about the research being carried out into addiction, and about the treatment options for sufferers. I was shocked to find out that sufferers are sometimes denied adequate treatment, and that the stigma surrounding addiction is often evident, even amongst those very professionals who are there to support them. I became passionate about challenging the stigma, because until we can successfully break this down, those suffering with addictive behaviour will never get the services is they deserve,

When I became the Mayor of Shrewsbury in 2017 I decided to use my role to speak out about about the need to improve services.The following year, in response to local need, I decided to set up local charity, and Share Shrewsbury was established. Amy was involved in all of this, and she was keen to take an active role in running Share. We held our launch event on May 3rd 2019 and tragically, only twelve days later, on May 15th, Amy lost her long painful battle with alcohol, and died suddenly and alone in her home.

Since then, I have become even more determined to build a strong foundation for Share. With the help of our wonderful Share team, we are reaching out to our local community, recruiting volunteers who are in recovery themselves wherever possible, and establishing new ways to support everyone affected by addiction in and around Shrewsbury.

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Iulian

My name is Iulian, I came to the UK in 2016 and I’ve lived in Shrewsbury since then. My whole childhood was spent in different …

My name is Iulian, I came to the UK in 2016 and I’ve lived in Shrewsbury since then. My whole childhood was spent in different  orphanages in Romania, but I am very happy now. I graduated as a social worker in Romania, and I have a  master’s  degree in “Prevention Violence of Children and Family and Therapy Systemic Family”.

I remember the day I first met Jane, when I participated in one of the Share supporters meetings which she organised. I was so impressed with what happened there, that I asked Jane if  I could get involved. Jane offered me a chance to volunteer for Share, I was so exited and I couldn’t wait to start to help this wonderful organisation. I was given a chance to use my abilities and I’ve also had a great opportunity to improve my spoken English.

 It has given me the confidence to support people in need and make friends. I met Sue, another volunteer with Share, and she is such a  friendly and kind person who always supports me in many ways, it feels like a family. At Share you can meet a very good professional team, that listens to you, and gives advice and support. Thanks very much Jane for giving me a chance to show you who I am and what I can do to support Share. You believed in me when no one else did, you trusted in me and my abilities.

 Share is a wonderful charity, and for me it’s a honour to work here, because I can deliver support for anyone who’s looking for help. It so beautiful to help our community.

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Susan

Susan Tweedie is a driven compassionate reliable friendly person. Susan has considerable experience in the health sector, with over 30 years as a Registered Nurse…

Susan Tweedie is a driven compassionate reliable friendly person. Susan has considerable experience in the health sector, with over 30 years as a Registered Nurse and Midwife. Susan has a MSc in Health Administration, and recently volunteered to support Share Shrewsbury in all thing’s administration.

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Lincoln

Lincoln lives in Shrewsbury, although he used to travel the world as a international professional golfer until he retired from this in 2012. He has…

Lincoln lives in Shrewsbury, although he used to travel the world as a international professional golfer until he retired from this in 2012. He has since established a successful online business and has become an expert in nutrition and wellbeing. We are very fortunate that in his spare time, he has been supporting Share in several ways, including helping us to develop our IT and social media platforms.

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Partners