When Recovery Connections arrived in Gosport last year, it quietly filled a gap that had been left open for far too long. Until then, people emerging from addiction treatment often found themselves standing at the edge of recovery with nowhere to go – no community, no structure, and no one who truly understood what came next.
Lynsay Railton is the manager of Recovery Connections Hampshire, and she knows that feeling intimately. “Before we came along, there was nothing in Gosport that was peer‑led,” she says. “You had Inclusion, the NHS service, and a few national organisations, but nothing run by people with lived experience. That’s what makes us different. Everyone involved here has been through it themselves, or supported a family member who has.”
She pauses, then adds with quiet certainty: “The government wants to see more organisations like this. places where lived experience leads the way. Because it works.”
A Journey That started with her own recovery
Lynsay’s path to this role wasn’t straightforward. Before addiction took hold, she worked in finance and accounting. “Then drink and drugs took over,” she says. “I was out of work for a while. I lost a lot.”
Her turning point came when she entered structured treatment with Inclusion. “It completely changed my life,” she says. “It got me sober. It helped me think positively again. It gave me the space to rebuild.”
After treatment, she volunteered with Inclusion for two years, where she rediscovered her confidence and learned to support others. “Volunteering gave me purpose,” she says. “It taught me new skills and set me up for this job.”
So when Hampshire County Council recognised a gap in local services and commissioned Recovery Connections to launch in Gosport, she applied. “I had imposter syndrome at first,” she admits. “I wondered, ‘Can I really do this?’ But this job has built my confidence. It’s not always easy. There are tricky situations, but seeing people grow makes it worth it.”
Recovery Connections began in Middlesbrough in 2008 and now employs more than 300 people across the Northeast. Gosport is its first major expansion into the South, and it’s grown faster than anyone expected.
“We started in February last year,” Lynsay says. “It’s grown rapidly. Hampshire County Council saw a real gap in services here, so they asked us to bring our model to Gosport.”
That model centres on the organisation’s flagship Ambassador Programme, which is a 12‑week accredited qualification that trains people to become peer mentors. “We cover boundaries, safeguarding, and communication skills,” she explains. “But the real magic is that everyone brings their own lived experience. Everyone learns from each other.”
Since launching, 40 people across Gosport, Havant and Fareham have completed the course. Many have gone on to volunteer, work in drug and alcohol services, or even join the Recovery Connections team.
“We’ve had people go full circle,” Lynsay says proudly. “They came to us in early recovery, did the programme, volunteered, and are now in paid employment. That’s what lived‑experience leadership looks like.”
A community that’s already changing the Borough
The impact of the programme is visible across Gosport.
“Some of our graduates have set up coffee mornings in Rowner,” Lynsay says. “Others run arts and crafts groups on the High Street at CTU. We’ve got Acceptance and Commitment Therapy sessions every Monday in the precinct. And we do community barbecues and picnics to show people that they can build their lives and have fun without substances.”
Lynsay smiles. “It’s about showing people that recovery isn’t just surviving. It’s about building a life.”
Lynsay lives near Winchester and has been in recovery for four years. Outside work, she walks her three dogs, plays tennis, goes to the gym, and invests in her own wellbeing. “I’ve been lucky to make lots of new friends in recovery,” she says. “This job takes up a lot of my time, but it’s incredibly rewarding.”
Her dream for the future is clear: “I’d love to see us have a Recovery Connections hub in Gosport. In Middlesbrough, they have a community café which acts as a safe recovery environment where people can socialise, eat, and feel part of something. I’d love that for Gosport. A real central hub for the community.”
She pauses again, thoughtfully. “It takes funding, of course. But the way things are growing… I believe it’s possible.”
Why she encourages others to get involved
When asked why someone should join the Ambassador Programme, Lyndsey doesn’t hesitate.
“To help other people,” she says. “To grow the recovery community. To stop feeling alone. To learn new skills. To change someone else’s life and your own. It’s one of the most rewarding things you can do.”
People interested in joining the programme, volunteering, or learning about the community groups can contact Lynsay directly by emailing lynsay.railton@recoveryconnnections.org.uk or visit the Recovery Connections Hampshire Facebook group.