Last Year Saw Triumph in Wolverhampton Over Bid Success to Host the 17th UK Recovery Walk!
The results are in and Wolverhampton reaches an incredible 6,013 community votes placing the city in first place to host the 17th UK Recovery Walk 2025. The success reflects the tremendous support from residents, local businesses and the recovery community, and highlights the importance of the recovery movement.
The annual event celebrates people’s recovery from drug or alcohol addiction. Each year, a different city or town has the honour of hosting the National Recovery Walk, which includes a public parade and a celebration gathering of people in recovery and their families and friends in a Recovery Village.
The UK-wide human rights charity, Faces and Voices of Recovery UK (FAVOR UK) endorses the yearly event, and advocates and empowers people with living and lived experience of alcohol and other drugs. Annemarie Ward, CEO says “This achievement speaks volumes about the strength of Wolverhampton’s recovery community and its commitment to creating a platform for connection, celebration and awareness. The plans showcase Wolverhampton’s rich diversity and recovery journey”.
Over the next 9 months, the Good Shepherd and the Service User Involvement Team (SUIT) will work together with partners to produce a pivotal event for the city and Recovery Month, which takes place every September. Recovery Month is a time to increase awareness, celebrate the vital work of recovery services, challenge stigmas and celebrate the successes of those in recovery from addiction.
With its diverse heritage and over 260,000 residents, the event hopes to bring thousands of people together to signify the importance of improving the health and well-being in Wolverhampton, save lives for those experiencing recovery and amplify the existing unity and strength within the city.
Tom Hayden, CEO says “Hosting the national recovery walk in Wolverhampton is a big win for our city. It’s a chance to show off what makes us great, celebrate our communities, and highlight how important recovery is. If you’ve been to FAVOR UK’s walks before, you know how powerful and inspiring they are. Bringing this event to Wolverhampton in 2025, and for the first time in the Black Country, is truly amazing.
Huge thanks to the team at SUIT for all their hard work on the bid and during the campaign to get votes. And a big shoutout to Wolverhampton City Council for their constant support and promotion of the bid. This wouldn’t have been possible without everyone pitching in—so thank you to our partners at Recovery Near You, everyone who voted, shared, and supported our campaign, and everyone who’s been involved so far.
We can’t wait to work with Annmarie at FAVOR UK, local and national recovery communities, and our city partners to put on the best celebration of recovery ever.”
Marcus Johnson, Project Manager from SUIT adds “This is Wolverhampton’s opportunity to ‘Don’t just tell people, show people’ what this marvellously robust and diverse city can offer. I look forward to seeing people from all over the country walking through the streets of Wolverhampton, celebrating how wonderful it is to be in recovery from addiction.”
The Good Shepherd and SUIT will share further updates in the coming months on how to be part of this historic occasion. Follow @gsm_wolves on Instagram, @gsm_wolves on X or Good Shepherd Services on Facebook.