Senedd Member for Vale of Clwyd, Gareth Davies, met with Natalie and Conor, the founders of Archway Recovery, a highly regarded addiction support group based in Rhyl.
Since launching in May 2024, Archway Recovery has quickly become a vital community resource, offering support for those battling addiction and their families. Natalie and Conor founded the group following their own personal journeys to recovery from addiction, and they now see between 40 and 60 people attending weekly Wednesday sessions at the Salvation Army Centre in Rhyl.
The organisation is based on Christian principles and offers a wide range of support services including testimonies, educational sessions on addiction, and space for friends and family to better understand addiction. Their reach has grown significantly over the past year with a team of 15 to18 volunteers who are themselves in recovery thus allowing them to understand the journey others are on. Natalie and Conor spoke passionately about the effect of their work, with stories of families reunited, former users of the group returning as volunteers, and a growing sense of community among those who attend. While some support has been received through referrals, Archway is largely self-sustained.
The group currently occupies a small space in the Salvation Army Centre and are struggling to accommodate the number of people seeking help. With no permanent base and growing demand, they are calling for support to expand to multiple days a week and to offer additional activities such as creative writing and fitness sessions.
They also hope to set up a "Monday Mission" programme to provide a positive start to the week, and long-term plans for a recovery-focused evening social event where attendees are safe in the knowledge that alcohol or drugs will not be present.
Although referrals to addiction recovery services are rising, unfortunately the number of people who are dying from drugs and alcohol are higher than ever in Wales today. According to Public Health Wales there has been an increase of 78% of drug and alcohol-related deaths over the past 10 years, with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board having the highest admissions related to illicit drug poisonings.
Commenting following the visit, Gareth Davies MS said:
“Archway Recovery is doing remarkable work in Rhyl, and I want to pay tribute to the two incredible founders of the group, Natalie and Conor, and using their own journey to recovery to support others.”
“With drug and alcohol-related deaths higher than ever, they are offering lifesaving support where many traditional services sadly fall short.”
“The demand for their support is growing, and so is their impact, providing a beacon of hope to individuals battling addiction and vital support to their families.”
“With the right recognition and investment, Archway can continue and expand their extraordinary work to help our community.”
