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The Brink has been awarded with the ‘Social Change and Intervention Award’ at the Merseyside Independent Business Awards 2014.
As a result of its contribution to improving the wellbeing of the city, the popular Parr Street dry bar and eatery beat off stiff competition to secure the admired accolade, during the ceremony held at the Titanic Hotel.
Head of Service at Action on Addition Merseyside, Karen Hemmings said: “As the first of its kind in the UK, our flagship social enterprise The Brink has become a thriving social hub for the recovery community and the general public alike. The objective is to offer great all-rounder events and workshops that enable communities to link up.
“It’s our intention to make The Brink a truly self-sustaining business and that means reducing our reliance on grants and donations. This win shows that we are a serious business and helps to elevate our cause and attract more partners and supporters. We would like to say a great big thank you to Morecrofts and the MIB judges and in particular, to our hard working team of volunteers and supporters.”
Since opening in 2011, The Brink has helped more than 2,700 addicts to rebuild their lives and created 18 new jobs and 15 volunteer positions, with 70% of these going to people in recovery. The Brink has also been held up as an example of best practice for other cities looking to set up similar projects.
The MIB judging panel said: “It’s The Brink's clear sense of purpose and determination that is so impressive. The team has put a huge amount of work into this project and have created an invaluable and inclusive community resource.
“They’ve forged strong links with community groups and are working hard to dispel stigma and bring about positive change. It’s really paid off as the team knows that for every pound invested in The Brink a further £5 of social value is created. This is a truly outstanding project and a very worthy winner.”
In addition to the impressive award win, The Brink together a consortium of various UK treatment providers, recently successfully hosted Liverpool’s inaugural Recovery Street Film Festival. The film showcase saw the arrival of Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Erica Kemp, who delivered an inspirational speech surrounding recovery in Liverpool.
Karen added: “In the past, the North West has been given a bad reputation when it comes to alcohol and drugs. However, as a result of the varied array of initiatives put in place for members of the recovery community, we are witnessing an increased amount of positive life transformations.
“Therefore, we hope to continue our efforts to engage local communities by introducing innovative ideas throughout the foreseeable future.”
For more information about The Brink visit www.thebrinkliverpool.com
