Action on Addiction will host the Merseyside Recovery Awards at the charity’s flagship social enterprise and the UK’s first dry bar, The Brink Café CIC, this coming Friday (20th June).

The inaugural awards ceremony took place at The Brink in 2012 and are back this year to once again celebrate the outstanding figures in the recovery community in Merseyside.

A panel of judges will oversee the selection process, picking the final winner of all nine award categories from the nominations received online and at The Brink. The categories include Unsung Hero Award, Social Impact Award, Worker Supporting Recovery Award and Volunteer of the Year Award with award sponsors named as Intuitive Recovery, Nonverba, Liverpool Mutual Homes, Big Lottery, One Park West, Lakeland and Herbalife.

Awards will be given on the night to those inspiring individuals from Liverpool, Wirral, Knowsley and Sefton, who have made an outstanding contribution to the recovery movement in the local area via the work they carry out or through volunteering.

A special award, ‘The Sue Mercer Lifetime Achievement Award’, with a prize of £500, will be given to the winner to donate to the recovery project of his or her choice.

Karen Hemmings, Head of Service at Action on Addiction Merseyside, said:

“The North West often receives negative media coverage because it had a big heroin problem in the 1980s. However, what is often under-reported is the impressive recovery movement which has developed in the past two decades.

“The Recovery Awards recognise and honour the people who have battled against the drink and drugs culture and transformed their lives.”

The Duchess of Cambridge visited The Brink on Valentine’s Day 2012 and sampled a special cocktail called ‘The Duchess’. Likewise, on the night of the awards, there will be an exclusive alcohol-free cocktail to celebrate recovery called ‘The Merseyside Mai Tai’.

Tickets can be bought from The Brink and cost £25, including a 3-course meal, live entertainment from The Sensational HIT Soul Band and a goodie bag.