Rehab centre teams up with St Mirren FC foundation to create new community hub

One of Scotland’s leading residential rehab centres has teamed up with the St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation to create a new community hub for people recovering from alcohol and substance use issues.

Abbeycare, which runs a rehab facility in Erskine, is launching weekly drop-in sessions at the SMiSA Stadium, with the first taking place on September 3.

The new hub, delivered in partnership with the Foundation and funded by Renfrewshire Council, aims to support people struggling with addictions and mental health issues.

The three-hour Abbeycare Buddies sessions will begin with a hot meal and provide a safe, welcoming and inspiring environment for people in the local community to access recovery-focused support.

Each week, a guest speaker will share their recovery story during a session chaired by an Abbeycare expert or a volunteer with lived experience of addiction and recovery. Attendees will also have the opportunity to share their own experiences and receive advice and encouragement from the Abbeycare team.

The sessions will run every Wednesday from 6pm to 9pm. Attendees will also have the chance to volunteer with the project, developing personal and professional skills in a supportive environment.

Regular activities will be organised with local partners, including yoga, meditation and mindfulness. Creative workshops will be delivered in partnership with The Recovery Collective, covering creative writing, scriptwriting, drama, film production, songwriting and guitar lessons.

A 12-week photography course will also be provided by Open Aye, with participants able to choose the subjects they want to focus on.

The St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation, the club’s official charity, is providing the venue along with a hot meal and refreshments each week. Its aims are to build lasting community connections in Renfrewshire, while supporting health, wellbeing and resilience.

With a year-round programme, the Foundation works with people of all ages and backgrounds and is committed to delivering positive change.

Eddie Clarke, outreach manager at Abbeycare, said: “The reason that so many people love football and support their local club is because of the sense of community it brings, and it is something that is also key to this exciting partnership.

“As a local provider of residential rehab, we recognise the importance of community engagement, and together with the St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation, we believe we can make a positive difference in Renfrewshire.

“The Abbeycare Buddies sessions will connect people struggling with addiction and mental health issues with our expert team and our network of volunteers, all of whom have lived experience of similar issues themselves.

“We’re grateful to Renfrewshire Council for funding the project and can’t wait for the first session at the stadium. We hope this will be the start of a long-lasting partnership that will help reduce alcohol and drug-related harms.”

Photo: (L-R) Abbeycare operations director Liam Mehigan, Gayle Brannigan and Eddie Clarke at the SMiSA stadium
Photo Credit: Abbeycare

Gayle Brannigan, CEO of the St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation, said: “Recovery is an area we have always been very passionate about. We appreciate that most people’s lives will have been impacted by addiction, whether directly or indirectly – all of us know someone who has lived with or is living with the illness.

“For the Foundation, it has been important to find a recovery partner whose ethos is fully aligned with ours, and who offers a variety of holistic therapies and expertise post-detox. We have definitely found this with Abbeycare in Erskine.

“We are very excited about the format of Abbeycare Buddies. The Wednesday night sessions are unique and vibrant, and will be held in a safe and welcoming space here at the stadium.

“In addition to Renfrewshire Council, we give huge thanks to our very own Patron Saint Ken Mearns, who personally donated funds to kick-start the project, as recovery is a subject very close to his heart.”

Kenny Mearns, whose donation helped fund the project, said: “I have for some time been an admirer of the work that the St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation has done for the people of Paisley and Renfrewshire through their numerous programmes.

“Being a lifelong St Mirren supporter, I was delighted to become a Patron Saint and assist with the funding of the Abbeycare Buddies sessions, something that is close to my heart.”

Laura Howat, head of mental health, learning disability and alcohol and drugs recovery services at Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said:
“We welcome this new development, and look forward to working closely with partners to further enhance the range of recovery opportunities available for people across Renfrewshire.”

Photo: (L-R) Eddie Clarke, Gayle Brannigan and Liam Mehigan at the SMiSA stadium
Photo Credit: Abbeycare