What has happened so far with the development of LEROs in Derbyshire?
Derbyshire’s recovery orientated system of care involves local services and community groups working together to help people start and sustain their recovery. A key part of this recovery orientated system of care is Lived Experience Recovery Organisations (LERO’s). It is our ambition here in Derbyshire to support the development of local LERO’s.
Throughout the summer of 2025, Recovery Connections, a Lived Experience Recovery Organisation from the north-east of England have been in Derbyshire holding roadshows, called Your Recovery, Your Community, in each district of the county to to engage with Derbyshire residents with lived and living experience of substance use, to raise awareness of LEROs and support them to build their own organisation or organisations.
A celebration event was held on 10th November at the Winding Wheel Theatre in Chesterfield and Recovery Connections will then produce LERO development plan for Derbyshire based on the learning from the roadshow events, and in line with national guidance (Recovery support services and lived experience initiatives – GOV.UK), that is coproduced with Derbyshire residents with lived and living experience of substance use and or recovery and other local key players.
LERO Roadshow Celebration Event – Video
This video was shown at the celebration event that was held on 10th November at the Winding Wheel Theatre in Chesterfield and highlights the work Recovery Connections have done engaging with Derbyshire’s lived and living experience of substance use throughout the summer of 2025.
Local funding opportunities
LEROs are all about people getting together to support each other in their recovery. Something that came out of the LERO roadshows was that on occasions a lack of funding, to pay for a room or activity for example, may act as a barrier.
There are 8 Health and Wellbeing Partnerships across Derbyshire which can offer funding opportunities for local organisation to support local health priorities. For information about joining the local health and wellbeing partnership to look for funding opportunities local to you please contact the following people:
Amber Valley Health and Wellbeing Partnership Jane.Sheppard@derbyshire.gov.uk
Bolsover Health and Wellbeing Partnership James.Green@derbyshire.gov.uk
Chesterfield Valley Health and Wellbeing Partnership Rosanna.Brown@derbyshire.gov.uk
Derbyshire Dales Health and Wellbeing Partnership James.Green@derbyshire.gov.uk
Erewash Health and Wellbeing Partnership Jane.Sheppard@derbyshire.gov.uk
High Peak Health and Wellbeing Partnership Bev.MunozPujol@derbyshire.gov.uk
North-East Derbyshire Health and Wellbeing Partnership James.Green@derbyshire.gov.uk
South Derbyshire Health and Wellbeing Partnership Claire.Reece@derbyshire.gov.uk
What are the next steps?
Recovery Connections will produce LERO development plan for Derbyshire based on the learning from the roadshow events, and in line with national guidance (Recovery support services and lived experience initiatives – GOV.UK), that is coproduced with Derbyshire residents with lived and living experience of substance use and or recovery and other local key players.
Lived Experience Recovery Organisation’s (LERO’s) FAQ’s
A lived experience recovery organisation (LERO) is an organisation led by people and for people with lived experience of drug and alcohol recovery.
LEROs do lots of different things. They bring people together, offer peer support, run groups and activities, and help people find the right help when they need it.
Everything they do is led by lived experience, people who’ve been there before on their own journey of recovery.
LERO are:
- always shaped by the voices, needs and strengths of people in recovery
- rooted in community and mutual support
- independent and autonomous
- built on real life experience of recovery
LEROs can be large or small.
It can be a small, more informal group or a fully set-up, formal organisation.
Some are legal organisations such as charities or Community Interest Companies, and some are more informal such as local groups or activities run by volunteers.
LEROs don’t have to get bigger or become formal organisations.
What makes them a LERO is that even as they grow, they stay independent and led by people with lived or living experience of recovery
We are aware of over 50 LEROs in England working in over 70 local authorities (out of 152), meaning that nearly half of all local authorities have this independent, peer-led provision. Please see a map of the LERO’s from the College of Lived Experience Recovery Organisations (CLERO).
Yes, there are organisations and/or groups of individuals with lived experience in Derbyshire supporting people in recovery.
It is a strategic aim of Derbyshire County Council’s Public Health Substance Use Team to formally support the development of LERO in Derbyshire as we see LERO’s as a fundamental part of the healthcare and recovery system in Derbyshire
CLERO is a national initiative founded in 2020 to unite and strengthen LEROs across the UK. It promotes a recovery model rooted in human rights, community connection, and co-production, aiming to build trust and credibility within the recovery sector. Activities are guided by Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC), with a focus on being people-centred, strengths-based, and inclusive. Each LERO within CLERO is shaped by the needs and aspirations of its local community, building on existing assets and lived experience.
As part of its commitment to learning and growth, CLERO hosts monthly masterclasses led by people with lived experience. These sessions offer practical tools, peer-led insights, and opportunities for reflection and skill-building. Each masterclass explores a different theme—such as wellbeing, advocacy, or storytelling—and provides a welcoming space for anyone interested in recovery, whether personally or professionally. Through these events, CLERO continues to foster a vibrant, supportive network where lived experience is central to shaping recovery pathways.
If you are interested in joining a future masterclass, please email lero.connectors@gmail.com for the link 🔗🔗
Still not sure? Check out the national standards: www.clero.co.uk/clero-standards. THE CLERO’s – LERO standards comprise of 33 statements divided into 4 sections, covering the following aspects of LEROs: culture and values, support offer, staff and volunteers, operations and management. Some of the statements apply to all LEROs, whereas others only apply to those who have a recognised formal organisational structure.