A Lived Experience Recovery Organisation (LERO) is a community-led group run by individuals with personal experience of addiction and recovery. Grounded in peer support, mutual aid, and community empowerment, LEROs offer hope and a sense of belonging. Support is flexible and inclusive, with opportunities for advocacy, connection, hobbies, and volunteering. The aim is to uplift communities and make recovery visible and inspiring. Working alongside existing services, LEROs help fill gaps and respond to local needs without judgment or rigid structures. This approach creates a “social contagion of hope,” encouraging people to rebuild their lives through meaningful engagement.
Hopefully you will have seen recent promotions for the LERO Roadshows, which highlight the growing role of lived experience in shaping recovery in Derbyshire. With that in mind, it’s helpful to understand what a LERO is and how to get involved with the College of Lived Experience Recovery Organisations (CLERO).
What is the College of Lived Experience Recovery Organisations?
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-standardsTHE 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.
Underlying principles of LEROS:
Principle 1: LEROs are Informed by a primary relationship with their community and act in response to the needs and aspirations of their community, recognising and employing the assets and competencies that already exist.
Principle 2: Everything done in and by a LERO is informed through co-production
Principle 3: LEROs are informed by a Human Rights-based approach, including the right to live healthy lives.
If you have ideas about recovery in Derbyshire, you’re invited to take part in the short LERO Development Survey, designed to gather views on addiction and recovery across local boroughs and communities. This includes current strengths, challenges, and opportunities—Have Your Say about Recovery In Derbyshire
