Better Than Well
Addiction recovery support
Supported by a philanthropic grant Since July 2021, our Better Than Well programme is the first university-led Collegiate Recovery Program (CPR) in the UK. It is designed to support students who are in recovery from any form of addiction while they study at the University of Birmingham. Run by students and coordinated by an academic addiction psychiatrist and a recent graduate student in long-term recovery, the programme offers peer-to-peer support, social events and weekly meetings for students wishing to maintain abstinence-based recovery. A pathway to full membership is also available for those who are not yet in stable recovery. BTW supports students in active addiction to find treatment either within the university or in the wider community.
How we can help
Before you arrive
- support with completing the university admissions process.
- early orientation
- developing individual plans of study
- general academic advice
When you're studying
- 12-Step Fellowship group
- peer support meetings
- drop-in services
- sober social activities
- opportunities for volunteering and service to the local community
- providing a safe, anonymous space for students to explore their recovery from addiction and to receive peer support for behaviour change
- a weekly open meeting in ‘celebration’ of recovery that provides continued support to CRP members whilst also educating the wider community about the reality of addiction and recovery
- meditation and yoga
- a public engagement event on campus each semester, which may include film screening and discussion or presentation of academic work around addiction and recovery
View more information about the programme on our intranet page via this link.
Find out more
If you'd like to find out more about the programme and how it could help, please get in touch.
Contact Luke Trainor or Ed Day for more information.
Download BTW Annual Report here (PDF version).
Download accessible BTW Annual Report here (Word version).