"Stigma around addiction is getting better": Community support helps Coventry recovery hub reopen
The Dynamo Project has been rehomed after closure due to city centre development plans in Coventry
An addiction support hub in Coventry has reopened after recent closure due to City Centre South Development plans.
The Dynamo Project has been operating in Coventry since 2022 and works with addicts recovering from alcohol and substance misuse.
Since it's recent closure the community have come together in an appeal to reopen the recovery hub.
Now, the Dynamo Project has relocated in Spon End with thanks to community donations and support.
Founder of the Dynamo Project, Kieran O' Toole, is a recovering addict himself - he's been speaking with us on what life has been like since the initial closure.
Kieran said: "It was very stressful. I suffer with anxiety anyway, so it was even more heightened in recent months.
"When we took our the first premises in Coventry City Centre, we did so knowing that it was going to be part of the regeneration.
"So we went in there with our eyes wide open, we understood the situation and we were working on new premises in the background but that fell through about six months before our lease was due to end.
"It felt like we hit a brick wall at the time but we did a lot of appealing on social media and the community really saw what we were trying to achieve; they helped us immensely and thankfully we managed to resurrect the deal that we thought we'd lost."
Kieran continued to say how valuable the community have been in the recent reopening of the Dynamo Project.
Kieran said: "Individuals turn their lives around here and the support from the community has been amazing.
"I think it just shows that the stigma around addiction is getting better.
"We have received amazing donations from the community, particularly with our gym.
"We've had loads of things donated to us, from kitchen utensils right up to the to the bigger things like gym equipment.
"There's a narrative that the community isn't what it used to be, but I think we're seeing examples that community is very much there and if we worked together more we can all achieve our shared goals - it's amazing."
Now the Dynamo Project has reopened it's doors, Kieran is turning to the short, and long term, goals of the recovery hub in Coventry.
Kieran said: "The short term goal is to make sure the transition to our new home is as smooth as it can be as we welcome ten additional residents to our program.
"In the long term, we want to offer a detox service within the city for people that are dependent on heroin, alcohol, prescription medication.
"Currently, in Coventry, there isn't anywhere where you can get detox which is shocking, so we're looking to do that towards the latter part of this year.
"We want to make sure that what we do today means we will be a service in Coventry for a long time to come."