Refuge Recovery ยท UK
Search AA, NA and other UK recovery meetings by postcode, town, or fellowship, in person or online. No sign-up. No tracking of who you are. Just the door, the time, and how to get there.
Refuge Recovery holds free meetings built on Buddhist practice: meditation, the four truths and the eightfold path, applied to recovery from addiction of every kind. You do not need to be a Buddhist, and no belief in a higher power is asked of you.
A meeting typically opens with a guided meditation, followed by a reading and sharing. Beginners are expected and welcomed. The meetings you can join from the UK run online through the week across time zones.
Refuge Recovery shares its Buddhist recovery roots with Recovery Dharma, a separate community with similar practices; if a meeting time suits you, it is worth sitting in on either. Both sit comfortably alongside twelve-step fellowships.
To find a meeting, see the list below.
Yes. All Refuge Recovery (RR) meetings are free to attend. There are no membership fees, no waiting lists, and no referrals required. Some groups pass a basket for voluntary contributions toward room hire costs, but this is entirely optional.
No. You can come and listen without saying anything. Nobody will call on you, and most people find it easier to sit quietly and take things in at first. If you want to say your name you can, but there is no expectation.
The programme references a higher power, which each member defines for themselves. Many members are not religious, and atheists and agnostics are common in the rooms. The spiritual aspect is about seeking help outside of yourself, not about any particular religion.
Someone chairs the meeting, reads a short opening, and members share from their own experience. You will not be called on or expected to take part. Meetings usually last about an hour.