Since the pandemic, there has been a lot of change for us at Canvas Coffee. Like many in hospitality, we had to close our café at the train station and shift our focus into events whilst the roasting business Sunday Coffee grew and became more viable. But despite the changes impact remains at the heart of what we do.
In September, we had the opportunity to host a “Recovery Coffee” event in Guildhall Square, Portsmouth. We served free coffee and created a welcoming space where people could have open conversations about addiction recovery, stigma, and resilience. This event was held in collaboration with B-More, a group of individuals in recovery who are working to make recovery more visible in our community.
The invitation to help with the event came from Alan Knobel, someone I’ve known and respected for over a decade. Alan oversees the drugs and alcohol budget for Portsmouth and has a deep understanding of the complex challenges people in recovery face. We first met back in 2013, when I shared my plans to start an alcohol-free bar with him. As Canvas evolved into a café, I spent the first nine months working next door to Alan at the council offices, where I gathered data on drug and alcohol issues for a community safety meeting he was part of. So, when he recently reached out to ask if we could support B-More, we were glad to get involved.
The B-More group’s mission aligns with the “Inclusive Recovery City” initiative, developed by Professor David Best of Leeds Trinity University. This initiative is based on the idea that recovery is strongest in a supportive, engaged community. By making recovery visible and challenging stigma, it aims to make Portsmouth a place where those in recovery feel valued and supported.
On the day, our role was simple: we made coffee and gave it out for free, creating a reason for people to come over and chat with members of the B-More group. It worked well, as it’s not easy to get people to stop and talk to someone on the street without a reason.
To achieve “Inclusive Recovery City” status, Portsmouth needs to host three community-focused events per year, and this was the first of those. The next events will likely take different forms but will keep the same focus on community engagement and support.
One of the day’s highlights was reconnecting with familiar faces from our old café days. Guildhall Walk is close to where our old shop was, and a few regulars stopped by, including a young man who had attended one of our barista courses a few years ago. He’d worked in the train station, and his key worker encouraged him to join the course. We all knew him back then, but none of us had any idea he was struggling with his own mental health and substance misuse issues—it goes to show how hidden addiction can be.
Seeing him again in September was really special, and he shared that he’s now in college and has plans to start his own business.
This event wouldn’t have been possible without the support we receive through our corporate events. Although our café closed, the work we do for our clients has allowed us to stay connected to our mission and continue having an impact in Portsmouth. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported us along the way.