Due to the financial impact of Covid-19 The Brink Café, Liverpool, will not re-open but our full range of therapeutic addiction services for individuals and families in Liverpool will continue. These services, which are funded by Liverpool City Council and other trusts and foundations, are unaffected by the decision to close The Brink Café and we thank them for their continued support.
We are very sorry to announce that as a result of the financial impact of COVID-19, The Brink Café in Parr Street, Liverpool, will not reopen when the government’s restrictions ease. Like many people and organisations, Action on Addiction, which has continued to support The Brink Café since its inception in 2011, has been adversely affected by Covid-19. We have had to introduce numerous measures to address the financial implications of the pandemic to safeguard Action on Addiction’s future, thereby ensuring the continued delivery of our frontline treatment services in Liverpool and elsewhere.
This is, however, a very sad moment for Action on Addiction. We are humbled by the strength of feeling that exists in relation to The Brink Café and would like to thank everyone for their heartfelt messages of support. We are immensely proud of the achievements of our staff and volunteers and thank them for all their hard work and dedication – it is a truly inspirational team.
The Brink Café is an iconic venue. For the last 10 years it has existed not only as a vibrant social space for people from all walks of life but as the beating heart of the recovery community in Liverpool. As an innovative social enterprise – the UK’s first dry bar – the café has provided many work and volunteering opportunities for people in recovery from addiction and other mental health issues. Prior to COVID-19, Action on Addiction, as the café’s main funder, was committed to keeping the café open and to working with partners, donors and supporters to ensure it was sustainable in the long term. With continuing losses brought about by sustained closure and in the absence of very significant, long term and sustainable third-party investment these plans are no longer viable. In taking forward the regrettable but necessary decision to close The Brink Café, we wish to make clear that we will continue to offer the full range of therapeutic addiction services that are currently available for individuals and families at The Brink. These therapeutic services, which are funded by Liverpool City Council and other trusts and foundations, are unaffected by the decision to close The Brink Café and we thank them for their continued support.
Action on Addiction remains steadfast in our commitment to helping individuals and families in Liverpool and challenging the stigma that is associated with addiction. We will continue to fundraise so that we can help more people in Liverpool achieve long-term, stable, abstinence-based recovery from addiction, and also protect children and support families affected by this life-stopping condition.
