News
Alex Rae Visits Recovery Drop In
Fri 5th May 2023
Former Rangers midfielder and Foundation Trustee Alex Rae made a special visit to a Rangers Charity Foundation community programme which supports people recovering from addiction.
Alex attended the Recovery Drop In at the Ibrox Community Complex to find out more about the initiative and speak about his own experiences on 26 April 2023.
Ran in partnership with the South Community Recovery Network, the weekly Recovery Drop In provides a safe and friendly place to meet and is free and open to anyone recovering from addiction. The committee is also able to refer attendees to other recovery initiatives around Glasgow, providing further opportunities for support.
Alex witnessed the help on offer to the group including free football, food, and family support, and spent time listening to their experiences and shared his own experiences of battling addiction.
He said:
“Recovery Drop Ins are integral to people to get integrated into recovery.”
“It’s something close to my heart having experienced similar things myself.
“The Foundation is doing some incredible work around addiction, employability and education.
“When I see people looking to try and change their life for the better, that, in essence, is what the Foundation was set up for.
“Since I came on board with the Foundation, the level of work that it undertakes and provides the local community is ultimately everything that you would want from a community-based football club.”
Thanks to a new grant from the National Lottery totalling £111,577, the Recovery Drop In has expanded.
On top of continuing a weekly Monday session at Ibrox Stadium, new funding has enabled the Foundation to offer a second session that takes place at the Ibrox Community Complex where participants recovering from addiction can get active and build upon their physical fitness as they continue their recovery journey.
The new session on a Wednesday offers access to free football, food, tea and coffee and peer led recovery support.
Support from charity Children’s 1st also enables parents recovering from addiction to attend the Wednesday session with their child. Parents will have the opportunity to work with Children 1st through tots and toddler play before Children 1st take the children for tots and toddler play to allow parents to take part in recovery meetings.
MONDAYS
Monday sessions take place at the Ibrox Study Centre (Broomloan Stand) between 6:30pm and 8:30pm. Available during Monday sessions:
- Food, tea and coffee
- Table tennis
- Internet access
- Bingo and quizzes
- Xbox
- Peer led recovery support group
WEDNESDAYS
Wednesday sessions take place at the Ibrox Community Complex (across from the main stand) between 11am and 2pm. Available during Wednesday sessions:
- Food, tea and coffee
- Free football access
- Trauma counsellor access*
- Access to male and female recovery support group
- Tots and toddlers family play (12-2pm)
*please note trauma counsellor access is on a needs referral basis.
