Serenity Social Hub supports victims of substance abuse

Serenity Social Hub in Bournemouth offers support to recovering substance abusers.

Lindsey Hadlow, the creator of the Serenity Social Hub, set things in motion on the 16th of November.

She opened her doors to sufferers of substance abuse after experiencing it herself.

“With me previously being an addict, it made me want to help other people that may be in the same position as I was,” she said.

Before making the journey over to opening her own safe space for vulnerable people, Lindsey worked as a drug and alcohol recovery worker for three-and-a-half years.

She shared how much joy she felt when caring for people.

However, as time progressed she felt that the higher-ups at the job had become increasingly worried about statistics rather than helping people.

“I had crazy caseloads of 60-70 people, and you just couldn’t care for the people in the way I wanted to.

“I decided last year, opening something like this will have a real effect.”

She decided to open the establishment on the birthday of her sobriety.

She shared that the journey of opening the hub couldn’t be made possible without the love and support from her partner.

“My partner has been my biggest supporter, all the blood, sweat and tears.” She said.

“It was just me and him.” She added.

She shared that this hub is for people that are searching for a way out of drinking and to choose a non-alcoholic alternative.

“For people who are struggling with addiciton, being in a pub, being around alcohol can be difficult. But that is what this place is for.”

As well as offering a way out for so many people, she also offers work experience and volunteering opportunities regardless of a person’s background.

“It is a stepping stone for people to get back into society.” She said.

She further explained the difficulty of converting her not-for-profit organisation into a charity, an experience she shared as being a “real difficulty and definitely a long journey.”

Lindsey hopes that her step forward inspires others to take the plunge into sobriety, with the dream of seeing places like her hub across Bournemouth and beyond.