Ice cream and the hard work of healing: Greenwich, Rochester and recovery
This March, Linden Grove’s residents made the most of early spring with two outings. On 6 March, they headed to Rochester Castle before exploring the town and its history. Then, on 20 March, the group visited Greenwich, where a trip to the Maritime Museum ended with ice cream, as all good outings should.
Early recovery can be a fragile, uncertain time that involves intense personal work. At Linden Grove, that journey begins with safety, structure and support. For many residents, it also means experiencing stability and home for the first time in years, and outings like these offer moments of shared enjoyment and connection.
From laughing with friends to exploring somewhere new without substances, these shared experiences all help to lay foundations for life beyond active addiction: time spent together, doing something different, making the most of a brief pause from the intensity of early recovery. And ending, fittingly, with ice cream.
The foundation built at Linden Grove isn’t just practical; it’s also emotional and relational. As Manager Vincent Mahe shared in this year’s Annual Report:
“The first words a newly arrived resident hears on admission are: ‘Welcome to Linden; you are in a safe place.’ Away from the turbulence, drama, pain and chaos our residents leave behind them, they enter their new ‘home’ with us.
“Linden provides a safe haven, where residents are protected: sheltered from the elements, away from unsafe living conditions, separated from risks of violence and general abuse.
“Linden is so much more than just a roof and a meal. It is a true home, a foundation for recovery.”
- You can find out more about Linden Grove abstinence support hostel here