In a town famous for its football club and recent Hollywood spotlight, there is another team in Wrexham fighting a very different kind of battle. Champions House is not a sports bar or a fan zone; it is a vital lifeline for those navigating the difficult journey of addiction and mental health recovery.
Located on Grove Park Road, Champions House is a dedicated Recovery Delivery Hub operated by the charity Adferiad (formerly known as CAIS). Unlike sterile clinics or hospitals, this facility is designed to be a safe, creative, and drug-free environment where people can rebuild their lives through community connection rather than just medical treatment.
Whether you are looking for support for yourself, a family member, or just want to understand the resources available in Wrexham, this guide covers everything you need to know about the hub.
Quick Facts: Location & Access
For those in need of immediate information, here are the essential details:
| Feature | Details |
| Address | 9-11 Grove Park Road, Wrexham, LL12 7AA |
| Operated By | Adferiad Recovery (formerly CAIS) |
| Opening Hours | Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Phone Number | 01978 367030 |
| Referral Needed? | No. It is an “Open Access” service |
| Who is it for? | Adults (18+) dealing with addiction or mental health issues |
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What Actually Happens Inside?
The first thing to understand about Champions House is that it operates on a “Mutual Aid” model. It doesn’t feel like a doctor’s waiting room; it feels like a social hub. The goal is to build “Recovery Capital”—the internal and external resources a person needs to sustain long-term sobriety.
A Community, Not a Clinic
The hub offers a variety of structured activities designed to fill the void that addiction often leaves behind. These include:
- Peer-Led Groups: Sessions where people share lived experiences in a non-judgmental space.
- Creative Workshops: Art, music, and cooking classes that help individuals rediscover hobbies and passions.
- Employment Support: The building serves as a base for Cyfle Cymru, a peer mentoring service that helps people in recovery get back into work or education.
This holistic approach is crucial. While initiatives like National Wellness Month are great for raising short-term awareness, facilities like Champions House provide the consistent, year-round engagement required to turn those wellness concepts into a daily reality for people in crisis.
Mental Health & Emotional Support
Addiction is rarely an isolated issue; it often walks hand-in-hand with mental health struggles. Champions House is equipped to support individuals with co-occurring conditions (often called Dual Diagnosis), ensuring that mental wellbeing is treated alongside substance misuse.
Breaking the Emotional Block
For many in recovery, the hardest part is reconnecting with their emotions after years of numbing them with substances. Peer mentors and counselors at the hub help individuals navigate these confusing feelings. It is common for people in early recovery to ask questions like why can’t I cry anymore or conversely, why they feel overwhelmed by emotion. The support groups at Champions House provide a safe space to process this “emotional thaw” without fear of judgment.
How to Access Support (No Referral Needed)
One of the most critical barriers to recovery is the red tape of waiting lists and GP letters. Champions House removes this by operating an “Open Access” policy.
- Walk-Ins Welcome: You do not need a doctor’s referral. You can simply walk in during opening hours (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) to speak with a staff member or volunteer.
- Phone Support: If you are anxious about visiting in person, you can call 01978 367030 to speak to the team first.
Important Distinction: Champions House vs. Hafan Wen
It is important not to confuse Champions House with Hafan Wen.
- Champions House (Grove Park Rd): A community hub for day-to-day support, social groups, and counseling.
- Hafan Wen (Wrexham Maelor Hospital): A dedicated inpatient detoxification unit for medically supervised withdrawal.
Champions House is often where people go after they have completed medical detox at Hafan Wen, or to prevent the need for hospitalization in the first place.
Conclusion
Champions House Wrexham stands as a testament to the power of community in the face of addiction. By offering an open door and a non-judgmental chair to anyone who walks in, Adferiad has created a space that is less about “treatment” and more about “living.” If you or a loved one are struggling, remember that you don’t need a referral or an appointment—you just need to turn up at Grove Park Road.
