Recovery starts with people

Since 2014, Kennedy Street has been helping people recover from addiction through hope, connection and lived experience. Together, we're building a community where recovery is visible, supported and celebrated.

Close-up of Kevin and Clare Kennedy smiling outdoors, with other people in the background, during a community event or gathering.
Silhouette of a woman holding a microphone, standing on a stage with a bright backdrop, during a presentation or performance. 
Our Story

Everyone deserves the chance to recover.

Kennedy Street was founded in 2014 by Clare and Kevin Kennedy, who know first-hand that recovery is possible.

More than 28 years ago, Kevin and Clare were searching for help with their own addiction. After being told to "just stop drinking", they realised recovery wasn't simply about willpower; it was about having the right support, community and hope.

Despite being privileged enough to afford private treatment, Clare and Kevin knew that others in the same predicament wouldn't be as fortunate. Not everyone would be lucky enough to be offered an opportunity of renewal, a new chance at life."

So they created Kennedy Street.

What began as a simple belief that everyone deserves access to recovery has grown into a thriving peer-led charity supporting people across Brighton and beyond.

Abstract graphic with a large black circle, beige curved and angular shapes, and small beige lines on a black background.
A group of diverse people standing outside a small stone building with an open door, some waving and smiling, in a community event or gathering. The scene is in daylight surrounded by greenery.
Close-up of a black and gold alarm clock showing the time 7:00. 
Our approach

We believe people in recovery are best placed to lead others into recovery.

As a visible, peer-led independent charity, we use lived experience to inspire hope, challenge stigma and show that recovery is possible. By creating opportunities for people to connect, grow and give back, we're building a community where recovery is visible, supported and celebrated.

Through peer support, education, volunteering and community, we help people:

  • Begin their recovery journey

  • Build confidence and resilience

  • Develop new skills

  • Reconnect with their community

  • Discover purpose beyond addiction

Our Values
Symbol combining male and female signs with wiggly lines around them

Hope

Recovery is possible. With the right support anyone can turn their life around.

A colorful, abstract design with interconnected loops and red accents, surrounded by a purple circular border.

Connection

The opposite of addiction is connection. Together we can rebuild our lives.

Simplified illustration of a clock showing 12:00, with a green circular border and orange and red accents.

Visibility

By sharing our stories and challenging stigma, we show that recovery is possible.

Meet The Kennedys

“We believe everyone who wants to start recovery has the capacity to have their lives transformed.”

Clare is the CEO and co-founder of Kennedy Street. For more than two decades, she has supported people entering and sustaining long-term recovery through mentoring, coaching and training. A passionate community change-maker, Clare has also developed several business-for-good initiatives that help create opportunities for people in recovery to rebuild their confidence, skills and future.

Kevin is the Patron and co-founder of Kennedy Street. Best known for playing Curly Watts in Coronation Street —it was while being regularly watched by 20 million viewers that Kev's alcoholism was outed by a tabloid newspaper. Since then, he began his recovery and in doing so has become a passionate advocate for it. 

Abstract shapes in beige, purple, and black on a white background.
A smiling woman with blonde hair and glasses, and a man with glasses and short hair, both in casual attire, sitting close together in a modern indoor setting.
Three people, two women and one man, dressed in formal attire, standing together outdoors at night during a public event or celebration.
A woman with blonde hair, glasses, and red lipstick smiling at the camera, next to an older man with gray hair, leaning close to her. They appear to be in an indoor setting with a window or glass behind them.

"It is not events, circumstances, or people that are the source of our well-being, it is our own created thoughts and beliefs that give us meaningful experiences from moment to moment. Realising this helps us to uncover our true identity, tap into our internal resilience, which in turn embeds a want to achieve our greatest potential in life." 

— Kevin Kennedy

Abstract shapes in purple, black, beige, and lavender on a white background.
A man wearing glasses and a Manchester City football jersey giving a thumbs up in a backyard. 
our impact

800+

People supported in recovery since 2020

237

Individuals supported since June 2025

5,788

Service attendance delivered since June 2025

All figures are reported as of July 2026.

Meet the team
  • A smiling woman with blonde hair and glasses sitting outdoors at a table with bottles and a cup, with other people and building in the background.

    Clare Kennedy

    CEO & CO-FOUNDER | CPRC

  • A smiling man wearing sunglasses and a patterned short-sleeve shirt, enjoying a sunset by the water with an island in the background.

    Kevin Kennedy

    PATRON & CO-FOUNDER

  • Man taking a selfie outdoors on a mountain with a view of rocky peaks and a blue sky.

    Mark Mc Taggart

    OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

  • A woman with blonde hair taking a selfie outdoors in front of a colorful mural on a building. She is wearing a denim jacket and a lanyard with text.

    Sarah Wilson

    RECOVERY PRACTITIONER | CPRC

  • A man with a beard and mustache wearing a red bandana, black Nike jacket, and jeans, standing outdoors in front of a colorful mural on a building, with a grassy area and trees in the background.

    Paul Moss

    RECOVERY PRACTITIONER | CPRC

  • A young man with short hair and a beard, smiling, standing outside in front of a colorful graffiti wall, wearing a light beige jacket, white t-shirt, and a camera around his neck.

    Sam Hunt

    TRAINING DEVELOPMENT MANAGER | CPRC

  • A woman with curly dark hair taking a selfie, wearing a white turtleneck and a brown fleece jacket, with a neutral background.

    Sabrina Laith

    CREATIVE LEAD

  • Julio Ugueto

    FINANCE OFFICER

  • Mikey Howard-Williams

    AUCTION & EVENTS COORDINATOR

  • Man with a mustache smiling, wearing a Marvel-themed Christmas sweater, sitting at a table in a decorated room with yellow walls and string lights.

    Daniel Cunningham

    RECOVERY ASISSTANT

  • A man wearing glasses and a Harleys t-shirt, standing in a kitchen with industrial kitchen equipment in the background. He is smiling, with a volunteer badge hanging around his neck. The man appears to be doing a hand gesture.

    Ben Piper

    RECOVERY ASISSTANT 

our funders
  • Lloyds Bank Foundation logo with a black horse standing on three legs, with a gray mane and tail, and the text "Lloyds Bank Foundation" and "England & Wales" underneath.
  • Text reading 'COMMUNITY' in large pink letters on a black background.
  • Logo of the Garfield Weston Foundation, featuring a blue square with a black 'W' and a blue horizontal line, with the foundation name written below.
  • A black and white illustration of a human figure sitting on a cylindrical object, holding a paintbrush and painting a large, bold letter 'A' on the wall.
  • Enjolata Foundation logo featuring intertwined heart shapes and text.
  • Logo of Sussex Community Foundation with stylized 'S' and 'B' in concentric lines and the text 'Sussex Community Foundation'.
  • Logo of the Deriva Foundation with the word 'deriva' in lowercase blue letters and an orange sun above the 'i'.
  • The Caerlow Trust logo with the name displayed in blue text on a black background.
  • Logo for Chalk Cliff Trust featuring an outline map of Nevada with a yellow dot, an illustration of a lighthouse, and the text "Chalk Cliff Trust" in large blue letters.
  • Juliar Rausing Trust logo in purple text on a white background.

Love is at the heart of everything we do

As an independent charity, we're incredibly grateful to every volunteer, donor, partner and supporter who helps make recovery possible.

Donate
Get involved