Treat people with respect
Bullying, harassment, discrimination, threats and abusive behaviour are not acceptable.
Care • Respect • Trust
Safeguarding at Rise Sober
Rise Sober is a volunteer-led recovery community rooted in seva — selfless service. We want everyone who attends our meetings or takes part in our activities to feel welcome, respected and safe.
Our meetings welcome all ages, people of every background and those following different recovery pathways. We offer peer support, rather than clinical treatment or emergency care.
From my own recovery
What meetings have taught me
Attending AA has been an important part of my own recovery. It has taught me to look at my own conduct in meetings: to listen with respect, protect anonymity, give others space and share from my own experience rather than comment on someone else’s share. The spirit of AA’s Yellow Card, alongside meeting etiquette and avoiding cross-sharing, reminds me that recovery meetings should be safe and welcoming. These lessons shape how I try to conduct myself and the care I want us to bring to Rise Sober. — Jay Thandi
This is Jay’s personal experience. Rise Sober is an independent recovery community; these are our own meeting guidelines.
A safer space together
What we expect at meetings
Let people share freely
Sharing is voluntary. Listen without judgement, avoid interrupting and respect someone’s choice not to speak.
Avoid cross-sharing
Speak from your own experience rather than commenting on, questioning or giving unsolicited advice about another person’s share. Allow each person to be heard without interruption.
Respect privacy
Do not repeat someone else’s story, identify attendees outside the meeting, or take photographs, screenshots or recordings without permission.
Keep appropriate boundaries
Do not pressure anyone into personal relationships, lending money, buying products, religious practices or a particular recovery approach.
Be mindful of younger attendees
Keep language and descriptions appropriate for a mixed-age group. Volunteers must not arrange unsupervised private contact or personal messaging with under-18s.
Follow the host’s guidance
Hosts may interrupt harmful discussions, address inappropriate behaviour or ask someone to leave when necessary to protect the meeting.
Keep the meeting space recovery-friendly
Please do not drink alcohol, use drugs, smoke or vape on camera. Keep backgrounds and anything shared on screen suitable for all ages. Mute when you’re not speaking to reduce distractions.
You do not need to be at a particular stage of recovery to ask for support. Please speak to the host if you feel uncomfortable or need help participating safely.
Raise a concern
If something has made you feel unsafe, or you are worried about another person’s wellbeing or someone’s behaviour, please contact:
Email Jay ThandiJay@risesober.co.uk
You can also speak to a meeting host, who can help you raise the concern.
You can tell us
You do not need proof to tell us you are worried. Please share only the information needed to explain the concern and let us know how we can contact you safely. Avoid posting personal details or allegations in meeting chats, social media comments or website feedback.
How we handle concerns
We will listen, take concerns seriously and consider what action is appropriate. Information will be handled sensitively and shared only where there is a proper need.
Meeting privacy has limits. We cannot promise to keep information secret if sharing it is necessary to help protect a child or another person from harm.
Urgent help
If someone is in immediate danger or needs urgent medical help, call 999. Do not wait for an email reply.
Our email is not continuously monitored.
Call 999 in an emergencyIndependent reporting
You can contact your local council’s children’s or adult safeguarding service directly. If a concern involves Jay, or you would prefer not to report through Rise Sober, please use those independent services. Contact the police on 101 for a non-emergency police matter.
Developing our safeguarding arrangements
Our board is reviewing Rise Sober’s full safeguarding policy and practical arrangements. This page will be updated following that review. You can raise a concern now using the contact details above.