09 June 2026
James Simons has been part of WithYou for more than 10 years.
He came in as a volunteer, became a recovery worker, and he's now community engagement coordinator at the Glasgow North West Recovery Hub.
But whatever the job title, what's always driven him is being alongside people when it matters most.
"It's a real privilege to be a small part of somebody's life," James says.
Just being there, listening, and walking with them, sometimes through the most difficult times in their life.
As community engagement coordinator, James is rarely behind a desk for long.
On any given morning he might be on the phone arranging a drama workshop with In Cahootz, setting up a dental hygiene session with the health improvement team, organising a talk from Prostate Cancer UK for the men's group, or booking an eight-week SMART recovery programme.
James’ goal is always the same. More options for the people coming through the door.
"It's about networking with statutory services, third sector organisations, employability services, anything that's going to enhance the experience for our clients and give them more options,” James explains.
One of the most significant parts of James' week happens every Friday in Possilpark.
Working in partnership with North West Recovery Communities, he's helped facilitate Mutual Aid Partnership (MAP) groups there since first volunteering in 2014. These Friday sessions at the recovery cafe regularly bring in between 60 and 80 people, all supporting each other through their recovery.
He's also co-facilitated a men's mindfulness group in Knightswood for several years. When attendance began to drop, James worked with North West Recovery Communities to rethink the format, bring in partner agencies and broaden the content. Attendance has since grown to more than 15.
"It's extremely important that we have gender-specific groups in the community,” he says. “This gives people a safe space to talk about things they might not feel comfortable raising in a mixed group."
James is now training a volunteer to take over MAP group facilitation at Possilpark, and he's delivered MAP training to teams in East Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire. His focus on developing others is a thread that runs through everything he does.
That focus extends to his own development too.
Having completed mindfulness teacher training two years ago, he's now delivering mindfulness sessions within the service. Mindfulness has also been part of his own daily routine for years. Every morning, before the working day begins, he spends at least 15 minutes meditating.
"Meditation helps me to remain present and focused throughout the day,” he explains.
The recent opening of WithYou's new Glasgow North West hub in Maryhill has also changed the shape of James' work in a very practical way. Before, a significant part of his role involved sourcing community venues, managing invoices and coordinating with external organisations just to find space to deliver groups. That time can now go elsewhere.
Having a purpose-built group room means we can sort that in-house,” he adds. “It'll make a massive difference.
James's connection to this work runs deeper than his job description. He began experiencing drug and alcohol challenges as a young teenager and spent much of the following three decades caught up in them. The turning point came around 2013, when he spent six months in a community rehab.
He's been in recovery ever since. But James is clear that his path isn't the only one.
"I understand that there are many recovery pathways,” James says. “Whether it's SMART Recovery, 12 step fellowships , MAP groups, recovery cafes, recovery through nature, faith, or medical-assisted treatment. There are all different kinds, which is important. For me, abstinence is what worked. But that's my experience."
Looking back, he credits one particular key worker as a turning point in his confidence.
"He inspired me,” James recalls. “I'd look at him and think: how can you do that? He was self-assured, and he made me believe in myself a bit."
That experience shaped how James shows up for others today. After getting into recovery, he began volunteering with North West Recovery Communities, then came to an open day at what was then Addaction, now WithYou.
That connection led to a volunteering role, and within a few months he'd been offered a contract. He later worked in WithYou's East Dunbartonshire service supporting people affected by alcohol-related brain damage before returning to Glasgow North West. He's been here ever since.
Ten years in, James still lights up when he talks about his work. “I've always enjoyed it here. I've always loved the organisation. It invests in people and in lived experience. And that matters."
If you or someone you know needs support with drugs or alcohol, James and the team at Glasgow North West are here to help. Find out more about our free, confidential support at wearewithyou.org.uk/local-hubs/north-west-glasgow
