We trust that this will prove an invaluable resource to both cult members and AA members. In the case of the former this will enable them to avoid completely any risk of wandering into an AA meeting by accident there to encounter our "diluted, garbled, distorted message" (their description of the AA recovery programme – ie. the one outlined in the book "Alcoholics Anonymous" and other AA conference approved literature) and thus remain safe within the security and purity of their own version – that is the one based upon sponsorship idolatry ("DO EXACTLY WHAT YOUR SPONSOR SAYS"), literature derived from non-AA sources, fundamental breaches of AA Traditions, and intrusive, misinformed and inappropriate "suggestions" into pretty well every area of an individual's private life (eg. use of prescribed medication, marriage counselling, therapeutic interventions, financial contributions …. – the list, as they say, goes on "ad infinitum"). In the case of AA members, these are free to go to whatever meetings they like and already have their own Where to Find (though the cult groups still persist in advertising their own groups in it). However, apart from the characteristics mentioned above, what they will find in a cult meeting is a slick marketing operation managed by a core group of cult members, with the usual strategies employed by cults in recruiting new members ("love bombing" etc). Control freaks abound so there need be no worries about finding a sponsor to "run your life for you". Independent thinking is much frowned upon (Why bother when your sponsor will do it for you?) as is, for that matter, any form of independent action.
We shall be adding cult meeting details initially to the "Posts" section of the site and then transferring them here, to our new Where to Find section (in alphabetical order by county or metropolitan area).
This list is far from comprehensive and we will be adding to it (and amending where necessary) as we receive the relevant information.
We have now added "Contact" details (see below under each meeting) where complaints may be forwarded
ENGLAND
BEDFORDSHIRE
Toddington:
Primary Purpose
Saturday
19.00 Methodist Church Hall, High St
(Note:
appears in both AA WTF and Primary Purpose directories. Until quite
recently ran its own website but the account has now been suspended
whilst being investigated for "phishing" activities)
BERKSHIRE
Newbury:
Design for Living
Sunday 11.00 Greenham Community Centre, Nightingales, off Greenham Rd
Sunday 11.00 Greenham Community Centre, Nightingales, off Greenham Rd
(affiliated
with Wimbledon Design for Living group - moreover both groups
themselves have outside affiliations)
[now relocated to:
[now relocated to:
NEWBURY
MIDWEEK RECOVERY
Wednesday 18.30, St George
the Martyr Church Centre, 206 Andover Rd]
[Contact: comes under Church of England]
Cambridge:
Cambridge Primary Purpose
Monday 19.00 Abbey College, Station Rd
Monday 19.00 Abbey College, Station Rd
Cambridge:
Primary Purpose
Monday
19.45 St Paul's Church, Hills Rd
DEVON
Plymouth:
Road to Recovery
Tuesday
19.30 Church of Christ the King, Armada Way
[Contact: comes under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth]
Saturday
11.00 Church of Christ the King, Armada Way
Sunday
17.30 (Sept-Dec)- Big Book study
18.45 Mini Meeting
19.30 Topic Meeting St Mathias Church Hall, North Hill
18.45 Mini Meeting
19.30 Topic Meeting St Mathias Church Hall, North Hill
DORSET
Bournemouth:
Road to Recovery
Wednesday
19.30 St Stephen's Church Hall, St Stephen's Way
[Current listing: BOURNEMOUTH
ROAD TO RECOVERY
Wednesday
19.30 Richmond Hill St Andrews URC, 8 St Stephens Rd]
[Contact: comes under United Reformed Church]
ESSEX
Barking:
Big Book Study (The Way Out)
Saturday 20.00 Salvation Army, Ripple Rd
[Contact: comes under Salvation Army]
Saturday 20.00 Salvation Army, Ripple Rd
[Contact: comes under Salvation Army]
Chelmsford:
Recovery
Friday 19.00 "Open Rd", Mansard House, 107-109 New London Rd
Chelmsford: Broomfield
HospitalFriday 19.00 "Open Rd", Mansard House, 107-109 New London Rd
Thursday 20.00 Medical Academic Unit, Broomfield Hospital, Court Rd
[Contact: comes under NHS]
Goodmayes:
Altered Attitudes
Tuesday
20.00 All Saints Church Hall, Goodmayes Lane
[Contact: comes under Church of England] [closed down]
[Contact: comes under Church of England] [closed down]
Southend-on-Sea:
Recovery
Tuesday 19.30 The Store House, Coleman St Community Centre, Coleman St
[Contact: comes under Southend Vineyard]
Tuesday 19.30 The Store House, Coleman St Community Centre, Coleman St
[Contact: comes under Southend Vineyard]
Witham:
Big Book Recovery
Sunday 18.00 Methodist Church Hall, Guithavon St
[Contact: comes under Methodist Church]
Sunday 18.00 Methodist Church Hall, Guithavon St
[Contact: comes under Methodist Church]
HAMPSHIRE
Southsea:
Back To Basics
Monday 19.00 St Simon's Church, Waverley Road,Portsmouth
Monday 19.00 St Simon's Church, Waverley Road,Portsmouth
Southampton:
Road to Recovery
Saturday
19.30 United Reformed Church, St Johns Rd
(Note:
We have been informed that this group MAY have reverted to AA,
dropping the use of the group title Road to Recovery (and now
employing the name Hedge End) and abandoning moreover its connections
with other Road to Recovery (cult) groups together with their abusive
and dogmatic conduct and message. Any confirmation (either way) on
this would be welcome for we have no desire whatsoever to keep a
group listed here for one moment longer than is necessary. [Note: the
latest information received on this meeting is that it has now
closed]
KENT
East
Canterbury:
Big Book Step & Tradition
Hythe
Monday
20.00 Methodist Church, Rampart Rd
Kearsney
(Dover): Into Action
Wednesday
19.30 Kearsney Manor Nursing Home, Alkham Valley Rd
(used
to be quite an active cult centre but operations seems to have
switched to Tankerton Tuesday)[closed down - expelled by landlords]
Margate
Friday
19.45 St John's Community Centre, St John's Church, Victoria Rd
(some
cult influence here but group appears to have lost direction –
formed a kind of once-a-month- hybrid with Al Anon participation –
in breach of AA traditions)
Tankerton
Tuesday
19.45 Tankerton Evangelical Church
[Contact: comes under Evangelical Church]
Herne Bay: Big Book Salvation
Wednesday 19.30 The Retreat, RC Church, Clarence Rd
(affiliated with the Primary Purpose movement - included in their directory)
[Contact: comes under Roman Catholic Church][closed - due to lack of interest on the part of local members]
[Contact: comes under Evangelical Church]
Herne Bay: Big Book Salvation
Wednesday 19.30 The Retreat, RC Church, Clarence Rd
(affiliated with the Primary Purpose movement - included in their directory)
[Contact: comes under Roman Catholic Church][closed - due to lack of interest on the part of local members]
Westgate-on-Sea:
Morning Big Book Study
Sunday
10.00 The Bake House, 21 St Mildreds Rd
[Contact:
comes under The Bake and Ale House]
North
Beckenham:
Primary Purpose Big Book Step Study
Wednesday
19.45 St Edmunds Church Hall, Village Way
(affiliated with the Primary Purpose movement - included in a number of their directories)
[Contact: comes under Roman Catholic Church]
(affiliated with the Primary Purpose movement - included in a number of their directories)
[Contact: comes under Roman Catholic Church]
Bexleyheath:
Road to Recovery
Monday
19.30 The Booth, The Salvation Army, Broadway
[seems to have disappeared from radar?]
[seems to have disappeared from radar?]
Sidcup:
Into Action Multi-Mtg
Thursday
19.45 Emmanuel Methodist Church, Hadlow Rd
[Contact: comes under Emmanuel Methodist Church]
[Contact: comes under Emmanuel Methodist Church]
Sidcup:
Into Action Multi-Mtg
Sunday
19.45 Emmanuel Methodist Church, Hadlow Rd
(both
the Sidcup meetings form part of the Primary Purpose network (in
breach of AA traditions of non-affiliation) – they carry links to
this on their website, together with the rather unconvincing and
disingenuous disclaimer that such inclusions do not constitute an
endorsement - or otherwise - of this movement – for more
information on the Primary Purpose movement click here for pdf
download. However, and in brief, the Primary Purpose agenda is
essentially predicated upon a series of lies – that the AA message
has become "garbled", that this is a result of an influx of
"treatment centre" members who treat AA meetings as therapy
sessions, and that as a result recovery rates have fallen, and all
this despite evidence (independent) to the contrary
West
Gravesend:
Beginners
Tuesday
20.00 Emmanuel Baptist Church, Windmill St
[Contact: comes under South Eastern Baptist Association]
[Contact: comes under South Eastern Baptist Association]
Rochester: Big Book Step (Beginners)
Monday
20.00 The Quaker Meeting House, Northgate
[Contact: comes under Quakers]
[Contact: comes under Quakers]
Rochester
Lunchtime Big Book Study
Wednesday
Quakers Meeting House, Northgate
[Contact:
comes under Quakers]
Rochester:
Saturday
10.45 The Quaker Meeting House, Northgate
Strood:
There is a Solution
LANCASHIRE
Barnoldswick:
Back To Basics
Tuesday 19.30, Holy Trinity Church, Skipton Road, Barnoldswick
Tuesday 19.30, Holy Trinity Church, Skipton Road, Barnoldswick
Southport:
Back To Basics
Tuesday 20.00 Quaker Meeting Rooms, Court Road, Southport
Tuesday 20.00 Quaker Meeting Rooms, Court Road, Southport
LONDON
(including Greater London)
N21
Winchmore
Hill: There is a Solution
Winchmore
Hill: Primary Purpose Beginners
Friday
20.00 Winchmore Hill Methodist Church, Green Lanes
SE10
Greenwich:
Road to Recovery
Tuesday
19.30 Devonshire Drive Baptist Church, Devonshire Drive
[Contact: comes under Baptist Church]
[Contact: comes under Baptist Church]
SW4
Battersea:
Beginners
Tuesday
19.30 St Barnabas Church, Lavender Gdns
[Contact: comes under Church of England]
[Contact: comes under Church of England]
SW8
South
Lambeth Beginners: Big Book Study
Friday 19.00 St Annes and
All Saints Church, Miles St, South Lambeth Rd
[Contact: comes under Church of England]
SW8
Lambeth Beginners Step Monday
Monday 19.00 St Annes and All Saints Church, Miles St, South Lambeth Rd
[Contact: comes under Church of England]
SW8
Lambeth Beginners Step Monday
Monday 19.00 St Annes and All Saints Church, Miles St, South Lambeth Rd
[Contact: comes under Church of England]
SW8
Vauxhall:
London Beginners
SW19
Wimbledon:
Design for Living Group
Sunday
10.30 William Morris Meeting Rooms, The Broadway
W8
Kensington:
Road to Recovery/As Bill Sees It
Monday
19.30 Kensington United Reformed Church, Allen St
[Contact: comes under United Reformed Church]
[Contact: comes under United Reformed Church]
Kensington:
Road to Recovery
Wednesday
19.30 Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church, Kensington Church St
[Contact: comes under Roman Catholic Church]
[Contact: comes under Roman Catholic Church]
W11
Notting
Hill: Road to Recovery/A Vision for You
Friday
19.30 St Johns Church, Lansdowne Crescent
(although currently listed at 59a Portobello Rd)
(although currently listed at 59a Portobello Rd)
W13
[We
have received a number of detailed complaints about the activities of
these groups and their association with the cult. All these groups
come under South Middlesex Intergroup, London Region (North)].
And here is the latest list (as of 30/07/11) for the Ealing 'project'. It is rather difficult to determine exactly how many of these are actually functioning at the moment and indeed which ones still subscribe to the cult 'ethos' of “carrying the message “ through bullying and coercion... but nevertheless here we go:
Mon
07:30 West Ealing: Great Feeling in Ealing, 1 Bayham Road Junction
with Bedford Road. (seems to have reverted to AA)
Mon
13:00 West Ealing: Community Centre, Green Man Lane
[Contact:
comes under Green Man Lane]
Mon
18:00 West Ealing: A Vision For You, 1 Bayham Road Junction with
Bedford Rd
[Contact:
comes under Ealing Centre for Independent Living]
Tue
07:30 Ealing: Healthy Feeling in Ealing, 1 Bayham Road Junction with
Bedford Rd (seems to have reverted to AA)
Tue
09.45 West Ealing: Big Book Happy Focus, Community Centre, Green Man
Lane (reported closed down due to lack of support)
Wed
07:30 West Ealing: A.M Reflections, 1 Bayham Rd Junction with Bedford
Rd
Wed
13:00 West Ealing: Community Centre, Green Man Lane
Wed
18:00 West Ealing: Community Centre, Green Man Lane
Wed
19:30 West Ealing: Big Book Focus, Community Centre, Green Man Lane
Thurs
07:30 West Ealing: Radiant Feeling, 1 Bayham Road Junction with
Bedford Road
Thurs
09.45 West Ealing: Big Book Joyous Focus, Community Centre, Green Man
Lane. (closed)
Thurs
13:00 West Ealing: Green Man Big Book Discussion Community Centre,
Green Man Lane
Thurs
18:00 West Ealing: Happy, Joyous & Free, 1 Bayham Road Corner of
Bedford Road
Fri
07:30 West Ealing: 1 Bayham Rd Junction with Bedford Road
Sat
09:00 West Ealing: Wonderful Feeling in Ealing, 1 Bayham Road
Junction with Bedford Road (definitely cult)
Sat
18:00 West Ealing: 1 Bayham Rd, Junction with Bedford Road
Sun
08:45 West Ealing: Sponsored Walks, 1 Bayham Rd Junction with Bedford
Road (definitely cult)
Sun
13:30 West Ealing: 1 Bayham Rd Junction with Bedford Road
Sun
19:00 West Ealing: Step & Tradition, 1 Bayham Rd, Junction with
Bedford Road (definitely cult)
(We
will update this list accordingly as we receive the information)
MIDDLESEX
Enfield:
Big Book Study
Saturday 18.00 Holy Family Convent, London Road
(outside affiliation with the Primary Purpose movement)
[no longer listed on AA website]
Saturday 18.00 Holy Family Convent, London Road
(outside affiliation with the Primary Purpose movement)
[no longer listed on AA website]
Hampton
Wick: How It Works Beginners
Friday 19.00 St Edward's Day Centre, Sons of Divine Providence, 13 Lower Teddington Rd
Friday 19.00 St Edward's Day Centre, Sons of Divine Providence, 13 Lower Teddington Rd
Hampton
Wick: How It Works Big Book Step
Friday Meeting 20.30 (address - as above)
Friday Meeting 20.30 (address - as above)
[Contact:
comes under The Sons of Divine Providence]
OXFORDSHIRE
Oxford:
Warneford Hospital
Thursday 19.30 McKinnes Room, Warneford Hospital, Old Rd, Headington
Thursday 19.30 McKinnes Room, Warneford Hospital, Old Rd, Headington
SURREY
Guildford:
Beginners
Monday
20.00 St Mary's Church Community Hall, Aldershot Rd
[Contact:
comes under Roman Catholic Church][defunct]
Purley:
There is a SolutionMonday 19.30
Saturday 09.30
See local Where to Find:
[Contact: comes under United Reformed Church]
St. Swithuns Church, Grovelands Rd
[Contact: comes under Church of England]
(Affiliated
with the Primary Purpose movement - listed in their directory. The
Purley group is involved in running non-AA conventions (in breach of
AA guidelines) with the usual imported US Primary Purpose speakers.
Fliers of these events have been circulated at AA meetings (again in
breach of AA Traditions) and the speakers themselves prominently
advertised (again in breach of AA Traditions - the one about
"principles before personalities"). No proper accounting
methods have been employed to record the distribution of the monies
charged for attendance at these gatherings - in some cases for
substantial amounts)
Richmond: How it Works
SUSSEX
(EAST)
Hastings: Step and Tradition
Saturday 18.00 Repository Room, St Mary Star of the Sea RC Church, High St, Old Town
[Contact: comes under Roman Catholic Church]
Eastbourne: There is a Solution
Friday 19.30 Elim Church, Hartfield Rd
[Contact: comes under Elim Church]
Hastings: Step and Tradition
Saturday 18.00 Repository Room, St Mary Star of the Sea RC Church, High St, Old Town
[Contact: comes under Roman Catholic Church]
Eastbourne: There is a Solution
Friday 19.30 Elim Church, Hartfield Rd
[Contact: comes under Elim Church]
WARWICKSHIRE
Stratford upon Avon: Big Book Study
Sunday 19.30 United Reformed Church, Rother St.
[Contact: comes under United Reformed Church]
YORKSHIRE
Halifax
Primary Purpose Group
Saturday
10.30 The Ebenezer Center, St. James Road
[Contact:
comes under Ebenezer Centre Tel: 01422 342654]
(outside
affiliation with the Primary Purpose movement)
Harrogate
Back To Basics Meeting
Wednesday
6:30 Harrogate Baptist Church. Victoria Avenue,
[Contact:
comes under Baptist
Church]
(described
in the AA directory as a Big Book multi-meeting group but affiliated
with the Back to Basics movement – a US separately incorporated
“not for profit” outside enterprise)
Sheffield: Primary Purpose Big Book Study
(Note:
this group appears in both AA WTF and in Primary Purpose directories)
SCOTLAND
ABERDEEN
Aberdeen:
Back To Basics 12 Step Meeting
Wednesday 20.00 St Marks Church, Rosemount Viaduct
[now listed at: Linksfield Day Care Centre, 8 Linksfield Place]
[Contact: comes under Linksfield Day Care Centre]
Wednesday 20.00 St Marks Church, Rosemount Viaduct
[now listed at: Linksfield Day Care Centre, 8 Linksfield Place]
[Contact: comes under Linksfield Day Care Centre]
(affiliated
with the Back to Basics movement - an outside organisation - and one
which continues to misrepresent AA recovery rates)
Aberdeen:
Big Book Workshop
Thursday
19.30 St Peter's Church, Chapel Close, Castlegate
[Contact: comes under Roman Catholic Church]
[Contact: comes under Roman Catholic Church]
(Note:
appears in both AA WTF and Primary Purpose directories)
GLASGOW
Priesthill:
Big Book Study
Wednesday
20.00 Priesthill Community Centre, Priesthill Rd
[Contact: comes under Church of Scotland]
[Contact: comes under Church of Scotland]
(Note:
this group appears in both AA WTF and Primary Purpose directories)
LANARKSHIRE
Motherwell:
Primary Purpose Big Book
Monday
20.00 Motherwell Baptist Church, Windmill St
[Contact: comes under Baptist Union of Scotland]
[Contact: comes under Baptist Union of Scotland]
(Note:
this group appears in both AA WTF and in Primary Purpose directories)
WALES
PEMBROKESHIRE
Johnston:
Primary Purpose Big Book Study
Tuesday
20.00 'Oasis', Nr Johnston Baptist Church, Glebelands
(affiliation
with the Primary Purpose movement and appears in their directory)
Finally,
groups which carry the titles: "Road to Recovery", "Primary
Purpose", "Beginners", "Newcomers", "Vision
for You" should be viewed with some circumspection (though it
should be emphasised here that the use of these epithets does not
necessarily imply a cult connection). However, cult members are very
keen on getting to newcomers quickly, and focus a considerable amount
of their energy on targeting the most vulnerable within the
Fellowship. They are therefore very enthusiastic about setting up
meetings specifically focussed on this "target market". It
is our view that ALL AA meetings exist to assist the newcomer and
that there should be no necessity for these so-called "specialist"
meetings - this same principle applies to so-called "non-restrictive"
meetings, which similarly break the most fundamental AA Tradition -
that of the sole membership requirement.
