“Each group has but one primary purpose – to carry its message to the codependent who still suffers.”
CoDA – Tradition 5
Most members participate in the programme by going to meetings (whether face to face) or online. But there are many opportunities for service in CoDA, most of us in service have found that volunteering to do service improves the quality of our recovery. We freely share out time, talent and energies in an effort to pass on recovery to those who are suffering. In other words get what you give.
Get involved
Take a look at some of the ways you can help raise visibility of Codependents Anonymous UK. As a small organisation covering the whole of the UK, all support is gratefully received, every action you take can make a difference – it all counts!
CoDA Community Outreach (to community teams)
Professionals are fully aware of codependency, but have little to no knowledge of the Codependents Anonymous programme which was set up by members of the recovery sector in the 1980s.
CoDA members, and CoDA meetings can request free packs of CoDA introductory materials to circulate in their local area. Just email publicinformation@codauk.org.
CoDA resources:
Information for Professionals
Free CoDA leaflets
Cover letter (sample)
CoDA Community Outreach Posters (in community spaces)
Added to public noticeboards help raise awareness of one of the younger programmes in the UK, or your meeting. Possible locations could include: libraries, community centres, churches, community boards (in commercial spaces e.g. supermarket)
- Download CoDA UK DRAFT Poster set (PDF)
- Prepare your own poster – (opens in free package called Figma) instructions in page
- Email publicinformation@codauk.org if you’d like assistance
CoDA Outreach (at Recovery events)
CoDA supports members interested in taking conference materials to events (supporting recovery professionals).
Reach out to publicinformation@codauk.org to find out more.
Offer support to the fellowship
Welcoming newcomers
Both a role at CoDA meetings, but also an opportunity. Open to all, no matter how long you’ve spent in the CoDA fellowship. (home group roles)
CoDA Chair / Share
Sharing ESH (experience, strength and hope) in a meeting, or being present and sharing your truth with the meeting, is just one example to offer your time to the programme.
Reach out to local groups
Member shares
We’re looking for submissions! We want your personal stories & poems reflecting experience, strength & hope in your recovery from codependency (recovery in other 12 Step programmes may be mentioned peripherally, but not as the focus please).
CoDA Member shares
Outreach calls to CoDA members
Either locally by sharing your details with new members or across the country via one of the online channels set up to support recovery.
Find out more
Connecting members (GSR)
One of a number of roles at group level
- Healthy meetings connect with the CoDA Fellowship beyond the meeting room walls. Groups join together to… accomplish things that a single group cannot, such as maintaining up-to-date meetings lists, sponsoring events.
The Intergroups¹ conduct regular business/service Group Conscience meetings involved in and supporting the running of CoDA.
- Strong Intergroups¹ are the key to the success of CoDA in general. CoDA Intergroups¹ are made up of Group Service Representatives (GSRs) from area meetings and interested CoDA members from the local Fellowship.
- All CoDA groups are encouraged to send a GSR to Intergroup¹ meetings. All members of the Fellowship are welcome to attend and participate in their Intergroup*. A sense of community at the local level leads to success in attracting and sustaining the involvement of members of the fellowship in service work and in community building activities. Some consider it a way of practicing and demonstrating responsibility and accountability to self and to others, while working a program of recovery and remaining open to Higher Power’s will.
(Excerpt from the FSM, and “The Newcomer’s Handbook” and “Building CoDA Community – Healthy Meetings Matter” booklets)
¹ Since arriving in the UK in 1989 there have been an array of CoDA intergroup configurations, and 1 Voting Entity. We now have multiple Voting Entities, and no active Intergroups in the UK (as of 2023).
Support community projects in the UK
Reach out to one of the teams looking for support in your region
Find out more
Sponsor another CoDA member
In order to carry the message, we must give back what has been given to us and often members of Twelve Step fellowships choose to sponsor. We also can support sponsorship in our local or regional groups by facilitating opportunities to learn about sponsorship.
Sponsor a newcomer at a CoDA Meeting
Support sponsorship workshops
Start a meeting
Cant find a face to face meeting in your area? Have you thought about adding registering interest on the “Starting a new meeting” page. We have seventh tradition funded starter packs to circulate in community spaces, and free posters we can update to assist in raising awareness – of interest in opening a new meeting – via community boards. Just email publicinformation@codauk.org for more info.
If you’d like to start a new meeting but would like to appeal for fellow members to come forward to help you first, we can list your request. Please email meetings@codauk.org with your first name, the area where you’d like to start a meeting and your contact number and/or email address so that members can get in touch with you.
Find out more
If you wish to obtain further information about CoDA UK for use in any publication or public material, please make sure that you contact us at publicinformation@codauk.org first so that we can inform you of our policy of Anonymity and the Traditions that relate to any use of the CoDA UK name by outside sources.
