Better Business / Member news
UWE Bristol toolkit to strengthen community links for people in addiction recovery
UWE Bristol researchers have developed a new toolkit designed to help people living with drug and alcohol dependency better access community services that support long-term recovery and wellbeing.
Led by Dr Amy Beardmore and developed in partnership with alcohol and drug charity Via, the project explored how individuals in recovery can be more effectively connected to local “community assets” such as debt advice services, park runs, faith groups, recovery cafés, and creative or educational programmes.
Researchers found that simply signposting people to services was often ineffective, particularly for those facing trauma, stigma or low confidence.
Instead, workshops with service users, peer mentors and staff highlighted the need for more proactive, supportive approaches that build trust and reduce anxiety.
View this post on Instagram
In response, the team created a toolkit built around four key elements: a six-stage “Stages of Engagement” model to match support to a person’s readiness to engage; a “Community Connector” role to provide warm, personal introductions to services; a brief conversational assessment focusing on individual needs and interests; and improvements to a digital platform mapping local support.
Dr Beardmore said the work shifts the focus from questioning why people are not engaging to understanding what support is appropriate at each stage of recovery, stressing the importance of human connection over passive referral.
The toolkit is already attracting wider interest, including potential pilots with the Scottish Recovery Consortium and engagement with the international Inclusive Recovery Cities movement. It has also been shared with the Bristol Recovery Festival, where UWE Bristol became the event’s first academic sponsor.
UWE Bristol became the first academic sponsor of Bristol Recovery Festival – photo: Molly Pipe
Dr Beardmore, who worked on the project with Devon De Silva from Via and Leila Powell from UWE Bristol, said: “While this work began as a small, time‑limited project, its impact lies in how it has reshaped conversations about how and when community assets are accessed in people’s recovery journeys.”
UWE Bristol are member of the Bristol24/7 Better Business network, an initiative to help businesses thrive while creating a positive impact on Bristol and the people who live here. As part of their membership, businesses can publish member news stories like this. For more information, visit my.bristol247.com/better-business
Main photo: UWE Bristol
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
