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In 2024, Outdoor Education Fife (OEF) partnered with the Fife Alcohol & Drug Partnership, Health & Social Care Partnership, FIRST, and Restoration Fife to launch ‘Recovery Through the Outdoors’, a programme designed to support people in recovery from substance use through outdoor activity.
Delivered in three blocks throughout the year, the programme has supported over 25 participants so far. The aim has been to improve physical and mental wellbeing, build confidence, and reduce isolation by creating safe, supportive experiences in nature.
The early results have been encouraging. Of those taking part:
Participants also shared that being outdoors helped them feel more confident in their recovery journey. Notably, none of the participants have relapsed during the programme, and demand for future places continues to grow.
This work supports several ambitions from the Plan for Fife, including tackling poverty, reducing preventable ill health, and improving community wellbeing. It also contributes to climate and environmental goals by encouraging low-impact, outdoor activity and making better use of Fife’s natural spaces.
The programme has also helped reduce stigma and build trust between services and participants. Outdoor Education staff have adapted their approach to better support people in recovery, and the partnership has opened up new ways of working across sectors.
Looking ahead, the team plans to build on this success by offering volunteering opportunities at the end of each programme block and tracking longer-term outcomes such as employability and reduced pressure on health services.
