Revised UKRF Recovery Principles

Revised UKRF Recovery Principles

In March this year we put out our draft UKRF Recovery Principles for consultation on Wired In.

Since then we’ve had two UKRF conferences, listened to views expressed on Wired In and pottered our way around the country talking to all sorts of interesting people in all sorts of interesting places. As a result of these conversations we’ve made a number of alterations to the Principles.

We’ve re-ordered them in a way which we hope conveys more clearly where the UKRF is coming from. We’ve also developed a number of the Principles to reflect some key concepts that were missing from the original draft.

We have added that “Recovery lies within our ‘connectedness’ to others, that it involves the “building of recovery capital”, that Recovery “transcends, whilst embracing” different approaches. We have added that Recovery emerges from “love”.

We believe these are core messages. Through the development of new relationships that are founded on our ‘connectedness, through our growth and transformation as individuals and communities, through the empowerment of ourselves and others, through the expression of our love, we will build Recovery.

The UKRF Recovery Principles

Recovery lies within individuals and communities and is self directed and empowering.

Recovery lies within our ‘connectedness’ to others, is holistic and has many cultural dimensions.

Recovery is supported by peers and allies within communities.

Recovery involves the personal, cultural and structural recognition of the need for participative change, transformation and the building of recovery capital.

Recovery involves a continual process of change and self-redefinition for individuals, organisations and communities.

Recovery challenges all discrimination and transcends shame and stigma.

Recovery emerges from hope, gratitude, love and service to others.

There are many pathways to Recovery and no individual, community or organisation has the right to claim ownership of the ‘right pathway.’

Recovery exists on a continuum of improved health and well-being.

Recovery transcends, whilst embracing, harm reduction and abstinence based approaches and does not seek to be prescriptive.

Honesty, self-awareness and openness lie at the heart of Recovery.

Recovery is a reality.

These amended Recovery Principles will be launched today at the National Recovery Walk in Glasgow, marking another step in the UKRF journey. We are calling on all those who feel touched by these principles to join us as associate members of the UKRF.

Through our Association, our friendships and ‘connectedness’ as human beings we believe we can build something special, something ‘different’ in our communities. We can make Recovery a reality in the places we live and in the hearts and minds of all those who are looking for a new way of being.

We make the path by walking it. Join us.