Our Vision:

A thriving community in which substance use has no adverse affects and the path to recovery is clear and open to all.

“Community Recovery cannot happen in isolation. To achieve our goal of sustained recovery and wellbeing for everyone in the Aberdeenshire Community and beyond needs the support of volunteers, partners and funders.”

Our mission is to nurture a diverse network of peer-led groups throughout our communities which provide ongoing support, build resilience and enable those affected by substance use to lead happier, more fulfilling lives.

Our Ethos

Recovery has been recognised as a whole-life change, not only a short-term measure, but an ongoing process that requires constant work. Peer support is a central tenet in UK drug strategy. Peer support is not there to replace the need for clinical advice, support, and information. It provides people with a supportive community that enables them to play a more active role in the ongoing management of their own health and wellbeing.

Peer support typically involves people with lived experience offering their expertise and knowledge regarding recovery, often using their own recovery journey as a benchmark for others. Often people in vulnerable situations find it difficult to trust service staff, and having the support of a peer or someone who has experienced similar situations can often prove to be more comforting for the vulnerable person. Peer supporters offer recovery methods to provide motivation and enablement to people in earlier recovery by steering them through their recovery process and supporting people to achieve their goals and aspirations.

Aberdeenshire Community Recovery (ACR) is a lived experience recovery intervention based on recovery oriented care principles (ROCP) and the Ontario Peer Development Initiative (OPDI) principles operating in Aberdeenshire in the North East of Scotland.

Our Values

Led by Lived Experience

As a Lived Experience Recovery Organisation (LERO), we value the unique insights of those who have navigated recovery and use this understanding to guide our mission.

Person-Centred & Strength-Based

We focus on the individual strengths of each person, ensuring our support is tailored to their unique needs and potential rather than just their challenges.

Grassroots & Collaborative

We believe in a grassroots approach, working hand-in-hand with community members to build shared knowledge and mutual understanding.

Safety & Empathy

We are committed to creating safe, inclusive environments that promote healthier behaviours while actively acknowledging the social determinants of mental health and substance use.

Our Impact

Scientific research in the area of Substance Use and Recovery highlights the importance of Recovery Capital in underpinning individual and community recovery and achieving the ‘social contagion’ that enables sustained improvement across society.

Aberdeenshire Community Recovery achieve this by:

Making peer-led recovery visible and valued in the North East of Scotland

Nurturing a supportive network of trained and knowledgeable peer-champions

Making effective peer-support accessible across Aberdeenshire

Enhancing the recovery capital available in the North- East of Scotland

Creating a sustainable infrastructure to nurture our communities into the future

Aberdeenshire Recovery Community - Bennachie 2026

Our Constitution & Charitable Status

Since March 2024, we have been a Scottish Charity registered with OSCR – the Scottish Charity Regulator [Registration Number SC052487]. Community Volunteers make up its board of trustees and membership.

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