Edge Hill University researchers have been awarded UK Government funding to work with the addiction charity UK SMART Recovery, through an Innovate UK Accelerated Knowledge Transfer partnership (AKT). This national programme helps organisations access university expertise to solve strategic challenges, accelerate innovation, and strengthen long-term growth.
This new partnership will see Edge Hill’s Psychology Department team work closely with UK SMART Recovery. They will be talking to a range of UK SMART Recovery stakeholders, including participants and peer mutual aid facilitators, to examine how the organisation can enhance its work that transforms the lives of people experiencing addictive behaviours in the UK.
Dr Charlie Orton, CEO of UK SMART Recovery, said of collaborating with Edge Hill University on the AKT:
“Around 5000 people a week attend our peer-to-peer support meetings, but we’re looking into expanding our provision to include more immersive recovery interventions. We’re delighted to be working with Edge Hill University, who are recognised as experts in addiction research. As part of this work, they will be evaluating an innovative National Lottery-funded project by Equus Ferrus CIC, which, for the first time, integrated our evidence-based recovery tools into a recovery model utilising equine assisted therapy.”
Prof Rebecca Monk, Professor of Psychology and Associate Head of Department (Research) at Edge Hill University, said:
“We know addictions affect the lives of millions of people worldwide and, in the UK, the charity sector plays a pivotal role in supporting those affected. We are looking to examine how UK SMART Recovery can complement the great work they already do. In doing this work, we hope to expand the support offered by UK SMART Recovery and thereby improve the lives of people with substance use disorders as well as those impacted indirectly.”
Edge Hill University has a strong track record of supporting organisations offering academic insight, collaborative working, and a commitment to social impact. Through Innovate UK’s ATKs and KTPs, organisations benefit by gaining tailored access to research expertise they would not usually have in-house.
To drive the AKTP, Edge Hill University has welcomed Dr Carolyn White, a Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Psychology, as an Associate.
Carolyn completed an MSc in Psychology at the University of Essex, followed by a BBC-funded PhD at the University of Salford, where she examined the experiences of neurodivergent adults in creative work and the social and organisational factors that shaped their opportunities.
Carolyn said of her appointment:
“I’m genuinely looking forward to joining this project. SMART Recovery has been a model I’ve admired for a long time, and this is a great opportunity to explore how people experience these weekends and how they might work alongside complementary therapeutic approaches.”
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If your organisation is interested in exploring how an Accelerated Transfer Partnership or Knowledge Transfer Partnership could drive innovation and growth, we’d love to hear from you. To discuss, get in touch at [email protected]
