Edge Hill University has recently partnered with UK SMART Recovery to evaluate innovative approaches to addiction recovery support through intensive recovery events. This Accelerated Knowledge Transfer Partnership (AKTP) brought together academic expertise in addiction research with third-sector delivery, generating new evidence to inform how recovery services could evolve to meet complex and diverse needs.
The three-month project was led by Professor Rebecca Monk and Professor Derek Heim from Edge Hill University’s Department of Psychology, alongside Postdoctoral Research Assistant Dr Carolyn White. Funded through an Innovate UK (UKRI), the collaboration evaluated a pioneering pilot intervention delivered by UK SMART Recovery in partnership with Equus Ferrus CIC. The intervention combined evidence-based SMART Recovery principles with equine-assisted therapy across two residential, three-day intensive recovery weekends held in summer 2025.
UK SMART Recovery supports around 5,000 people each week through peer-to-peer meetings across the UK. While this model had demonstrated significant reach and effectiveness, the organisation sought to explore whether more intensive recovery interventions could enhance outcomes for individuals requiring additional or alternative forms of support.
The core challenge of the project was to assess the feasibility and value of intensive recovery events within UK SMART Recovery’s existing offer, while identifying the organisational capacity, barriers, and facilitators required to deliver and evaluate this model effectively.
Findings from the process evaluation indicated that participants viewed the intensive recovery weekends as highly impactful. Attendees reported that the events were engaging, supportive, and meaningful, with particular value attributed to the experiential nature of the intervention. The combination of SMART Recovery tools with practical, horse-assisted activities enabled participants to explore recovery principles in a tangible and immersive way, reinforcing learning and personal insight.
“The project points to an exciting potential direction for how UK SMART Recovery might continue to support people through their recovery and beyond.”
Dr Carolyn White
AKTP Associate, Edge Hill University
In addition to individual-level impact, the project delivered significant organisational learning. The evaluation identified a range of practical, operational and partnership-related considerations that acted as both barriers and facilitators to delivery. This insight provided UK SMART Recovery with a clearer understanding of the resources, planning and infrastructure required to embed intensive recovery events within their wider service offer.
A key outcome of the AKTP was the development of a codified framework and practical toolkit to support the integration of SMART Recovery principles into intensive recovery settings. This created a repeatable operational model that UK SMART Recovery could use to expand its provision and collaborate with therapeutic partners in the future.
“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. 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.”
Professor Rebecca Monk
Professor of Psychology and Associate Head of Department (Research and Knowledge Exchange)
The project concluded with a shared commitment to pursue further funding opportunities to enable the wider roll-out of intensive recovery events, increase accessibility through free participation, and maximise the impact of this innovative approach. The AKTP demonstrated how targeted knowledge exchange could translate academic expertise into practical tools, strengthen third-sector capability, and deliver meaningful benefits for individuals and communities.
“SMART Recovery can be delivered in many formats. Evaluating delivery methods helps us demonstrate effectiveness. Without this AKTP, UKSR lacked the capacity for rigorous evaluation. This support has been essential for assessing SMART within equine therapy, enabling evidence for this new and innovative delivery approach to strengthen our future practice worldwide.”
Dr Charlie Orton, CEO UK SMART Recovery.
Want to find out more about AKTPs and KTPs at Edge Hill University?
A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) is a UK-wide programme that helps businesses innovate and grow by partnering with a university. An Accelerated Knowledge Transfer Partnership (AKTP) is a fast-track version of the standard KTP, designed to help businesses deliver innovation projects more quickly.
Through a KTP or AKTP, a company works with academic experts and a dedicated graduate (the KTP Associate) to deliver a strategic project that builds new capability, drives productivity, and embeds long-term skills and knowledge into the business.
AKTPs and KTPs are part-funded by the government, through Innovate UK (UKRI), making them a powerful and cost-effective way to tackle innovation challenges, develop new products or services, and strengthen competitive advantage.
If your organisation is interested in exploring a KTP or AKTP, Edge Hill University has extensive experience supporting businesses across a wide range of sectors. The Knowledge Exchange team can help you shape an idea, assess suitability for KTP funding, and guide you through the application process. To find out whether a KTP or AKTP is right for your business, get in touch with Edge Hill University to start the conversation: [email protected]
