By Dr Amy Beardmore and Leila Powell
Background
This year UWE Bristol became the first academic sponsor of the Bristol Recovery Festival which took place at The Trinity Centre on 18th June and was attended by colleagues from the Centre for Public Health and Wellbeing and UWE’s Drug and Alcohol team.
UWE’s sponsorship of the festival marks an important milestone in its ongoing commitment to supporting community-led approaches to health and wellbeing. The festival brings together people with lived experience of problematic substance use, practitioners and a huge range of local organisations to celebrate recovery, connection and hope.
This new partnership was borne out of a recent collaboration between drug and alcohol treatment agency Via and the staff from the Centre for Public Health and Wellbeing, led by Dr Amy Beardmore. The project resulted in the creation of a toolkit which can be used to improve access to community assets for those in recovery (as featured in UWE news on 15th June).
Inspired to continue this work and keen to get UWE Bristol involved in the international Inclusive Recovery City movement, Dr Beardmore reached out to the festival who were delighted to have UWE on board. It is hoped that this partnership will strengthen further over the coming months and that UWE will continue to support this work in 2027 and beyond.
A festival with a difference
The Recovery Festival has all the key elements of any festival, whilst being a sober, supportive and celebratory space.
As soon as you arrive through the gates there are a multitude of local organisations on hand to talk to, ranging from peer support groups to creative and active community initiatives. And – as is customary at any festival these days – there are ample opportunities to get your face painted with glitter.
The music tent showcasing local artists and choirs features live music throughout the day, and of particular note this year was a performance by Benza, whose moving lyrics documented his own journey through recovery. Across the venue, the festival offers hands-on workshops and taster sessions, giving people the opportunity to try new activities in a supportive and welcoming environment.
UWE staff who had the pleasure of attending the event this year took inspiration from all that was on offer, and there are plans to expand the partnership with the festival further still in 2027.
Dr Beardmore is also exploring ways that some of the learning from the wider Inclusive Recovery City movement can be implemented within UWE to support students and staff in recovery. If you are interested in being part of this work or would like to support UWE’s work with the festival next year, please contact amy2.beardmore@uwe.ac.uk for more information.