RECOVEU – Learning activities to help adults in addiction recovery The European Experience: A Conference for Academics involved in EU Funded projects 4th September 2015 RECOVEU – Learning activities to help adults in addiction recovery Amanda Hughes and Kim Slack – Institute for Education Policy Research (IEPR) Jane Rowley – Lecturer and Practitioner

Funded by the EU Lifelong Learning Programme. A participative approach to curriculum development for adults in addiction recovery across the European Union (RECOVEU) www.recoveu.org Co-funded by the European Union   Funded by the EU Lifelong Learning Programme. International partnership of educators and practitioners that work in the drug addiction field. Aim – develop innovative learning activities to help adults in addiction recovery prepare for, and succeed in, college or university. 3 year project: January 2014 – December 2016. Project Number: 538955-LLP-1-2013-1-UK-GRUNDTVIG-GMP

What’s the issue? Lifelong Learning Programme key priorities: Promote social cohesion by widening participation to adult learning, especially for the socially excluded and marginalised. Reinforce the contribution of education/training to EU 2020 targets – to significantly reduce the numbers of people at risk of poverty/social exclusion.

How does RECOVEU address the issue? Works with people in addiction recovery – a group particularly at risk of social exclusion. Educational attainment also consistently lower in this group – so they may be more marginalised within a competitive employment market. RECOVEU project supports engagement in lifelong learning – addresses issues of low educational attainment, unemployment and social reintegration. A key aim of the LLP is to reinforce the contribution of education and training to EU 2020 targets and thereby support the development of a socially inclusive society and enable adults to access lifelong learning opportunities. This project seeks to eliminate some of the barriers that prevent social reintegration by developing asset-based resources for adult learning which include those intended to support the development of digital literacy.   Recent evidence from the EMCDDA suggests that approximately 20% of PDUs in treatment are early school leavers and educational attainment is consistently lower than in the general population. This association is part of the rationale for targeting education at PDUs; an approach endorsed by the EMCDDA and in line with the EU Drug Strategy and Action Plan under the heading of social reintegration. The issue of educational attainment is an increasingly significant one given the impact of the recent global recession which may render some PDUs even more marginalised within a competitive employment market. Developing an Access to Learning Course for adults in addiction recovery would support engagement in lifelong learning and contribute to moves towards addressing issues of low educational attainment, unemployment and social reintegration.

Partners SU – Academic research and drug practitioner perspectives Cyprus – Digital EU projects, links to drug recovery agencies Ireland – Primary drug recovery project in Dublin Romania – Religious mission, counselling and philosophy agency Italy – Social support team – provide multi agency social support, and health and social care

Key Outcomes Policy and Practice Review Focus groups with people in drug recovery and service providers ‘Access to Learning’ course modules Evaluation tools Train the Trainer pack Conference What have we done so far? A review of policy and practice in relation to drug recovery programmes across Europe. This has drawn on existing data and the experiential knowledge of the partners to develop a more nuanced understanding of the impact of drug policy and EU strategy in each of the partner countries, with a particular emphasis on how this influences practice in drug treatment. Focus groups with people in addiction recovery and service providers across the five partner countries. Discussions have focused on barriers to accessing education, topics which should be included, practical access and support. We are currently in the process of developing the ‘Access to Learning’ course modules.

Further information Project Coordinator: Kim Slack, Institute for Education Policy Research (IEPR), k.b.slack@staffs.ac.uk Project website: www.recoveu.org Policy and Practice Review: http://recoveu.org/index.php/e-library/category/7-wp3- policy-practicereview Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/recoveu What have we done so far? A review of policy and practice in relation to drug recovery programmes across Europe. This has drawn on existing data and the experiential knowledge of the partners to develop a more nuanced understanding of the impact of drug policy and EU strategy in each of the partner countries, with a particular emphasis on how this influences practice in drug treatment. Focus groups with people in addiction recovery and service providers across the five partner countries. Discussions have focused on barriers to accessing education, topics which should be included, practical access and support. We are currently in the process of analysing the focus group data.