Conservation Therapy Programme

Phoenix Futures is pleased to announce a recent partnership with the Forestry Commission at the Wirral CTP programme!

Since 2001, Phoenix Futures has run the unique and innovative Conservation Therapy Programme in conjunction with Natural England, and more recently in partnership with the National Trust and South Lanarkshire County Council. The programme brings together volunteers from Phoenix Futures' substance misuse treatment services to work as a team to assist in the conservation of specific areas of the countryside. It provides tangible results to service users and local communities, as well as providing real benefits to the environment.

CTP was designed initially as a relapse prevention tool (but now also an engagement tool); the guiding therapeutic principle being one of self-actualisation / efficacy through participation in genuine conservation activities.

The impact of the CTP programme may be evidenced by Phoenix Futures' statistical data, which indicates an increased retention in residential and community based rehabilitation programmes of 65% amongst service users involved with the CTP past 12 weeks.

In the past year, 392 individuals took part in the Conservation Therapy Programme, and 203 individuals completed the programme.

By supporting our work, funders also help Natural England, the National Trust, the RSPB and various local agencies to ensure that local communities continue to benefit from their work. Last year our service users volunteered the equivalent of over 8.5 full time workers on our Conservation Therapy Programme.