ABOUT FIRE & PEACE
Healing through nature, fire and human connection
Fire & Peace creates safe, structured outdoor experiences where people can slow down, feel heard and strengthen the connections that life, trauma and adversity can weaken.
We bring people together in nature, around the fire, and create the conditions for something real to happen.
WHY WE EXIST
Life can become overwhelming
Mental health challenges, addiction, trauma, isolation and the pressures of modern life affect individuals, families and communities every day.
Fire & Peace creates space away from that pressure.
We bring people into nature, around the fire and into genuine human connection. A place where people can slow down, lower their guard,
talk honestly, listen without judgement and begin to see themselves differently.
People feel calmer.
They gain clarity.
Confidence begins to grow.
And a sense of belonging can return.
OUR APPROACH
Powerful because it is human
Our approach is simple. Create the right environment, remove judgement and pressure, and give people the space to simply be human.
NATURE
FIRE
CONNECTION
LIVED EXPERIENCE
Creates space to slow down, breathe and step away from the pressures of everyday life.
Brings warmth, focus and equality. Around the fire, barriers begin to fall and conversation becomes easier.
Shared experience creates trust, belonging and space for honest conversation without judgement or expectation.
We understand many of the challenges people carry because members of our team have walked difficult paths themselves.
We do not sit across a desk from people.
We sit beside them around the fire.
WHERE IT BEGAN
It started around a fire
Fire & Peace began in 2018 with a simple belief: sometimes people need a different kind of space.
Our first outdoor experiences brought people into the Scottish Highlands, away from the pressures and noise of everyday life and into an environment shaped by nature, fire and human connection.
What happened around those fires helped shape everything that followed.
In 2021, Fire & Peace became a registered Scottish charity. Since then, our work has grown across Scotland, supporting adults and young people through outdoor experiences, overnight trips, mentoring and partnership programmes.
But the foundations have never changed.
Nature. Fire. Safety. Trust. Human connection.
BE CIRCULAR
Life is not a straight line
Much of modern life is spent inside boxes. Rooms. Screens. Cars. Offices. Phones.
Nature moves differently. Nature is circular.
Seasons change. Rivers move. Trees grow. Fires begin, burn and return to the earth.
Life is not a straight line. Neither is healing.
At Fire & Peace, being circular means creating space to slow down, become present and strengthen our connection with ourselves, other people and the natural world around us.
Be present. Be human. Be circular.
In a world that constantly asks us to do more, sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply be.
The people behind Fire & Peace
Fire & Peace is built by people who believe in showing up for others. Our team brings together outdoor experience, professional skills and lived experience, creating safe spaces built on trust, understanding and genuine connection.
Gerry Ward
Founder & Director
Gerry brings more than 40 years of outdoor experience together with lived experience of trauma, mental health challenges, substance dependency and recovery.
His own journey helped shape the belief at the heart of Fire & Peace: that nature, fire and genuine human connection can create the space people sometimes need to slow down, speak honestly and begin moving forward.
“Vulnerability is not weakness. In the right environment, it can become one of our greatest strengths.”
OUR TEAM
Brian Droy
Senior Outdoor Lead
Brian brings years of experience in traditional wilderness cooking and loves passing those skills on to others.Brian is our outdoor cooking expert, with years of experience using traditional wilderness cooking methods. He loves sharing his knowledge and seeing people grow in confidence, whether cooking over fire or making their first Scottish Stove. Having grown up with Gerry, Brian also shares his lifelong love of forests, adventure and escaping into the outdoors.
Lee Jamieson
Environmental Outdoor Support
Lee brings warmth, resilience and lived experience to our outdoor work, helping people feel safe, supported and comfortable in nature. Lee brings lived experience, resilience and a genuine understanding of personal change to Fire & Peace. As part of our Environmental Outdoor Support, she helps create welcoming, supportive experiences in nature where people can feel comfortable being themselves, build confidence and strengthen their connection with the outdoors.
Ksenia Milek
Charity Officer
Women’s Empowerment Lead
Ksenia brings compassion, understanding and a strong focus on creating safe spaces where people can feel heard and supported. Ksenia is our Charity Officer and Women’s Empowerment Lead. She brings a strong understanding of wellbeing, personal growth and the importance of creating safe, supportive environments. Ksenia plays a central role in developing our Women’s Empowerment work and supporting people throughout their journey with Fire & Peace.
Kate Yang
Youth Assistant Lead
Kate brings energy, encouragement and a strong focus on helping young people build confidence, work together and believe in what they can achieve. Kate is our Youth Assistant Lead and is passionate about helping young people grow in confidence, develop new skills and feel supported. She encourages teamwork, participation and positive experiences throughout our youth work, helping young people recognise their own strengths. Outside Fire & Peace, Kate loves staying active, getting into the mountains and, more often than not, enjoying a well-earned pot noodle at the top.
Adam Stojanowski
Holistic therapist
Adam He brings a holistic approach to wellbeing, drawing on experience in physical health, psychology, breathwork, movement and community support. Shaped by his own lived experience, he is passionate about creating supportive spaces where people can build confidence, connection and a stronger sense of wellbeing. He has a particular interest in men’s wellbeing and helping people find practical ways to create positive change in their lives.