What We Offer
Fire & Peace Recovery delivers unique programmes to ensure that we can find the right type of trip to support everyone’s personal recovery journey.
All of our trips are an opportunity for you to find solitude and connection in nature while surrounded by a community dedicated to supporting you in finding the recovery tools that are there for us all to embrace with Mother Nature as our guide.
Enjoy the slower pace, experience the healing powers of nature and reconnect to your purpose.
Here at Fire & Peace Recovery we are committed to providing safe, inclusive and accessible spaces for all. We encourage beneficiaries from marginalised groups including people of colour, women, LGBTQ+, low-income individuals, ex-prisoners, the disabled and more to attend our trips or reach out to Fire & Peace to see how we can support you. If you have access needs that may be a barrier for you to attend one of our trips then please get in touch with a member of our team so we can work to find a solution.
What to Expect on an Overnight Trip
Saturday
Pick Up
You will be picked up by a Fire & Peace minibus and driven to the remote camping site where you will meet your campmates and introduce yourselves. On longer drives up to locations in Aviemore, bathroom and rest stops will be scheduled for your comfort.
Set Up
After arriving you will get stuck in by setting up camp. Tasks will be delegated and you will work together as a team to create a shared campsite for the night.
Light the Fire
Lighting the fire is an integral part of a Fire & Peace trip, the fire represents unity, safety and solitude. It will also provide you with food and heat over the course of your overnight stay. On every trip you will be taken through how to light a campfire using traditional methods and reflect on the Fire & Peace ethos.
Outdoor Activities
We offer slightly different outdoor activities on each of our trips. Please see the description of the programme that you are interested in attending to see what sorts of activities you can expect.
Sharing Circle
While around the fire, as a community, you will be led through sharing, listening and reflection exercises. You will never be asked to share anything you don’t feel comfortable with; however we ask that all attendees are respectful to the stories of others shared around the fire, and that nothing heard in the circle is repeated beyond unless it is for the benefit of the individual. Remember, gossip kills.
Dinner & Socialising
After cooking your food using traditional outdoor cooking methods you will all feast together. This is a time to socialise while nourishing your body, you are also free to explore the surrounding area as long as you don’t venture off too far from safety alone - make sure to tell someone where you are going.
Bedtime
You will sleep beneath the stars on a Fire & Peace trip, camp beds, hammocks, sleeping bags and bivy’s will be provided by the team for your comfort. We are in Scotland though, so remember to wrap up warm as temperatures can drop significantly overnight.
Wake Up
We will wake with the sun and start our day with a deep breath of fresh air.
Reflection Session
You will take part in a morning reflection session led by a member of the Fire & Peace team.
Breakfast
Breakfast will be provided and you will eat together around the fire.
Sunday
Circle of Unity
You will come together for one last time to embrace the community forged over the weekend and final words of gratification will be shared.
Pack Up
We will take down the shelters and pack our bags, making sure that we leave no trace, picking up any litter that may have been dropped and leaving our campsite exactly as we found it.
Head Home
You will be driven back to the pick up location on a Fire & Peace minibus where you will say goodby to your new-found friends, share details and venture back into your everyday lives with a new found perspective and a re-energised outlook.
Our Programs
Youth Movement
Our Youth Movement is one of our most sought after programmes and with the delivery of daytime and overnight youth movement trips we are working around the clock to support our young people. These trips provide young people aged 10 - 17 with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the outdoors while building confidence and forming new friendships. The trips focus on supporting young people from socio-economically disadvantaged areas in Scotland and those who may have faced adverse childhood experiences, mental health struggles or been involved with the criminal justice system.
Afternoon Activities
On our overnight and day Youth Movement trips we encourage the young people to explore the nearby wilderness spots, spot and identify wildlife, climb trees, play games and learn new bushcraft/survival skills.
What to expect on a Youth Movement Day Trip
Pick Up
You will be picked up by a Fire & Peace minibus and driven to the remote site where you will meet your campmates and introduce yourselves.
Set Up
After arriving you will get stuck in by setting up the space. Tasks will be delegated and you will work together as a team to create a shared campsite for the day.
Light the Fire
Lighting the fire is an integral part of a Fire & Peace trip, the fire represents unity, safety and solitude. It will also provide you with food and heat over the course of your stay. On every trip you will be taken through how to light a campfire using traditional methods and practise your skills using a flint and steel to create sparks.
Outdoor Activities
You will take part in an educational outdoor activity which might include a foraging workshop, where you will learn how to identify wild plants or learn new mindfulness techniques.
Lunch & Socialising
After cooking your food on the fire you will all feast together. This is a time to socialise while nourishing your body, you are also free to explore the surrounding area as long as you don’t venture off too far from safety alone - make sure to tell someone where you are going.
Sharing Circle
While around the fire, as a community, you will be led through sharing, listening and reflection exercises. You will never be asked to share anything you don’t feel comfortable with; however we ask that all attendees are respectful to the stories of others shared around the fire, and that nothing heard in the circle is repeated beyond unless it is for the benefit of the individual. Remember, gossip kills.
Pack Up
We will pack our bags, put out the fire and make sure that we leave no trace by picking up any litter that may have been dropped and leaving our campsite exactly as we found it.
Head Home
You will be driven back to the pick up location on a Fire & Peace minibus where you will say goodby to your new-found friends and venture back into your everyday lives with a new found perspective and a re-energised outlook.
Our youth movement trips are free to attend however we do require adequate referrals and references from trusted partner organisations or schools.
Women Empowerment Movement
The Women Empowerment Movement is one of our newest programmes which emerged through consultation with previous trip attendees who identified the pressing need for a women focused trip. These trips provide women over the age of 18 with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the outdoors while empowering themselves and one another. These trips focus on supporting those in recovery from substance abuse, physical/sexual abuse, mental health struggles, trauma, loss and involvement with the criminal justice system.
Afternoon Activities
On our Women Empowerment Trips you will always have the option to take part in Cold Water Therapy sessions. Plunge into nearby rivers and lochs together for a swim… or just a quick dip! You will be led through breathing techniques to help you withstand the cold temperatures and emerge feeling refreshed and empowered. We also sometimes organise additional activities run by guest facilitators during the trips, these have included yoga, meditation, mindfulness and breathwork sessions in the past.
We currently only run overnight Women Empowerment Movement trips and ask for an attendance donation of £20 from each beneficiary attending a trip. We understand that fee’s can be a barrier so if you have any concerns about covering the donation fee then please get intouch with a member of our team as subsidised places can be arranged under specific circumstances.
Girl Empowerment
Movement
Our Girl Empowerment Movement is our newest programme piloting in summer 2024. These trips provide girls aged 10 - 17 with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the outdoors while building confidence and forming new friendships. These trips focus on supporting girls from socio-economically disadvantaged areas in Scotland and those who may have faced adverse childhood experiences, bullying, mental health struggles or been involved with the criminal justice system.
The girl empowerment trips have a specific focus on nurturing young womens positive body-image, sense of self empowerment and sisterhood.
Big Sister Mentorship
The girl empowerment movement has its own unique mentorship programme which has been crafted in collaboration with volunteers and attendees from our Women Empowerment and Youth Movement programs to ensure relevance and effectiveness. The big sister mentorship will partener up the newer younger girls with older more established female attendees, volunteers and staff. This mentorship aims to foster supportive relationships and provide guidance for the Girl Empowerment attendees as they navigate adolescence.
Our girl empowerment movement trips are free to attend however we do require adequate referrals and references from trusted partner organisations or schools.
Adult Recovery
Please Note:
Fire & Peace has made the difficult decision to pause all mixed Adult Recovery activities at this point in time and until further notice. Unfortunately this means we cannot accept any further referrals for this programme at this point in time. We hope to be back delivering our adult recovery trips in the future and we thank everyone who has supported the smooth running of this programme so far. We will be sure to alert our community when these trips are back up and running via our social media platforms and newsletters so please make sure you are following us there.
The adult recovery trips are where it all began. These trips provide mixed groups of people over the age of 18 with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the outdoors while connecting with a new community. These trips focus on supporting those in recovery from substance abuse, mental health struggles, trauma and involvement with the criminal justice system.
Afternoon Activities
Our adult recovery trips sometimes include one-off outdoor activities with guest facilitators however there will always be time to practise your skills with the flint and steel or learn to cook on traditional outdoor Swedish ovens. These trips focus on learning and developing new outdoor survival skills.
We currently only run overnight Adult Recovery trips and ask for an attendance donation of £20 from each beneficiary attending a trip. We understand that fee’s can be a barrier so if you have any concerns about covering the donation fee then please get in touch with a member of our team as subsidised places can be arranged under specific circumstances.
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I want to attend a trip, how do I?If you, or someone you know, could benefit from attending a Fire & Peace activity you can get in touch with us to make a referral. Please see our “Make a referral” page for more information on this.
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How much does a trip cost?For our Women Empowerment Movement overnight trips we ask for an attendance donation of £20 from each beneficiary attending a trip. We understand that fee’s can be a barrier so if you have any concerns about covering the donation fee then please get intouch with a member of our team as subsidised places can be arranged under specific circumstances. All of our Youth Trips are free for beneficiaries to attend.
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What do I need to bring with me on a trip?We understand that there can be huge barriers for those who want to spend time outdoors but feel they don't have the necessary equipment. On a Fire & Peace trip you will always be provided with either a camp bed, hammock, sleeping bag and bivy for your comfort at night. As we are in Scotland and the weather can change quickly and unpredictably we recommend that you bring your own warm and waterproof clothing with you despite the season and weather forecast. Once you are signed up to attend a Fire & Peace trip you will be sent a disclaimer with a suggested kit list included. If you are having trouble sourcing any of the suggested equipment please speak to one of the Fire & Peace team members and we will do our best to find a suitable solution for you. See the kit list here
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What about food?Hot food will be provided on all of our trips and there will always be a constant stream of warm drinks and snacks to keep you fueled throughout your stay. If you have any dietary requirements we ask that you get in touch with a member of our team ahead of your trip date so that alternatives can be arranged.
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Where will I go to the toilet?As we are in remote locations toilet access will be slightly less luxurious than you may be used to, although that depends on personal preference, we at Fire & Peace are big fans of a pee with a view! However if you aren’t quite ready for peeing in the wild yet we will provide a portable chemical toilet for your use on all of our overnight trips if there are no accessible toilets nearby. This portable setup will have its own tent to provide you with some privacy. While we are camping it is important that we all follow The Scottish Outdoor Access Code when using the toilet and we ask all trip attendees to familiarise themselves with this before joining us. This article on Mountaineering Scotland is a good guide to where and how you can go to the bathroom if you find yourself outside without a toilet.