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We have a great framework which enables people to get involved in helping and supporting others within One Recovery Bucks.
One Recovery Bucks has a range of ways for a variety of people to get involved in our service.
There are lots of different layers of involvement available. This means we have people who have lived experience – past or present – and also those who have never used our services and have other life experiences and skills.
Volunteering and lived experience
We believe the lived experience of people who have used our services can be invaluable to those who are accessing support or working with us.
Our peer mentors and volunteers use their own experiences to offer encouragement, understanding and hope to others who may be facing similar challenges. Seeing someone who has successfully engaged with support, taken part in interventions or completed treatment can show that positive change is possible.
Their experiences add real value to the support we provide and can inspire others to take their own steps towards change.
Inclusion services have a strong and passionate team of volunteers who bring energy, experience and a positive message of change to our services and communities. Our Volunteer Coordinator, supported by colleagues across the service, helps volunteers develop their skills and experience, whilst also supporting community events and activities.
Our approach to volunteering
Our volunteer scheme is underpinned by our core principles:
- Participation grows recovery
- All lived experience is valid and valued
- You do not have to be fully recovered or have had a drug or alcohol problem to help
- Giving, learning and connecting is good for you (with safeguards)
- Recovery supporters, recovery mentors and volunteers complement paid staff, they do not replace them
- No one should be out of pocket or burned out from working for us
- Match skills and abilities to roles
- Match training and support to levels of responsibility
- Everyone is not suited to all types of work
- We want a transparent system that everyone understands
- Confidentiality and the perception of confidentiality need to be maintained
- Too much responsibility too early can be hazardous for all concerned
- Boundaries need to be practiced (with support) to be learned
- Time limits are a guide – individualised progress
- Learn and develop at your own pace with guidance
- If someone relapses, we will continue to support their development
A volunteering case study: Bringing drug and alcohol awareness to life through student creativity
Volunteering and community involvement can take many different forms. in 2025/2026, One Recovery Bucks worked with students at the National Film and Television School to create a series of short films, raising awareness of drug and alcohol use and the support available in Buckinghamshire.
The project gave students the opportunity to develop their creative skills, whilst using their talents to help share important messages with the community. It’s a great example of how sharing your time, skills and ideas can make a positive difference.
Click here to find out more about the project and watch the films.
Service User Involvement
One Recovery Bucks (ORB) value and encourage service user involvement, a value held and shared by our partner providers at Inclusion, Aquarius, Connection Support and Build on Belief.
This is from local service level right through to nationally. We have regular service user voice meetings which allows us to get feedback about our service – whether it is meeting people’s needs, or what changes we need to make. We have manager representation on this, and all points raised are responded to in a timely way.
At One Recovery Bucks, there are nominated service user representatives that engage in the Inclusion national monthly meeting. This meeting encourages local representatives to take feedback from local services to include, themes arising, and whether there are any feedback or actions outstanding following the last meeting. This promotes transparency and leaves our representatives and service users feeling valued, listened to and that their voices and opinions are important. This holds true to our values as an organisation. If we get something right, we want to share it with our other services. Similarly, if we don’t get something right, we want to be able to hear about it so we can make any necessary apologies and changes.
Are you a business or local community group?
We’re always keen to work with local businesses and community groups on initiatives that benefit our services and the people who use them.
By working together, we can create opportunities for people to get involved in activities that help build connections, develop skills and give back to the community.
Whether you’d like to donate your time, skills or services, support an event, or have an idea for how we could work together, we’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch at ORB@mpft.nhs.uk.
