The aim of the RECOVER project was to respond to a gap in adult education when it comes to supporting people in recovery from addiction. We wanted to create a method set that would be practical, adaptable, and grounded in the reality of educators and support staff. The main objectives were: 1. To develop a recovery coaching method set that is inclusive and relevant across different cultural and personal contexts; 2. To strengthen the skills of adult educators in key areas such as relapse prevention, motivation, emotional regulation, and social reintegration; 3. To provide concrete, easy-to-use methods and tools that can be used directly in adult education and mentoring settings; 4. To make these materials widely accessible and ensure that they remain useful beyond the life of the project. At its core, the project set out to support adult educators in doing work that is often complex and emotionally demanding, and to equip them with resources that reflect the needs of the people they work with.
We applied for the RECOVER project to address a clear gap in recovery coaching within adult education. Many adult educators lack the tools and skills needed to support people recovering from addiction, particularly in areas such as relapse prevention, emotional regulation, and reintegration into society. There is also a shortage of coaching methods that are inclusive and suitable for working with vulnerable groups, including individuals with addiction histories, ex-offenders, and those at risk of social exclusion. Through this project, we aimed to create practical, accessible recovery coaching materials to help educators build their capacity and confidence. A transnational needs assessment confirmed that educators also need stronger mentoring skills, better understanding of adult learning principles, and more digital resources. RECOVER responds to these needs by developing and sharing a flexible, user-friendly method set for use in diverse adult education settings.