“A positive force for change” – Inverness hosts Recovery Walk Scotland 2019

Recovery Walk Scotland 2019 will take place in Inverness tomorrow 21st September. This article features some photo highlights of last year’s Glasgow event.

Recovery Walk Scotland celebrates recovery from substance use and mental health issues and is designed to make recovery visible, understood as a positive force for change in Scotland. It is the largest recovery event in Scotland and has been held every year in a different location since 2013. This year’s walk is being organised by The Recovery Walk Council partnership that includes Scottish Recovery Consortium (Addiction Recovery), Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs, and See Me. This group is also working with local partners Highland Alcohol and Drug Partnership to deliver the Inverness event.

Recovery Walk Scotland involves a public memorial service for those who have lost their loved ones to addiction or mental distress. This is followed by a joyful procession, led by Inverness Pipe Band, through the city to show that recovery is happening in Scotland, culminating in the Recovery Village celebration with speeches, bands, dancing, food and fun.

This year the Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, Joe Fitzpatrick MSP will join participants and address the Recovery Village. He will be joined by many other national and local politicians and hundreds of Scottish Recoverists, their families and supporters.

Last year 3,000 people took part in Recovery Walk Scotland in Glasgow. Recovery walks happen all over the globe during September which is International Recovery Month. Scotland’s Recovery Walk is unique among them in its ability to involve prisoners currently in Scotland’s Criminal Justice System. This year 13 out of 15 of Scotland’s prisons will hold a recovery walk the day before the national walk to show that recovery can and does happen anywhere in Scotland. The banners prisoners make for their Recovery Walk will be carried through the streets of Inverness as an expression of unity, hope and connection.

There’s still time to get involved. Visit the website to find out more or even register.

Thank you to Scottish Recovery Consortium for sharing the event information. Good luck to everyone taking part at events across Scotland today and in Inverness tomorrow!

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