Independence from Drugs and Alcohol Scotland at River Garden Auchincruive

At River Garden Auchincruive, we help people to leave behind their drug and alcohol addiction through a model of recovery that is refreshingly different. Not only are residents given much needed time to reflect on their lives and to grow and flourish, but they are given the means to do so through the communal support of their peers and their participation in on-site social enterprises. Over the 3 years they are resident, they are key partners in a model of social entrepreneurship, of education, of rehabilitation and the opportunity for transformative change. River Garden is exciting and full of hope. We firmly believe that any activity, if carried out with passion combined with training to develop competence, can become a key for reintegration to society. We may be a young charity, but the signs so far are optimistic. Four of our residents have recently graduated and are living independently and working in their chosen fields. They all maintain close ties with River Garden and give active support to current residents as well in turn as being encouraged and supported by them.

The active and full participation of all residents is essential for their own recovery journey and to contribute to the economic sustainability of the IFDAS charity and entire social enterprise that is River Garden, Auchincruive.

River Garden Auchincruive exists to give people the chance to turn their lives around, recognising their talents and growing their skills so that their lives can have meaning and purpose. This mission is made so much more urgent in the context of the shockingly high year on year increases in drug and alcohol deaths in Scotland, which continues to have by far the highest drug death rate recorded by any country in Europe, and a rate more than three times that of England and Wales. Alcohol-specific deaths continue also to rise at an alarming rate in Scotland, increasing 17% in 2020 from 2019 and the highest number registered since 2008.

In January 2021 the Scottish Government announced a National Mission to reduce Scotland’s unacceptable drug death rates. We are part of that mission.

Everything we have achieved so far has depended on donations large and small. Our residents do not pay to come to River Garden and none of their places are state sponsored. We are very grateful for all the support we receive; and continuing to have that support, both locally and nationally, will be key to the future success of River Garden. If you would like to donate towards our work, click here.