U-ACT CiC

Portfolio of Evidance

Certified Recovery Coaching Organisations

Our LERO and community partners - UK & Ireland

• Recovery Connections
• Epic Restart
• Project 6
• ROAR
• Durham CPM
• SOAR
• J2 Arms
• Sankalpa
• Kennedy Street Recovery
• WDR
• York in Recovery

Certification Path

• Peer Recovery
• Recovery Coach
• Systemic Wellness
• Case Manager

Click to find out more about our certifciation path and the individual trainings.

Certified Recovery and Resilliance Programme

• RWP Recovery Wellness

To find out about our recovery and resilliance trainings click above.

Global alignment

Alignment of GOV.UK Recovery Document with U-ACT, David Collins’ Recovery Work, WHO Development Goals, and South African Context

The GOV.UK Recovery Framework outlines a recovery-oriented system of care that places strong emphasis on peer support and lived experience-led initiatives. This analysis explores how U-ACT and the recovery work of David Collins align with this framework, demonstrating coherence with the United Kingdom’s first-world standards and international best practice.It further illustrates how these initiatives support the World Health Organization’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—notably SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being—while maintaining critical relevance in the South African context, where structural inequality and limited access to healthcare continue to shape recovery pathways.

1. Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC)

Alignment with U-ACT and David Collins:

U-ACT’s Recovery Wellness Coaching Programme is well aligned with the Recovery-Oriented System of Care (ROSC) model, promoting systemic wellness at individual, family, and organisational levels. The programme educates and empowers communities to support recovery from substance use and mental health challenges through client-centred group and one-to-one sessions—reflecting the UK’s collaborative ethos and the WHO’s emphasis on community-based mental health interventions.In South Africa, U-ACT’s work is locally grounded, training recovery coaches to serve in under-resourced communities. This bridges critical gaps in healthcare access and directly supports the equity objectives of SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

Executive Recovery Wellness

David Collins’ Executive Recovery Wellness Programme targets high-net-worth individuals and leaders, offering tailored online coaching, live group classes, and evidence-based techniques. This mirrors the UK’s person-centered ROSC focus and WHO’s emphasis on personalized mental health care. In South Africa, Collins’ approach adapts to the context by addressing the unique pressures faced by affluent individuals, such as stigma in professional settings, while contributing to broader community resilience through family psycho-education, a key ROSC and SDG 3 component.

Both U-ACT and Collins build resilient networks, with U-ACT’s global training of recovery coaches and Collins’ focus on community integration aligning with the UK’s best practices, WHO’s community empowerment goals, and South Africa’s need for scalable, grassroots recovery systems.

2. Role of Peer Support

The GOV.UK document underscores peer support as vital for recovery, noting that peers with lived experience bridge power imbalances, foster hope, and reduce stigma at all recovery stages. This reflects UK best practices, integrating peer support into formal healthcare systems. WHO’s SDG 3 promotes peer-driven mental health interventions to enhance access and reduce disparities. In South Africa, peer support is critical due to limited mental health professionals, making community-led initiatives essential.

Alignment with U-ACT and David Collins:

U-ACT’s certified Recovery Coach Training equips participants to provide peer-driven mentoring, leveraging lived experience to empower clients. Its culturally adaptive, evidence-based practices align with the UK’s emphasis on overcoming power imbalances and WHO’s focus on accessible mental health support. In South Africa, U-ACT’s peer support framework addresses cultural and linguistic diversity, reducing stigma in marginalized communities and supporting SDG 3’s inclusivity goals.

David Collins, a Master Coach with over 20 years of experience, uses his lived and professional expertise to guide clients through one-on-one and group coaching in his Executive Recovery Wellness Programme. This aligns with the UK’s peer support model and WHO’s emphasis on visible recovery leadership. In South Africa, Collins’ work destigmatizes addiction among high-profile individuals, fostering hope and community connection in a context where stigma often deters help-seeking.

Both U-ACT and Collins create mutual benefits, empowering coaches and clients, which strengthens community resilience in line with UK standards, WHO’s empowerment objectives, and South Africa’s need for sustainable peer networks.

3. Lived Experience Initiatives

The GOV.UK document highlights the value of lived experience initiatives, such as Lived Experience Recovery Organisations (LEROs), which are peer-led and community-driven. It emphasizes integrating these into broader systems and valuing lived experience alongside learned expertise, a hallmark of UK’s progressive recovery policy. WHO’s SDG 3 supports community-led initiatives to enhance mental health access globally. In South Africa, lived experience initiatives are vital for addressing systemic barriers like poverty and stigma.

Alignment with U-ACT and David Collins:

U-ACT operates as a Community Interest Corporation in the UK and a Public Benefit Organisation in South Africa, functioning as a LERO equivalent. Its peer-led, community-focused mission to train recovery coaches globally aligns with the UK’s vision of independent, systemic change and WHO’s community-driven health goals. In South Africa, U-ACT’s work uplifts underserved communities, combating addiction and aligning with SDG 3’s focus on reducing health inequities.

David Collins leverages his lived experience to lead U-ACT and deliver his Executive Recovery Wellness Programme. His public-facing initiatives, like the Ubuntu Academy of Coaching Training, destigmatize addiction and train coaches for diverse communities, reflecting UK’s cultural competence standards and WHO’s inclusivity principles. In South Africa, Collins’ tailored coaching meets the needs of diverse clients, enhancing accessibility in a context of cultural and economic diversity.

4. Challenges and Opportunities in Peer Support Roles

The GOV.UK document identifies challenges for peer support workers, including unclear job descriptions, stigma, emotional strain, and limited career pathways, advocating for better training and supervision. This reflects the UK’s commitment to professionalizing peer roles. WHO’s SDG 3 emphasizes capacity-building for mental health workers to ensure sustainability. In South Africa, these challenges are amplified by resource shortages and social stigma, requiring structured support systems.

Alignment with U-ACT and David Collins:

U-ACT’s CPD-certified Recovery Coach Training addresses these challenges by offering clear role definitions, evidence-based tools, and internationally recognized certifications (e.g., CCAR, NAADAC). This professionalizes peer roles, aligning with UK best practices and WHO’s capacity-building goals. In South Africa, U-ACT’s training mitigates stigma and role ambiguity, empowering coaches to operate effectively in resource-constrained settings.
David Collins’ programmes provide practical field experience, assignments, and ongoing mentorship through his Executive Recovery Wellness Programme, equipping coaches to handle emotional strain and maintain boundaries. His focus on global certification supports career pathways, aligning with the UK’s development models and WHO’s sustainability objectives. In South Africa, Collins’ supervision and support systems help coaches navigate triggers and stigma, enhancing peer role sustainability.

5. Evidence-Based and Community-Driven Approaches

The GOV.UK document cites research (e.g., Stack et al., 2022) supporting peer support’s effectiveness and encourages recovery community centres (RCCs) to provide meaningful activities and reduce stigma. This reflects the UK’s evidence-based policy approach. WHO’s SDG 3 promotes scientifically grounded mental health interventions. In South Africa, community-driven approaches are essential for scaling recovery efforts amid limited infrastructure.
Alignment with U-ACT and David Collins:
U-ACT integrates neuroscience, spiritual principles, and community-building into its coaching, aligning with the UK’s evidence-based standards and WHO’s focus on holistic interventions. Its global reach across 27 countries and initiatives like recovery cafes mirror the UK’s RCC vision and SDG 3’s community engagement goals. In South Africa, U-ACT’s community-focused approach reduces stigma and provides meaningful activities in underserved areas.
David Collins employs evidence-based techniques like the SCARF model in his Executive Recovery Wellness Programme, reflecting UK and WHO standards. His public-facing initiatives, such as social enterprises, create visible recovery opportunities, aligning with RCC principles and SDG 3’s destigmatization goals. In South Africa, Collins’ work fosters hope and empowerment, addressing local needs for community-driven recovery.

U-ACT and David Collins’ recovery initiatives align closely with the GOV.UK document’s principles, embodying the UK’s first-world approach through collaborative, evidence-based, and person-centered systems. Their work supports WHO’s SDG 3 by promoting accessible, inclusive mental health interventions and community empowerment. In the South African context, their culturally adaptive, peer-led approaches address systemic challenges like stigma, inequality, and resource constraints, contributing to a global movement for sustainable recovery and wellness.