BRIO is an education and training programme for women experiencing the intersecting challenges of addiction and involvement with the criminal justice system. Developed in partnership between SAOL Project and the Probation Service, BRIO supports women to build recovery, develop skills, and become peer leaders who can support others on similar journeys.

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At its core, BRIO is about change—supporting women to reflect on their experiences, develop new ways of thinking, and build pathways towards stability, connection, and participation. The programme recognises that many participants come with experiences of trauma, poverty, disrupted education, and social exclusion. In response, BRIO offers an approach that is relational, strengths-based, and grounded in lived experience.

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A defining feature of BRIO is its peer-to-peer model. Women are supported to become Peer Support Workers, drawing on their own experiences of addiction, recovery, and criminal justice involvement to support others. This approach is rooted in the concept of the “wounded healer,” recognising that those who have navigated these challenges are uniquely placed to offer understanding, hope, and credible support. In BRIO, recovery is both inward and outward: as women support others, they continue to strengthen their own recovery.

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Our Approach

BRIO is shaped by four key influences that guide both what we do and how we do it:

• The Wounded Healer: Valuing lived experience as a source of knowledge, connection, and leadership.

• Pedagogy of the Oppressed (Paulo Freire): Supporting women to develop critical awareness through dialogue, shared learning, and active participation rather than traditional “top-down” education.

• The Magenta Principle (Hughes): Emphasising engagement, creativity, and deep learning through discussion, reflection, and experiential methods.

• Trauma-Informed Care and Practice: Ensuring that all work is grounded in safety, trust, empowerment, and an understanding of the impacts of trauma.

Together, these influences shape an educational model that is participatory, flexible, and responsive to the needs of the group. Learning is not delivered as a fixed curriculum but co-created with participants, drawing on their experiences, questions, and strengths.

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Learning in BRIO

BRIO uses a community education model that prioritises participation, dialogue, and experiential learning. Sessions often include:

• Group discussions and shared reflection.

• Creative methods such as role play, drama, and storytelling.

• Skills development in communication, facilitation, and peer support.

• Opportunities to co-design and deliver training modules, including harm reduction, personal development, and safety planning.

Everyday language is central to the programme. Rather than clinical or deficit-based terminology, BRIO creates space for women to speak about “what happened” in their lives, supporting meaning-making, identity development, and connection.

A typical session begins with a check-in to build connection and encourage participation, followed by structured group work. Sessions often include role play and group analysis, where participants reflect together on learning in a respectful and supportive way. Each session ends with a check-out, supporting reflection and encouraging self-care.

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A Safe and Supportive Environment

Trauma-informed practice underpins all aspects of BRIO. The programme prioritises:

• Physical, emotional, and psychological safety.

• Choice and autonomy in participation.

• Access to one-to-one support.

• A culture of respect, trust, and non-judgement.

Recognising the impact that learning and reflection can have, participants are supported to access individual and peer supports throughout their time in the programme.

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Values in Practice

BRIO is guided by a set of core values captured in the acronym LISTnRS:

• Lifelong learning.

• Integrity and authenticity.

• Social inclusion and equality.

• Trust and safety.

• Respect and kindness.

• Self-determination.

These values underpin the development of peer leaders who can work alongside professionals and within communities to support others.

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Creating Change

BRIO is grounded in the belief that meaningful change happens through relationships, reflection, and opportunity. By supporting women to develop skills, confidence, and critical awareness, the programme creates pathways not only for individual recovery but also for wider community impact.

Women who participate in BRIO often go on to use their voices, experiences, and skills to support others—bringing insight, empathy, and leadership to spaces where they have historically been excluded. In this way, BRIO contributes to both personal transformation and broader social change.