Leeds Trinity University has continued its growth in research and knowledge exchange spheres after securing two projects with addiction recovery charities through the Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) programme.

AKTs are short-term collaborations between organisations and a “knowledge base” to accelerate the progress of innovation projects. Leeds Trinity University was approved as a knowledge base in 2023, positioning it to share its academic expertise and resources with businesses and other organisations to help deliver positive impact and drive innovation.
The University recently secured its first Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), a two-year project with substance use recovery organisation Recovery Connections, which aims to create pathways to community engagement for people in addiction recovery and other marginalised groups.
The work with Recovery Connections will broaden through a three-month AKT project designed to support people in complex, long-term addiction recovery to gain meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities. The project, led on behalf of Leeds Trinity by Dr Arun Sondhi, Associate Professor in Addiction Recovery, will focus on the development of a peer-led, accredited prototype ambassador programme which provides personalised and practical assistance.
Separately, the University will also work on an initiative with Getting Clean, a local mutual aid organisation supporting people in drug and alcohol recovery while educating members of their community about leading more sustainable lifestyles in regard to both their personal wellbeing and the environment.
Supervised by Dr Tahir Islam, a Senior Lecturer in Marketing, academic experts will research and evaluate consumer responses to the group’s ‘Soap with Hope’ enterprise, which sees recovering addicts make bars of soap that are sold by the charity, with all profits channelled into providing valuable peer-to-peer support. Dr Islam will also oversee work to identify approaches to maximise Getting Clean’s commercial activities, increase profit, and inform future growth.
Each AKT supports ambitions set out in Leeds Trinity University’s Strategic Plan 2021-26, including improving research and knowledge exchange outputs and a commitment to social justice.
Claire Newhouse, Dean of External Engagement and Impact at Leeds Trinity University, said: “After receiving approval to become a Knowledge Base, we set a target of securing three knowledge transfer partnerships by 2026, so to secure three partnerships in 2025 alone is a huge success for the University. I’m also really pleased that we’re able to support two charities whose work aligns with the values of Leeds Trinity, which has social justice at the heart of its mission.”
To find out more about knowledge transfer partnerships with Leeds Trinity, visit the University website or contact the Business Engagement team.