Highland Sober Collective
A community-led approach to sober connection in the Highlands
The Highland Sober Collective is a project by Highland Well-Ness Collective, created to explore, support, and normalise sober social connection through creativity, wellbeing, and community. The project has been delivered in phases, allowing ideas to grow organically from lived experience and participant leadership.
Phase One of the Highland Sober Collective ran between April and August 2025.
The aim of this phase was to pilot a small, committed group experience that could:
test demand for sober social spaces
build trust and continuity between participants
co-create a shared vision for what sober social connection could look like in the Highlands
What we delivered
Six facilitated workshops were delivered by external creative practitioners, combining creative, reflective, and outdoor activities, including:
zine-making with Highland Zine Bothy
kayaking and paddleboarding with Blue Space Highlands
pottery painting with Tilly & Roo
outdoor art with
guided group conversations around connection, wellbeing, and sober socialising with Studio Constella | Caroline Inckle
Participants were invited to commit to the full programme to support relationship-building and group cohesion.
All 20 places filled quickly, with a waiting list in place. While attendance naturally varied due to health, work, and travel, a core group of regular participants emerged, forming the foundation for the project’s next phase.
What changed
Participants reported:
increased confidence and wellbeing
reduced feelings of isolation
stronger social connection and sense of belonging
Feedback consistently highlighted the relief of finding sober spaces that felt joyful, creative, and non-judgemental, with comments such as:
“It’s heartening to know it doesn’t have to be lonely anymore.”
A key output from Phase One was the co-created “We Are” Sober Collective statement, capturing shared values of fun, empathy, courage, inclusion, and connection and the development of SOBER-NESS event as part of Phase Two (see below),
Phase One is now complete.
Phase Two: From Collective to Community | SOBER-NESS
Insights, relationships, and learning from Phase One directly shaped Phase Two, which moved the project from a closed pilot group into a public-facing community experience.
Phase Two resulted in SOBER-NESS: a one-day, sober focused festival celebrating:
creativity
wellbeing
sober and sober-curious socialising
community connection
SOBER-NESS was co-designed with the Phase One core group, many of whom are now volunteering, facilitating sessions, and supporting outreach. This marks a deliberate shift toward participant-led leadership and long-term sustainability.
The event also launches the public Highland Sober Collective community, creating space for wider engagement beyond the original pilot group.
Broader impact
Beyond individual participant outcomes, the Highland Sober Collective has:
sparked growing local interest in sober culture and wellbeing
led to new partnerships with creative, wellbeing, and community organisations
opened conversations about sobriety, mental health, and inclusive social spaces in Inverness and beyond
The enthusiasm around SOBER-NESS reflected a wider appetite for connection-led sober social experiences.
What’s next
Following SOBER-NESS, the Highland Sober Collective will move in PHASE 3 by:
hosting regular sober social gatherings
develop other public events
grow the community
explore future funding to support long-term impact
More info for Phase 3 events can be found on our events page in due course