Evaluation of ARC Fitness: a substance use service in Northern Ireland

Evaluation in progress, expected completion October 2026

At a glance

We will carry out a study to understand how well the ARC Fitness service is working and how it supports people with substance use difficulties and family members of individuals with substance use issues.

To do this, we will look at information the service has already collected, and we will also ask people about their experiences through interviews. We will speak to both people who have used the two ARC Fitness programmes and the staff and organisations involved in delivering them.

This will help us understand not only the results of the programmes, but also how and why they work.

We will share the results with ARC Fitness, Local Authorities, and other organisations to help improve services. We will also share the findings more widely through reports and research publications.

In short, the study will help understand how the service works, if it is effective and why, and how it could potentially be replicated or expanded.

What does the evaluation mean for Local Government?

This evaluation will generate applied, practice-relevant evidence to inform Local Authority decision-making in relation to substance use service provision.

The findings will provide insight into the reach of ARC Fitness, including the extent to which the service engages priority and potentially underserved populations. It will also offer a detailed understanding of programme delivery, including the components and processes that contribute to effective implementation.

Furthermore, the evaluation will identify resource requirements and provide indicative information on costs. This will enable Local Authorities to assess the potential value of investing in or expanding similar community-based models alongside existing statutory provision.

Overall, the evaluation will support more informed commissioning, service planning, and strategic responses to substance-related harm at the local level.

How are the public involved in the evaluation?

The PHIRST Light research team are committed to ensuring public voices are included throughout the entirety of each evaluation, with an additional emphasis on capacity building for effective and inclusive public contribution within local authorities.

Following the principles promoted by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) on patient and public involvement (PPI), the PHIRST Light team have established an overarching Public Advisory Group (PAG) comprising members of the public and local authority service users. All PPI activities are monitored by the PAG.

This evaluation supported the formation of a local group in Derry, Northern Ireland, including individuals with lived experience of substance use issues or a family member with substance use issues. Members of the PPI group were key stakeholders throughout the proposal development, ensuring lived experience voices informed the evaluation strategy. The group co-produced recruitment strategies and materials that were accessible and inclusive, including wording of the interview guides. They will continue to support the project through co-interpretation of key findings, development of the evaluation report and dissemination work.