Recovery Support Resources
A list of national, local, and specialist support services for anyone in active addiction, early recovery, or affected by someone else’s substance use or mental health challenges.
1. Alcohol, Drugs & Addiction Support (National)
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
📞 0800 9177 650
🌐 https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Free meetings (in-person and online) for anyone with a desire to stop drinking.
Narcotics Anonymous (NA UK)
📞 0300 999 1212
Support and fellowship for anyone recovering from drug addiction.
Cocaine Anonymous UK
📞 0800 612 0225
Peer-run 12-step meetings for people addicted to cocaine or other substances.
SMART Recovery UK
🌐 https://www.smartrecovery.org.uk
Science-based recovery programme teaching self-management and coping tools (online and local meetings).
We Are With You (formerly Addaction)
🌐 https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk
Confidential online chat, toolkits, and local support for people and families affected by alcohol or drug use.
Useful links:
Distraction Toolkit https://tools.wearewithyou.org.uk/distraction/
Timeout Toolkit https://timeout-toolkit.wearewithyou.org.uk/
Alcohol Toolkit https://alcohol-toolkit.wearewithyou.org.uk/start
Change Grow Live (CGL)
🌐 https://www.changegrowlive.org
Nationwide drug and alcohol recovery charity offering treatment, mentoring, and peer groups.
DrugFAM
📞 0300 888 3853
📧 mailto:office@drugfam.co.uk
Support for families, friends, and partners affected by someone else’s substance or gambling use.
Release
📞 0207 324 2989
📧 mailto:ask@release.org.uk
Free, confidential drug advice line and legal help regarding drug issues.
Families Anonymous
📞 0207 498 4680
12-step fellowship for families and friends of people with drug problems.
2. Support for Families, Children & Affected Others
Al-Anon
📞 0800 0086 811
📧 mailto:helpline@al-anonuk.org.uk
Meetings and helpline for those affected by another’s drinking.
NACOA (National Association for Children of Alcoholics)
📞 0800 358 3456
📧 mailto:helpline@nacoa.org.uk
Support for anyone affected by a parent’s drinking (including adults).
Sanctuary Family Support (Liverpool)
📍 322-326 Upper Parliament St, Liverpool, L8 7QL
https://breathingpoint.co.uk/service-finder/wirral/
Family support for people affected by substance use.
3. Gambling Support
GamCare
📞 0808 8020 133 (24/7)
Free advice, counselling, chatroom, and forum support for gamblers and loved ones.
Gamblers Anonymous UK
📞 0330 094 0322
https://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk
Peer-run meetings nationwide.
Gambling Therapy
🌐 https://www.gamblingtherapy.org
Online forum and multilingual support for people affected by gambling.
4. Mental Health, Crisis & Suicide Prevention
Samaritans
📞 116 123 (24/7)
📧 mailto:jo@samaritans.org
🌐 https://www.samaritans.org
Non-judgmental listening service for anyone in distress.
➡ Also see https://selfhelp.samaritans.org for coping tools.
Shout (Crisis Text Line)
Text SHOUT to 85258
24/7 confidential text support for mental health crises.
PAPYRUS (Young Suicide Prevention)
📞 0800 068 4141
📱 Text: 07860 039967
📧 mailto:pat@papyrus-uk.org
Support for under-35s experiencing suicidal thoughts or concerned about someone else.
SANE
📞 07984 967 708 (leave a message)
Emotional support and practical help for those affected by mental illness.
Mind
Information on mental health, addiction, coping techniques, and urgent helplines.
Stay Alive App
https://prevent-suicide.org.uk/find-help-now/stay-alive-app
A free safety-planning app for anyone at risk of suicide.
5. Self-Help Tools & Online Recovery Resources
Insight Timer https://insighttimer.com – Meditation and sleep app.
Mind Remake Project https://mindremakeproject.org/2019/03/10/worksheets-activities-guides-for-individual-or-group-therapy/ – Free therapy worksheets and guides.
Weave silk http://weavesilk.com – Relaxing creative drawing.
Pixel Thoughts https://www.pixelthoughts.co ) – One-minute meditation.
SMART Recovery Toolbox https://www.smartrecovery.org.uk – Cognitive and motivational tools.
Addictions.com Recovery Activities https://www.addictions.com/blog/36-addiction-recovery-group-activities/ – Free ideas for recovery groups.
Soberistas https://soberistas.com – Online community for women in alcohol recovery.
6. Local Services - Wirral, Merseyside & Cheshire
Wirral Ways (Change Grow Live)
📍 Nightingales Hub, 88-90 Argyle Street, Birkenhead, CH41 6AG
📞 0151 556 1335
🌐 https://www.wirralways.org.uk
Free, confidential drug & alcohol support for adults, young people, and families. Offers 1-to-1 support, peer groups, and recovery hubs.
Nightingales Recovery CIC
📍 Birkenhead, Merseyside
🌐 https://nightingalesrecovery.org.uk
Community recovery hub and café space with sober events (e.g. at Rek 41). Focuses on connection, creativity, and wellbeing in recovery.
Spider Project (Birkenhead)
📍 56 Hamilton Street, Birkenhead, CH41 5HZ
Creative arts, wellbeing, and recovery community space for people with lived experience of addiction or mental health struggles.
Tomorrow’s Women Wirral
📍 Beckwith Street East, Birkenhead, CH41 3JE
Support for women around addiction, domestic abuse, and mental health.
Birchwood Residential Treatment Centre
📍 Broad Lane, Heswall, Wirral, CH60 9JY
Birchwood: Residential Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centre (birchwood-detox-rehab.com)
📞 0151 670 0033
Residential detox and rehabilitation centre offering structured therapy and recovery support.
Via – New Beginnings (Cheshire West & Chester)
📍 Aqua House, 51 Boughton, Chester, CH3 5AF
📞 0300 303 4549
Free drug and alcohol support for adults and young people in Cheshire West and Chester.
Delamere Recovery Centre (Cheshire)
🌐 https://delamere.com/rehab/drug/ketamine
Residential rehab offering detox and therapy for alcohol, drugs, and ketamine use.
Oasis Runcorn (UKAT Group)
📍 38-40 Bridge Street, Runcorn, WA7 1BY
🌐 https://www.oasisrehab.co.uk
Residential detox and aftercare programme.
7. Ketamine & Specialist Substance Support
UK Addiction Treatment Centres (UKAT)
https://www.ukat.co.uk/rehab-treatment/drug/ketamine/
Dedicated ketamine rehab and therapy pathways across the UK.
Delamere (Cheshire)
https://delamere.com/rehab/drug/ketamine
Private rehab with specific support for ketamine dependence.
Gladstones Clinic (Cotswolds)
https://gladstonesclinic.com/rehab-programme/substance-addictions/ketamine/
Residential treatment for ketamine and substance use.
CATCH Recovery
https://www.catchrecovery.com/treatment-services/online-therapy/for-ketamine-addiction/
Online therapy and aftercare for ketamine addiction.
8. NHS, Directories & General Info
NHS Addiction Support Directory
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support
Helplines Partnership
https://www.helplines.org/helplines/?query=&Helpline+topics=Addictions
Comprehensive directory of UK helplines.
Lighthearts UK
https://www.lighthearts-uk.com/mental-health-helplines
Liverpool Family Service Directory
🌐 https://fsd.liverpool.gov.uk/kb5/liverpool/fsd/service.page?id=Pev7dHegdjg&familychannel=5
UKAT Resource List