“We are not here to tell people what to do. We just want to help them get better”: Redcar and Cleveland charity tackles stigma for Alcohol Awareness Week

This Alcohol Awareness Week (6 - 12 July) WithYou in Redcar and Cleveland is issuing an urgent message to local residents: you do not have to suffer in silence.

As lead partner in the local THRIVE partnership - with Harbour the specialist domestic abuse charity, and Intuitive Thinking Skills which provides recovery programmes - the service is highlighting the unique challenges in Redcar and Cleveland, emphasising that help is available, judgement-free, and closer than ever before.

For Gill Collier, 51, a recovery worker at WithYou in Redcar and Cleveland who has worked in the drug and alcohol sector for nearly two decades, the local situation is distinct and concerning.

“We're living in an area, and we work in an area that has got a lot of deprivation,” says Gill. “What we do know is that people that don't work, who are deprived in other areas drink more. It's socially acceptable, it's everywhere, and it's a way of getting people together in some places that feel isolated, so we definitely see high risk amounts of people drinking within this area, more than I would say in other areas.”

The pandemic and the cost of living crisis have driven up the amount of people drinking high amounts. “For them drinking became a way of relaxing when they were bored, when they couldn’t go out and be social, and people continue now to drink in the house, because now what they found is it's cheaper to drink in the house than it is to drink in a pub,” explains Gill.

“Not all people know they're struggling with alcohol addiction, they just know that things aren't going right in life, or that they’re feeling unwell. A lot of people don't know about alcohol units. They come in and we're explaining to them that the government guidelines suggest 14 units for men and women these days, and they’re drinking 254.”

WithYou is working to break down the barriers to support. Many referrals come from the Alcohol Care Team at James Cook University Hospital and local GPs, and WithYou has a clinic in a local surgery every Friday. Outreach workers meet clients in their own homes, and the service is planning quiet hours where the building is emptier and calmer, and a virtual tour of the new premises for prospective clients, making it easier for neurodiverse, anxious, or just unsure clients to get help. “It's not just looking at the alcohol, it's looking at everything that causes the alcohol use,” says Gill.

This approach is changing lives daily. The team has seen remarkable success stories, such as a woman who, while trapped in an abusive relationship, found support through her local GP. With help from WithYou and Harbour, she was able to navigate her recovery and is now thriving. Similarly, the service has helped a young man get back into work, and has supported those with dual diagnoses, such as ADHD, by connecting them with specialised care instead of leaving them to self-medicate.

Gill is deeply passionate as she talks about her work, and her commitment is personal. Sharing her story, she says, “My father was dependent on alcohol, and I cared for him. I know what that looks like.”

“We are not here to tell people what to do. We just want to help them get better. We will work with them. We will facilitate anything that we can to ensure that somebody is getting the best out of our service. I just truly believe that everybody deserves a chance.”

As part of Alcohol Awareness Week, the WithYou team will be active across the area, including hosting mocktail events in their building in Redcar, offering alcohol awareness information at the James Cook University Hospital, and staffing a stall on Redcar High Street to answer questions and offer guidance.

For those who are concerned about their own drinking, or the drinking of a loved one, please reach out. There is no need to carry the burden alone.