Dear Albert - Free drug and alcohol helpline

Who does the service support?

We provide a free national helpline to support clients and families in crisis with drugs and alcohol.  

What can you expect from the Service?

Dear Albert is a social enterprise which specialises in peer mentoring and making recovery more visible by bringing together existing resources.

We work with clients and families (short to long term) to resolve resistance/ambivalence and increase motivation for change.

We offer a national social media peer support network and publish a magazine called Service User News, which is designed to address topics of recovery and signpost to local free resources.

We have recently developed a cartoon character called ‘Our Albert’ which aims to communicate specifically to young people. Future editions of Service User News will integrate the rest of the cartoon family and will start to deliver family related messages of support and recovery.

We also provide local film viewings of the acclaimed Dear Albert Recovery Documentary by Nick Hamer and drug and substance misuse education events to local authorities and drug and alcohol services throughout the year.

How do you get involvement from the service/who can refer/request involvement?

You can get in touch directly.

What happens after the service has been involved?

We undertake assessments which enable us to support clients into an appropriate treatment programme.

What can parents,children and young people, families do if they are not eligible for the service/schools don't feel they can refer to this service?

We have close links with peer support fellowships such as Smart Recovery, NA, AA and work in close collaboration with statutory funded drug and alcohol agencies, private rehabs, local authorities and substance misuse charities.  

We can also provide phone and referral support to substance clients with SEND needs, such as mental health, emotional health, learning disabilities, behavioural difficulties and physical difficulties through the often challenging road to recovery.