River - Liverpool Drug and Alcohol Support Services

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We work in partnership with the Forward Trust and Emerging Futures to provide a range of support options for people looking to make positive changes in their lives.

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SHARP: A structured treatment programme

SHARP (Self-Help Addiction Recovery Programme) is an abstinence-based recovery programme designed for individuals and families affected by drug or alcohol use.

The programme is held over 11 weeks at our space in Liverpool city centre.

The sessions cover:

  • Peer-to-peer support and group therapy
  • Group therapy and individual counselling sessions
  • Advice and guidance on keeping your recovery on track and preventing a relapse
  • Workshops and life skills groups

Once you’ve completed the SHARP programme, you’ll also have access to 12 months of aftercare support to help you maintain your recovery, and find employment or volunteering opportunities.

Who can access SHARP

You can access the SHARP programme if you meet all four of these criteria:

  • You are aged 18 or over.
  • You live in Liverpool or the surrounding areas.
  • You are experiencing difficulties with drugs or alcohol, or you are impacted by someone else’s substance use.
  • You have been drug- and alcohol-free for at least 24 hours before you begin the programme.

How to access SHARP

Referrals are accepted from all sources, including healthcare professionals and criminal justice services. To find out more or to access this programme:

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Brink of Change: Preparing for recovery

Brink of Change helps people take the first steps towards abstinence. It offers daily group sessions at the Brink Café, covering topics such as:

  • Finding motivation and seeing visible recovery
  • Understanding dependence and health impacts
  • Setting achievable weekly goals
  • Building positive social networks
  • Preventing relapse

You can join Brink of Change at any time. Just visit the Brink Café in Parr Street Liverpool L1, and speak to a staff member.

If you have started the SHARP programme but aren’t ready to complete it after the 48 sessions, you can continue engaging with Brink of Change until you feel the time is right.

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AD-PASS: One-to-one counselling

The AD-PASS programme offers up to 16 sessions of individual counselling for people looking to reduce or stop their drug or alcohol use.

Appointments are available out of hours for those with work commitments, and referrals to additional services can be made if more support is needed.

AD-PASS accepts referrals from all sources, including healthcare professionals. To find out more or self-refer:

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Emerging Futures: Recovery Support

Recovery Support is provided by Emerging Futures. We offer a gentle, ongoing layer of connection for people who are already steady in their recovery journey and no longer need structured intervention. We provide regular check-ins, and links to wider community and recovery networks, helping individuals maintain momentum, accountability, and a sense of belonging as they continue to thrive. 

We also offer a number of workshops, led by staff and volunteers, many of whom have their own lived experience:

  • Preparation for Change: encouraging people to identify their strengths, motivations and resources. 
  • Foundations of Change: exploring wellbeing needs and how these can be met naturally.
  • Foundations of Growth: learning how negative thoughts influence behaviour and how to build healthy habits
  • Thrive: supporting people to maintain abstinence and build strong support networks. 

If you would like to find out more, please speak to your River keyworker.

Support for families and carers 

We offer support for families and carers who have been affected by someone else’s drinking or drug use. We help families to build supportive peer networks and explore how to support loved ones through the many stages of treatment and recovery. 

If you would like support or to find out more, please email [email protected] or call 0151 453 7357.

Coaching essentials 

Coaching is at the heart of our approach and is delivered by professionals and volunteers within our treatment partnerships. Coaches offer support, advocacy and structured interventions to support sustained behavioural change.

Our coaching essentials course is CPD accredited and entitles people to gain:

  • A formal CDP accredited for 25 hours CPD
  • A pathway into volunteer roles within our organisation and others
  • A foundation for employment within the health and social care sector