If you are based in West Kent there is free alcohol awareness training for organisations, this training is known as the IBA (Alcohol Identification and Brief Advice) programme.

What is the IBA Programme?

The IBA programme is a half day course will equip participants with knowledge about alcohol and useful techniques to help individuals to reduce their drinking. During the training you will develop confidence to raise and respond to alcohol issues in your everyday working practices. You will:

• Learn about the effects and health impacts of alcohol.
• Develop skills in using simple screening tools.
• Develop skills and techniques to deliver simple advice.

The course is available free of charge to all organisations. If you are interested you can book a training event or register for the next scheduled event, email: [email protected]

Alcohol Concern run a 24 helpline which is free and confidential which can put your in touch with your local alcohol services. If you or someone you care about is affected by alcohol, Alcohol Concern can help.

24 hour helpline on 0800 9178282 - which is free and confidential and they can put you in touch with your local alcohol service; they will also help you if you are worried about someone else’s drinking.

www.alcoholconcern.org.uk

Alcoholics Anonymous is for people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.

• Support for Alcohol addiction and misuse
• Group and peer support

Local groups meet all over the region:

You can find your local support group meeting by clicking here.

For more information about local services call: 0845 769 7555 or email [email protected]

www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

Change Grow Live offer community-based alcohol services which offer flexible support ranging from advice and information to treatment programmes. They seek to help people recover from the damaging effects of alcohol misuse.

Change Grow Live provide treatment and help in West Kent have have the following offices:

• Maidstone: Mill House, Mill St, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6XH. Tel 01622 690 864
• Tonbridge: 1st Floor, 133 High Street, Tonbridge, TN9 1DH. Tel 01732 367 380
• Gravesend: 8-9 Berkley Crescent, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 2AH. Tel: 01474 566659

To see their website go to: www.changegrowlive.org

• Alcohol services
• Provide support for addicts and their families
• peer suppor

Combat Stress is helping more than 5,400 UK Veterans get their lives back. If you are suffering mental ill-health caused by military service, combat stress may be able to help you too. It doesn’t matter how young or old you are, or where you Served - Combat Stress may be able to help. And although they are called Combat Stress, you don’t have to have been in combat to use our services. As long as you are an ex-Service man or women, they are here for you.
And if you are the loved one or carer of an ex-Service man or woman, you can get in touch too.

People react to traumatic experiences in different ways, go to the Live It Well Post Traumatic Stress Information Page for more information.

Telephone: 01372 587000. 24 Hour Helpline 0800 1381619 you can also text 07537 404 719 (standard charges apply for texts) or email them at: [email protected]

For their website follow the link: www.combatstress.org.uk

CXK delivers a range of services across Kent to support young people and families to maximise their potential. In particular by providing them with advice, guidance, skills and the confidence that will help them to progress into education, employment and training. Services include:

• careers guidance, advice and work related learning for vulnerable young people and adults (including the National Careers Service);
• mental health & wellbeing services (Young Healthy Minds);
• Leadership & Development programmes for young people including the National Citizen Service and the Prince’s Trust team programme;
• Management of youth centres and a mobile youth service (Community Activity teams);
• Training Programmes for those not in employment, education and training (European Social Fund);
• Accredited training for adults and professionals working with young people
• Parenting programmes and family workshops

Telephone: 01795 439397, email: [email protected]. For their website follow the link: www.cxk.org

Gamblers Anonymous is a group of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to do the same.

Gamblers Anonymous members offer the hand of friendship to anyone who is looking to try and stop gambling. They have local meetings near you to find out more go to their website at the link below.

www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk

If you are experiencing problems with gambling addiction why not refer yourself into free NHS Talking Therapy services in Kent and Medway, they are based all over and the CBT offered can help with addiction. Find out about your local service at the Live It Well NHS Counselling and Therapy Pages.

Help for Hoarders is an online resource providing information, support and advice for hoarders, and their family and friends.

Help for Hoarders has tools, tips and help for people who hoard as well as a online forum for those wanting to contact people in similar situations.

If you need help and support on hoarding then this is a good place to start.

To find out more go to their website by following the link: www.helpforhoarders.co.uk

Have you seen your GP or Doctor and they have recommended you see a counsellor and get some therapy? Psychology Online is one of the free NHS funded talking therapy and counselling services available in Kent and Medway. These services are open to everyone aged from 17+.

Are you feeling stressed or depressed or anxious?

Or struggling with a phobia, eating disorder or addiction?

Or if you are looking for someone to help you through a difficult time in life, maybe a friend or relative has died or you’re struggling with fertility of if you have lost your job?

Talking therapies can help all sorts of people in many different situations. Talking therapy is for anyone who’s going through a bad time or who has emotional problems they can’t sort out on their own.

Ieso Digital Health provides live secure one-to-one cognitive behavioural therapy over the internet. All therapy is provided online via secure instant-messaging. This convenient, easy to use service is now FREE for NHS patients in West Kent. You can refer yourself to the service (you must be registered with a GP in West Kent) or you can ask your GP for a referral.

Contact: Ieso Digital Health: www.iesohealth.com/westkent or email: [email protected] or telephone: 01954 230066

• Anyone aged 18 and above
• Conditions including: depression, generalised anxiety disorder, mixed depression and anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), phobias (including social anxiety disorder), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), health anxiety, adjustment disorders, anger management, psycho sexual issues, depression or anxiety in adults with a chronic physical health problem, medically unexplained symptoms, a mild learning disability or cognitive impairment.

www.iesohealth.com/westkent

There are several talking therapy providers in your area so if one has a waiting list why not try another therapy provider go to our list of local NHS Talking Therapy providers which you can find on our NHS Counselling and Therapy page.

This service was provided as part of the IAPT programme, to find out more about IAPT go to: www.iapt.nhs.uk.

KCA Young Persons’ Services provide friendly and expert advice and information about drugs and alcohol to 10-17 year olds with options considered for lifestyle changes and choices.

Referrals can be self-made or someone can contact the organisation on the young person’s behalf.

Address: 34 Simmonds Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 3RA

Telephone: 01227 456 744

www.kcayps.org.uk

Health Trainers offer free, confidential one-to-one support, to help patients make positive lifestyle changes. They work in the most deprived areas of Kent to reduce health inequalities. They offer up to six free sessions of support, encouragement and practical assistance in local venues. They work with you to establish what changes you wish to make, to develop a personalised behaviour change plan and to provide support and encouragement to enable you to achieve your goals.

Issues they can help you with include:

• accessing local services
• physical activity
• healthy eating
• healthy weight
• stopping smoking
• alcohol/drugs concerns
• reducing stress
• sexual health concerns.

Address: Health Trainer Service, Trinity House, 110-120 Upper Pemberton, Eureka Business Park, Ashford, Kent, TN25 4AZ.
Phone: 0800 849 4000 option three or email: Email: [email protected]

How do you use this service?
You can contact the service direct using the information given above or you can be referred by a GP or healthcare professional.

The Live Well Kent service is there to help people improve their mental and physical health and wellbeing. It is a free service for anyone over 17. Some of the things Live Well Kent can help with are:

Mental health and wellbeing

• Understanding and managing thoughts and emotions
• Achieving personal goals
• Accessing therapies and support groups.

Keeping active and healthy

• Healthy living support eg stopping smoking or cutting down on alcohol
• Dance clubs
• Walking groups and sporting activities.

Meeting people

• Volunteering
• Social enterprises and community projects
• Arts, music and culture groups.

Training and work

• Gaining new skills
• Finding the right job.

Everyday living

• Managing money, including debt and benefits
• Housing support and guidance

Live Well Kent’s aim is to connect people with their communities, ensuring they have access to the widest possible range of support and services to meet their particular needs.

So if you are looking for help and support for yourself or someone you know call on 0800 567 7699 or email [email protected] and they talk you through how we can help you and give the support and advice you need. To go to their website go to: www.livewellkent.org.uk

Live Well Kent is delivered on behalf of Kent County Council and the NHS by two charities, Porchlight and Shaw Trust.

TheSite.org is an online guide to life for 16-25 year olds in the UK. It provides non-judgmental support and information on everything from sex and stress to debt and drugs.

Straight-talking emotional support is available 24 hours a day. There are options for:

• Chatting about anything on moderated discussion boards and live chat rooms
• Browsing over 2000 articles and videos full of trustworthy facts
• Reading about the experiences of other young people in the True Life section
• Asking questions about friends, dating, love or family life to trained advisors – free and confidential

They have information and advice on:

• Sex & Relationships
• Your Body
• Mental Health
• Drink & Drugs
• Housing
• Money
• Work & Study
• Crime & Safety
• Travel & Lifestyle

www.thesite.org