Alcohol Help

Betel of Britain in Birmingham, Birmingham
Commitment to alcohol free daily choice, aspiring to a healthier Birmingham lifestyle

About us:

Entering and Exiting Our Birmingham Residence

All of our Birmingham residents enter and exit voluntarily. We suggest men and women plan to join us for a minimum of 12 to 18 months. Everyone is required to do a telephone interview before being offered entrance. Following the interview, we receive people quickly, usually within one to five days of making their first contact. We accept residents of 17 years (with parental permission) and older.

Our Method Is To Model Freedom

Residents soon discover that life at Birmingham Betel is not a goal-oriented programme but rather a commitment to daily choice to aspire to the values and pursuits of a new and healthier lifestyle, as modelled by mature Christians. In the ‘advance at your own pace’ environment, residents observe and learn character-building principles. They live them out at home and at work, building strong foundations for a stable future off the streets, with the will to work, and living drug and alcohol free.

Community leaders and their immediate families live on-site. They form an integral part of the Birmingham extended-family atmosphere. The most capable and compassionate of Betel ‘graduates’ are often invited to become support staff. Having ‘been through it’, their first hand experience and lessons learned are an invaluable encouragement to newer residents.

With Betel, like respected Christian communities of the past, residents gradually work problems through in an alcohol free environment based on two simple and time-honoured concepts:

Extended Family

Birmingham Residents build meaningful relationships, inspiring hope and self-esteem, in an atmosphere of acceptance and love.

Meaningful Work

Residents help to fund their own recovery by working in one of our alcohol free charitable businesses. This significantly reduces the financial burden on their families and the government while restoring self-dignity and a sense of purpose. The result is that, on leaving Betel, they contribute positively to their own family life and society.

Meaningful work is vital to long-term recovery. It takes many forms, from the gentle introduction to the necessity of daily chores in our residences, to the responsibility of managing a Betel business in the local community. Daily teamwork helps to build job skills, diligence, punctuality, dependability, self-esteem and respect for supervisors.

Residents are supervised and orientated to the realities of today’s working world in one of Birmingham Betel’s workshops or businesses, namely:

# Furniture repair
# Restoration and Upholstery
# House Removals and Clearances
# Garden Maintenance and Landscaping
# Painting and Decorating
# Charity Shop Retail Sales
# Vehicle Repair

We contract jobs with the local public, the government, businesses, churches and charities as our principle means of funding Betel’s charitable activities.

Long-Term Change

As members of an extended family, working and worshipping together, residents focus on achieving and sustaining alcohol free change in three main areas of life:

Physically: by maintaining abstinence from harmful, addictive substances (illegal drugs, alcohol and tobacco) and recovering the good health habits of a proper diet and exercise.

Emotionally: by practising self-control and co-operation, gradually recovering a healthy self-image as a positive contributor to work teams, group recreation, and a caring household.

Morally: by acquiring a system of values which help to sustain the cumulative benefits of the change individuals achieve, successfully avoiding relapse over the long run.

So what will life be like as a Birmingham Betel resident? Many men and women say they soon feel accepted as new members of an extended family. Betel is a safe, structured, family-like environment. From 7am to 11pm, days consist of learning to co-operate and work with others, whether tidying house, preparing a meal or working in a Betel workshop or business.

During new residents’ first few months, each is assigned a ‘responsible’ or a more experienced Betel member to help them learn the daily routine, and to whom they can go first with questions or problems. Also, ‘Betelitos’ always travel in pairs or groups.

Every morning begins with a half-hour group ‘devotional’, a brief time of worship followed by encouragement from an experienced Betel resident or staff member. After the first two weeks, during which every new person stays on site adjusting to his surroundings and routine, residents are assigned to an alcohol freework team from 9:00am to 5:30pm. Work teams include flyer distribution, furniture collection, charity shop sales, furniture restoration/re-upholstery, gardening or household duties (food prep and tidying).

After tea (6:00pm) and clean up, evenings consist of a quiet reading hour, worship and Bible discussion groups, recreation (snooker, table tennis, volleyball), or guitar lessons depending on the week night.

Birmingham Residents receive their monthly family visit and telephone calls at the weekend. Following Sunday morning worship, the afternoon and evening are generally spent letter writing, playing football and on other leisure pursuits.

There’s Hope For Everyone’Including You

We recommend that residents plan to stay a minimum of 12 to 18 months. During that time, they will be given increasing responsibility at home and work as they demonstrate willingness, dependability and an attitude supportive of others. Responsible Betel residents learn to care for others, oversee household routines, lead work teams, and run businesses.

Contact Details:

Betel of Britain in Birmingham
Windmill House
Weatheroak Hill
Alvechurch
Birmingham
West Midlands
B48 7EA

Telephone: 01564 822356

Str8 Up – Young Persons Alcohol Service, Birmingham
We provide friendly and confidential one to one support if you are having difficulty with alcohol.

About us:

Are you worried about your use of alcohol?

# Do you spend a lot of time thinking about how and when you’ll get your next drink?

# Do you spend more money on alcohol than you used to?

# Has your performance at school, college or work been affected?

# Have you given up your favourite activities, or even lost friends as a result?

# Is your alcohol use causing problems at home?

# Do you feel unable to cope without your chosen substance?

Our service is free and available to anyone under 18 years old who lives in the borough of Solihull (including Chelmsley Wood, Smiths Wood, Kingshurst and Castle Bromwich) or who attends a Solihull School.

For young people (anyone under 18) the starting point is Str8 Up. The Str8 Up team works for Solihull Council.

Team members provide a comprehensive and confidential treatment service for young people using alcohol. They also offer support for young people who are, or have been, affected by a parent’s or carer’s alcohol use. The service is free to young people who live in the borough of Solihull, or who attend a Solihull school.

Treatment includes counselling, prescribing and help with managing anger, stress or anxiety.

Str8 Up accepts referrals from young people and families directly. Professionals can also make referrals.

First of all we need to find out a little bit about you, we arrange to come and meet you and try and keep this as informal as possible. From this we can then make suggestions of things that maybe able to help you – your allocated worker will then help you to draw up an alcohol care plan which is like a plan of action detailing what you hope to achieve and what we are going to do.

We’re not here to tell you what to do. If you want to stop using completely then we can help you work towards that, but if you are not ready to do this then we can still offer you support.

We are not time limited. Some people see us for only a few sessions and some people may see us for much longer.

You don’t always need your parents consent to receive a service from us – we will explain this in more detail when we meet with you.

You can contact us directly yourself by text, phone or email. Parents, carers, relatives or friends can also contact us on your behalf. If you have a social worker, youth worker, Connexions worker or another trusted adult you can ask them to make a referral.

Contact Details:

Str8 Up – Young Persons Alcohol Service
Keepers Lodge Centre
Chelmsley Road
Chelmsley Wood
Birmingham
West Midlands
B37 7RS

Telephone: 0121 788 5390

The A-Team, Birmingham
To help individuals affected by their alcohol intake.

About us:

The A-Team is Birmingham’s Primary Care Alcohol and Healthy Living Service. It aims aims to raise alcohol awareness and also facilitate brief interventions with individuals affected by their alcohol intake, targeting individuals who may be drinking at harmful and hazardous levels, offering confidential one to one sessions throughout Birmingham. Also organise and facilitate self help groups for those affected by alcohol.

The A-Team is a newly commissioned alcohol service aimed at reducing individuals’ alcohol consumption and providing alcohol awareness throughout Birmingham.

We are able to meet with any clients that are referred by their G.P. at their surgery, working through alcohol issues in up to six confidential sessions. In addition through our partnership working we can refer to other agencies that may benefit the client?s individual situation.

We promote alcohol awareness to venues, events and groups by giving out information about alcohol, unit levels, effects and possible solutions.

Exploring the consequences of excessive alcohol use and the personal and social cost to the individual and their life.
Offering a link into our services where we offer one to one sessions, looking at alcohol usage and consequences as well as addressing lifestyle choices and coping mechanisms.

Although alcohol can be an enjoyable and important aspect of a young person?s life it also carries significant risks for their current and future lifestyle. We offer bespoke alcohol awareness workshops to those 16 + going into schools, colleges and universities.

We will arrange to meet you in one of our city-wide locations to carry out assessment of your needs and provide appropriate help.

We cover subjects including:

Alcohol education
Identifying triggers
Avoiding high risk situations
Motivational enhancement therapy
Referral to other services

Contact Details:

The A-Team
113 Griffins Brook Lane
Bournville
Birmingham
West Midlands
B30 1QN

Telephone: 0121 475 8885

Aquarius – South Birmingham Community Alcohol Team, Birmingham
Free confidential service to anyone with or affected by someone else’s alcohol problems.

About us:

Range of services for people with alcohol problems, and their families, friends and carers. Assessment for home detox, referrals to inpatient detox, advice, information, individual and group counselling. Acupuncture. Individual counselling available for gamblers and those affected by their behaviour. Service for relatives of drug users. Also provide training and consultancy for professionals.

The Aquarius Community Alcohol Team for South Birmingham provides counselling, group work, motivational work and other services to people with alcohol or gambling problems and their relatives. Specialist services are available for women and Asian communities.

Here at Aquarius we strive to help people overcome the harms caused by alcohol. We work closely with families and friends to lessen the impact caused by an alcohol habit of a loved one. Getting rid of an addiction can be a difficult task but you needn’t worry as our team will be dedicated to giving you and your family the attention and care that you need. We will be there for you everystep of the way to ensure a full recovery which will enable you to look forward to a better and brighter future.

What We Do

# Offer a free and confidential service.
# Provide alcohol advice and information.
# Offer one to one support or group sessions.
# Refer to alcohol detox and/or rehabilitation service if necessary.
# Provide support for affected family members.
# Provide information on other services which can help you.

How We Do It

# We meet you at our clinic at a hospital or a suitable community venue.
# Together we can draw up an agreed support plan to help with your alcohol issues and other needs.
# With your permission we can also work with others concerned with your care.

Contact Details:

Aquarius – South Birmingham Community Alcohol Team
236 Bristol Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B5 7SL

Telephone: 0121 414 0888

Birmingham Alcohol Action Team, Birmingham
Exists to reduce the Birmingham harm caused alcohol and to improve well-being.

About us:

Alcohol plays an important and positive role in many aspects of British life. Drinking alcohol for most of us is associated with celebration and enjoyable social interaction. However alcohol has also become synonymous with drunken violence and disorder, vandalism and images of overcrowded accident and emergency departments dealing with the harms of excessive drinking.

Partners in Birmingham recognise and share the public’s concern that current levels of crime, disorder and ill health caused by alcohol are unacceptable. The financial and human costs to the city of the misuse of alcohol are significant. Alcohol misuse impacts upon the individual, the family and the community. The challenge we all face is to encourage everyone who drinks alcohol to do so sensibly and safely, whilst ensuring that measures are in place to tackle the impacts of alcohol misuse.

Birmingham Drug and Alcohol Action Team (BDAAT) part of Safer Birmingham Partnership, exists to reduce the harm caused by drugs and alcohol to improve well-being. BDAAT will achieve this through Strategic co-ordination, collaborative action, pooled resource investment, and the commissioning of evidence based, effective, quality services.

Opening times; For information and advice about drug and alcohol treatment services in Birmingham, call free phone 0800 073 0817

Catchment area; Birmingham

Referral method; Self

Contact Details:

Birmingham Alcohol Action Team
1st Floor, Technology Block
Gee Business Centre
Holborn Hill Aston
Birmingham
West Midlands
B7 5PA

Telephone: 0121 465 4930

Aquarius – North Birmingham Community Alcohol Team, Birmingham
Counselling, group work & motivational work to Birmingham people with alcohol problems.

About us:

The Aquarius Community Alcohol Team for North Birmingham provides counselling, group work, motivational work and other services to people with alcohol problems and their relatives.

Opening times; Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm
Catchment area; North Birmingham

Referral method; Self-referral

Aquarius has been providing services for people with alcohol problems since 1977 and is the largest provider of alcohol services in Birmingham. In Birmingham we provide the following:

# Birmingham wide community alcohol service in partnership with Birmingham and
Solihull Mental Health Trust

# Primary care service in the Birmingham East and North Primary Care Trust area

# Alcohol and drug outreach services in Kingstanding and Stockland Green

# Alcohol arrest referral service

# Responsible server training

# Alcohol training to Tier 1 agencies

# Young people and alcohol service

# Family services

# DRIVE courses for convicted drink drivers

# Heart of Birmingham Alcohol Service

Contact Details:

Aquarius – North Birmingham Community Alcohol Team
Matthew Centre
Duddeston Manor Road
Birmingham
West Midlands
B7 4LZ

Telephone: 0121 685 6353

Public safety and health organisations in Sandwell are stepping up their drive to tackle the borough’s higher than average number of alcohol-related deaths and hospital admissions.

The Safer Sandwell Partnership is planning a mixture of hard-hitting action and health advice for next week’s national Alcohol Awareness Week (14-20 November).

The Partnership, which includes Sandwell Police, Sandwell Council, Sandwell Primary Care Trust and many other organisations, is responding to the challenge from Alcohol Concern to start a new debate on the harmful effects of excessive drinking.

As part of Alcohol Awareness Week in Sandwell:

# Borough probation officers – from Staffordshire & West Midlands Probation Trust – working in partnership with local alcohol counselling services, will be carrying out targeted work with offenders on alcohol issues

# Partnership teams will be visiting pubs and clubs across the borough to make sure licensing conditions are being kept to and to raise awareness of the way alcohol can lead to violence, disorder and health problems

# Council wardens and Sandwell’s young people’s drug and alcohol service, DECCA, will be carrying out joint patrols in places where young people are known to drink in public, to confiscate drinks but also to offer health advice and information

# Public health, council and police officers will be going on local radio to help raise awareness of alcohol issues

The Partnership will also be encouraging Sandwell people to take part in Alcohol Concern’s national online debate, which asks: “Is the social cost of alcohol too high?” and “What is a drink problem?”. You can take part in the conversation by visiting Alcohol Concern’s Facebook page.

Alcohol Awareness Week will also see Alcohol Concern launch its charter for a world free from alcohol harm. It will also publish reports on its recommendations for the Government’s imminent alcohol strategy and alcohol advertising and marketing in relation to advertising standards.

Carl Griffin, consultant in public health for Sandwell Primary Care Trust, said, “In Sandwell, alcohol-related mortality rates, including those related to liver disease are significantly higher than both regional and national averages.

“It is estimated there are over one hundred alcohol related deaths per year in Sandwell which also has the ninth highest rate for alcohol-related hospital admissions in England out of 152 local authorities.#

“Although many of us enjoy a drink, for some it may cause serious problems. Alcohol affects your judgement, so you do things you wouldn’t normally think of. It makes you less aware of risks and so more vulnerable. You are more likely to have fights, arguments, money troubles, family upsets, or take risks sexually.

“Alcohol contributes to accidents at home, on the roads, in the water and on playing fields. Heavy drinking, particularly over time, can lead to a number of health conditions including oral and other cancers, high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes, cirrhosis of the liver, depression and reduced fertility.”

Activities during Alcohol Awareness Week follow on from the recent Safer 6 campaign in Sandwell, which saw a number of alcohol-related operations, including alcohol being detained by HM Revenue & Customs officers, supported by Sandwell Police. And fake and potentially dangerous booze was seized by Sandwell Council trading standards officers.

Council wardens and police also seized alcohol from nuisance drinkers in public. Sandwell Council young people’s services and DECCA (Drug Education, Counselling and Confidential Advice) gave advice on alcohol issues to young people visiting Sandwell Youth Bus out in the community.

Councillor Derek Rowley, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for neighbourhood services, said: “We are not killjoys – but we know that some people are drinking too much, and this can have an impact not only on their own lives but also the lives, and safety, of the wider community.

“I am pleased to see the partner organisations working together, as they do all year round, to target problems and raise additional awareness during Alcohol Awareness Week.”

Over 10 million adults in England are now drinking more than the recommended daily limit, with 2.6 million of them drinking more than twice that.

The total cost of alcohol harm in terms of health, welfare and crime costs is estimated to be between £17.7 billion and £25.1 billion a year and for Sandwell this is estimated to be between £150 million and £210 million per year.

# The recommended safe limits for alcohol are that women should not drink more than two to three units of alcohol per day and men, three to four units a day. Where one unit is 10mls of alcohol – the amount in a standard pub measure of spirits, a half pint of normal strength beer or lager, or a small glass of wine.
# If you would like help to work out whether you’re drinking too much, and if so, what you can do about it, visit the ‘Down your drink’ website and take part in a survey.
# You can also download Alcohol Concern’s new poster on drink strength – ‘What’s in your drink?’
# If you are over 18, live in Sandwell and want to talk to someone about an alcohol issue telephone 0121 525 9292 (after December 1, please telephone 0845 112 0100). If you are under 18, phone DECCA on 0845 838 5317.

Sandwell Council,
PO Box 2374,
OLDBURY B69 3DE.

A staggering 1.7 million cans of beer and bottles of wine have been detained from five factory units at an industrial site in Wednesbury in the last 24 hours, following a raid by HM Revenue & Customs.

The operation, supported by Sandwell Police as part of the borough’s Safer 6 campaign, is believed to be the largest ever alcohol bust in the West Midlands.

Jennie Kendall, spokeswoman for HMRC said: “This is a significant haul of premium branded beer and wine that was primed and ready for mass circulation across the West Midlands in the run-up to Christmas.

“The revenue loss on the goods would have deprived the UK economy of £800,000 – money needed to fund our public services. The effect on legitimate traders would have been devastating at what is their busiest time of the year.

“The gangs behind this form of criminality reap huge profits which are ploughed straight back into the criminal underworld, feeding activities like drug smuggling, people trafficking and fraud.”

She added: “We are keen to work closely with local residents and communities in the fight against this type of crime.”

Jennie encouraged anyone who knows of someone selling cheap or duty free alcohol or tobacco to contact the Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000 or email customs.hotline@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

Sergeant Sean Griffiths, from Sandwell Police’s Safer 6 team, said: “We are committed to working with our local partners in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour. This operation has been extremely successful in taking a large quantity of illegal alcohol of our streets.”

Around 900 pallets were discovered containing the beer and wine – enough to fill 35 articulated lorries.

During the search of the premises, around £50,000 was found hidden in a Nike shoe box in a disused water tank on top of one of the offices. The cash has been detained under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Councillor Derek Rowley, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for neighbourhood services, said: “This is another fantastic result achieved by working in partnership during the Safer 6 campaign.”

Sandwell’s six week Safer campaign is running from September 26 to November 6.

It involves Sandwell Police, Sandwell Council, HMRC and a host of other partner organisations holding intensive action, providing additional reassurance and promoting safety across the borough’s six towns at a time of year when crime and anti-social behaviour can often rise.

Sandwell Council

Bracebridge House: Birmingham
Supported accommodation for women in recovery from alcohol

About us:

Bracebridge house is a 3 bedroomed house offering residential support for up to 4 women in recovery from or alcohol problems. Bracebridge House also offers services to clients who do not live at the project.

The house is situated in the North of Birmingham and the average stay at the house is 6 months although we assess each client on an individual basis

Our aims is to help each client to develop the skills needed to live independently whilst remaining free from alcohol and other mind altering substances.

The company is also an Approved Training Provider and its vision is to be a modern social business providing housing, training and support.

Continuously improving our services based on feedback from our customers. While considering diverse needs and minimising exclusion.

Respect
We treat people with equal consideration and value the diverse contributions they make .

Learning
We encourage the people we work with to develop and innovate.

Cooperation
We share knowledge and resources.

Enjoyment
We create a positive working environment with the emphasise on, being the best that we can be.

Contact Details:

Bracebridge House
1S1 Park Business Centre
Wood Lane
Erdington
Birmingham
West Midlands
B24 9QR

Telephone: 0845 388 7306

Livingstone House: Birmingham
Provides a Comprehensive and ‘holistic’ Alcohol Treatment programme for individuals aged 18 ? 64.

About us:

Our Alcohol Residential Unit comprises of a Detoxification, Primary Treatment, Secondary Treatment and Re-entry phase back into society. We also provide Aftercare, Assertive Outreach, Family and Community Support Services.

Livingstone House works from an abstinence based philosophy so that each person may reach a clearer understanding of their Addictive Behaviour Problem. The Home Director is resident 24 hours and is a House Mother.

To provide an environment where Service Users can access help for their alcohol addiction, using a Christian 12 Step programme in conjunction with any alternative interventions that support recovery.

To provide a clinically effective and comfortable detoxification regime for people who suffer from addiction to alcohol.

To provide a safe family orientated environment in which Service Users can address their own behaviours and issues associated with their addiction.

To treat all Service Users with respect, without regard to sex, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or class whilst taking into account their individual needs.

As a positive and therapeutic component of the alcohol treatment process, Service Users will be in shared dormitories. Livingstone House provides two dormitories containing four beds in each. Dormitory One is where Service Users on detoxification and Service Users in Primary Care sleep and Dormitory Two is where Service Users in Secondary Care sleep. We also provide a comfortable lounge, with TV and DVD, kitchen and laundry facilities, dining room/group therapy room and a counselling room.

Detoxification and alcohol treatment are achieved by the provision of a clinically safe, professional and caring environment where individuals are readily integrated into the process. The detoxification regime is prescribed following strict detoxification protocols by our Specialist Substance Misuse General Practitioners, Dr Brinksman and Partners and fully administered by Nursing and Support Worker Staff who have had appropriate education and training in Substance Misuse. All treatment is tailored to the individual needs of each Service User. There is full consultation with other members of the multi-disciplinary team.

Use of alcohol or any other drugs, not prescribed by Livingstone House medical staff is not tolerated and may lead to discharge from the centre.

To encourage the initial changes necessary to promote an effective detoxification from alcohol or other drugs, and to maintain a safe environment, Livingstone House operates within a clear set of Rules and Expectations.

To provide a residential alcohol detoxification and treatment programme for men between the ages of 18 years and 64 years with addiction problems within a Christian 12 step family environment, operating within a multi disciplinary framework.

To assist Service Users to achieve their goal of detoxification from alcohol, other drugs and behaviours, and commencement of an abstinent lifestyle.

To treat each person as an individual during their time in Livingstone House, whether or not they complete the treatment programme.

To support and encourage each Service User to develop through counselling, group work, education and alternative therapies/interventions, thereby making more informed choices about their future plans and lifestyle changes.

Contact Details:

Livingstone House
290 Mansel Road
Small Heath
Birmingham

B10 9NN

Telephone: 0121 753 4448