Dear Albert
Age Range:
16-25
The Service:
Dear Albert is a social enterprise which specialises in peer mentoring and making recovery more visible by bringing together existing resources. We have strong links with peer support fellowships such as Smart Recovery, NA, AA and work closely with statutory funded drug and alcohol agencies, private rehabs, local authorities and substance misuse charities.
Dear Albert welcomes, supports and inspires substance clients with SEND needs, such as mental health, emotional health, learning disabilities, behavioural difficulties and physical disabilities through the often challenging road to recovery.
We provide a free national helpline, staffed by specialist, qualified, BACP registered, drug and alcohol counsellors which is in operation 7 days a week, 365 days a year to support clients and families in crisis with drugs and alcohol. We work with clients and families (short to long term) in order to resolve resistance / ambivalence and increase motivation for change. We undertake in-depth Triage Assessments which enables us to support clients into an appropriate treatment programme.
We offer a national social media peer support network, with over 1000 recovered service users and publish a magazine called Service User News, which is designed to address the popular topics of recovery and signpost to local free resources.
We have recently designed a cartoon character called ‘Our Albert’ which is designed to communicate specifically to young people / SEND clients. The next edition of Service User News will integrate the rest of the cartoon family, and will start to communicate 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.
Who is the service for?
People struggling with substance misuse. We support 16 to 25 year olds with Physical Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, Mental Health Problems, Dual Diagnoses, Behavioural Problems, and Personality Disorders.
Criteria for access to service
Free service. Self referrals welcome
Accessibility of this service
Largely phone support, but the services we refer to are SEND appropriate.
How this is provided:
Mostly telephone support, but some local interventions are offered.
How can I access this service?
Call to access 365 days a year. Website resources available at http://www.dearalbert.co.uk
How is this service funded?
CCG funding, donations from private treatment services and local authority / charity training.
Do you need to pay for this service?
No. We operate a free for service users.
Confidentiality and Impartiality
We work to the BACP code of ethics
Useful to know
http://www.dearalbert.co.uk offers downloadable resources too.
Contact us
Please call any time for support
Training provided:
We provide psycho-education for service users and local authorities via our recovery documentary and local film viewings.
Drop in service
All work is via telephone drop in.