Alcohol Awareness Week:
Blog

Helping Others

Our focus for 2025's Alcohol Awareness Week is to shine a light on those who dedicate their time to supporting others with their dependencies. Whether it's a partner, friend or family member, we want to support you in supporting them. In this blog you will find advice, guidance and examples of our work that we hope you will find useful.

Advice

Naturally Sober Activities

One of the best ways to support someone you are worried about is by suggesting activities that are naturally sober. Spending quality time with the person without the social environment or pressures of drinking. Some examples of these are;

Sport activities: get active and partake in sporting activities together, book a court to play badminton, or join a five-a-side football team. You don't have to be a pro, just willing to get moving and have some fun!

Nature: one of the best things for your mental health and overcoming the stresses involved in substance misuse is to get out to some fresh air, this could look like;

Go to the beach and dip your toes in the sea

Find walks in nearby nature areas

Go birdwatching or river gazing

Have a picnic in your local park

Rent a boat along the river

Museums/Galleries: a great way to spend a day out with constant ever-changing exhibitions and showcases, and often free admission too!

Craft workshops: often doing something tactile and creative is a great way to refresh your mind and have some fun. Workshops on crafts like pottery, jewelry making and painting are always available or even more simply go to your nearest craft store and make a night of it at home.

Communication is Key

Caring for someone who has problems with their drinking habits can be challenging. Relationships impacted by substance misuse often face strain and stress.

Raising the topic of alcohol dependency is never easy, you may not know what the best thing to say is and despite how much you care, it may sometimes feel difficult to empathise with their situation. Conversations around addiction and dependency are often treated as taboo subjects but at The Matthew Project we believe in the importance of talking and finding ways to support those who need it.

Take time to listen if they want to talk about their experience or how they are feeling

Have an honest conversation about your concerns, even if this feels hard it will demonstrate you care

Try to explain how their drinking habits are affecting you

Assess and research support options together

Be patient but persistent

Our Work

Recovery Hub

One of the main ways in which we support people with their Alcohol and Drug use is our Recovery Hub center: 70-80 Oak Street, Norwich. It's a wonderful venue that gives us the amazing opportunity to offer support in so many ways.

We host a variety of events every year ranging from family fun days, adult-only evenings, DINE eating experiences with professional chefs and seasonal festive events. All to build community and provide support to those who need it, both individuals struggling with substance misuse and the family around them.