12 Days of Hope
Messages for the Festive Season
The festive season can be full of joy and connection, but it can also feel difficult, especially for those navigating recovery from alcohol or drugs.
This year, 12 Days of Hope is back. The campaign shares messages of encouragement and honesty from people in the recovery community in Essex. Each short video offers a moment of reflection, reassurance and solidarity from someone who understands what this time of year can bring.
All 12 videos are available here for you to explore at your own pace. We’ll also be sharing one each day across our social media channels.
Whether you are in recovery, supporting someone you care about, or simply looking for a hopeful message over Christmas, we invite you to spend time with these voices. They remind us that no one is alone, and that support, understanding and brighter days remain within reach.
If any of these messages resonate with you, please share them and help us spread hope this holiday season.
Open a door below to hear a message of hope.
Looking for help over the holidays?
If you are concerned about your alcohol or drug use, you are not alone. There are dedicated services across Essex that can offer guidance, support and a safe place to start the conversation.
Explore the links provided and check each service for festive opening hours.
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Open Road’s mission is to empower a diverse range of individuals, families and communities to lead healthy and more meaningful lives, free from alcohol and drug addiction.
Call 0844 499 1323
Learn More -
The Children’s Society are a charity providing support and treatment intervention to young people (up to the age of 25) affected by substance abuse. They provide one to one support, group work support, telephone support, virtual support, drug rehabilitation requirement (DRR) interventions and NEET support (for those not in education, employment or training).
Call 0844 499 1323.
Learn More -
Essex Wellbeing ServiceService is here to support you and your family to get well and stay well. The organisation works from community settings, including three community hospitals, several community clinics, schools, nursing homes and primary care settings, and within homes to provide more than 40 services to children, families and adults.
Call 0300 303 99 88.
Learn More -
This service helps people who have issues with drug and/or alcohol use and want to make positive changes. Support is also offered to the family and friends of people who are worried about their loved ones’ substance use or have been affected by it.
Discover more here. -
Futures Together is a Multiple and Complex Needs Service which provides holistic, wrap around, person centred support to individuals in contact with the criminal justice system who have a range of multiple and complex needs.
Futures Together will provide a wide range of peer led, meaningful activities for people to engage in, alongside opportunities to train as a volunteer/peer mentor.
The service is for adults aged 18 and over who reside in Essex excluding Southend and Thurrock.
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Confidential emotional support for anyone in distress or struggling to cope, available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Call: 116 123
Website: www.samaritans.org -
Free, confidential mental health support via text. Available day and night for anyone feeling overwhelmed, anxious or in crisis.
Text: 85258
Website: www.giveusashout.org -
Support for anyone feeling low, experiencing suicidal thoughts or needing someone to talk to. Open every day from 5pm to midnight.
Call: 0800 58 58 58
Website: www.thecalmzone.net -
Suicide prevention helpline for children, young people and anyone concerned for a young person. Open every day 9am to midnight.
Call: 0800 068 41 41
Text: 07860 039 967
Website: www.papyrus-uk.org -
Support, advice and safety guidance for anyone experiencing domestic abuse. Open 24 hours a day.
Call: 0808 2000 247
Website: www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk -
Local support for anyone in Essex experiencing domestic abuse, offering advice, safety planning and signposting.
Call: 0330 333 7444
Website: www.essexcompass.org.uk -
Emotional support, practical help and information for anyone affected by mental illness. Open 4pm to 10pm.
Call: 0300 304 7000
Website: www.sane.org.uk -
A safe, confidential space for LGBT+ people to talk about anything on their mind, including mental health, relationships or isolation. Open 4pm to 9.30pm daily.
Call: 01273 204050
Website: www.switchboard.lgbt -
Support and understanding for families and friends affected by someone else’s drinking, available through phone meetings and helplines.
Call: 0800 0086 811
Website: www.al-anonuk.org.uk -
Support for anyone who wants to stop drinking or is struggling with alcohol. Meetings available throughout Christmas and New Year.
Website: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Helpline finder via website -
Support for anyone who wants to stop using drugs. Meetings, phone lines and online support available every day.
Website: www.ukna.org
Helpline: available through local listings on website -
Confidential advice and information about drugs, including support options and harm reduction.
Call: 0300 123 6600
Text: 82111
Website: www.talktofrank.com -
Support and counselling for anyone affected by gambling harm, including family members.
Call: 0808 8020 133
Website: www.gamcare.org.uk