Kenward Trust will be joining over 5,000 community groups across the UK to raise awareness of the true cost of alcohol which is the theme of this year’s Alcohol Awareness Week.

Alcohol Awareness Week is managed and hosted by UK charity Alcohol Change UK and runs from 3 to 9 July 2023.

In support of this year’s campaign, Kenward Trust is encouraging people to get involved in the week by talking about how much alcohol costs us in the form of health problems, financial worries, relationship breakdown and family difficulties. You can share your experiences using the hashtag #AlcoholAwarenessWeek.

During the week, Alcohol Change UK will be sharing tips on what to do if you think you are drinking too much alcohol, how to have a conversation with a friend or family member about their drinking, and how to get support if you are affected by a loved one’s drinking.

As part of the campaign, Alcohol Change UK will also be discussing the true cost of alcohol not only to individuals but to society too – showing how alcohol has both individual and wider societal impacts, placing significant pressure on the NHS, the police, and workplaces.

On Wednesday 5 July, Kenward Trust will be launching our very own podcast, Hope & Recovery. Intended to inform people about not only the facilities we offer at Kenward Trust, but also about the people who work here, we also want to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction. By opening this conversation with current members of staff, former residents as well as other, sometimes well-known, people who had been affected in one way or another by addiction.

Penny Williams, CEO of Kenward Trust, said: “Kenward Trust has been helping people for 55 years giving hope and recovery from addiction. I'm proud of the team of professionals that guide our residents through this journey and hope that raising awareness of addiction and breaking the stigma that can be associated with it will means more people will reach out and get the help they need” 

Dr Richard Piper, Chief Executive of Alcohol Change UK, said: “The average UK adult spends a huge amount of money on alcohol in a lifetime. We might expect that we would experience some significant benefits as a result.

“But the truth is that, although alcohol can bring us some short-term pleasure, it can also encourage us to ‘overdo it’, reducing our inhibitions and putting our health, relationships, and safety at risk. This can be detrimental to our own physical and mental health and to that of those around us, as well as to our wallets.

“Drinking regularly or heavily puts us at greater risk of: heart disease, liver disease, stroke, increased blood pressure, and cancer, including throat cancer and breast cancer. It can cause tensions and disagreements with those around us and put a strain on our finances too. Plus, once drunk, it can make it harder to keep track of how many drinks we have had, putting us at greater risk of more immediate harm.

“But by taking control of our drinking, we can save money, improve our health, have more energy, improve our memory, have better sleep, reduce anxiety, improve our mood, and have better relationships. 

“A great way to start is by recording what you drink for a few weeks to help you understand your drinking pattern, then setting yourself some small achievable goals to get it back under control. Use the free app Try Dry to help you keep track and set personalised goals to help you cut down.”

It is easy to take part in Alcohol Awareness Week. Join us by:

• Sharing your experiences, events and activities on social media using the hashtag #AlcoholAwarenessWeek and tagging @AlcoholChangeUK.

• Visit the Alcohol Change UK website and sign up for free resources to share across the week.

• Use the Alcohol Change UK resources to highlight the issues and drive a conversation in your community.