Wellbeing coaches helping Cheshire West and Chester residents build healthier lives

Free wellbeing coaching is available for residents of Cheshire West and Chester who are looking for help to reset their drinking or drug use.

The Re-new programme is a six-week course of private one-to-one sessions where people can explore their relationship with alcohol or drugs and how to break the cycle.

During the sessions, individuals can work through how to build healthy habits, manage strong emotions, boost their self-confidence or manage daily stresses like family or relationships.

They can also explore what motivates them and how to support their physical and mental health.

Aaron, 22, (not his real name) took part in Re-new as he felt he needed support to reduce his drinking.

He said:

“I was using alcohol as a coping mechanism when I felt low.

“Without Re-new I think this would have continued and I’d have become alcohol dependent.

“Now I’ve learned to drink in a controlled way when I’m out with friends and, even then, I only drink if I feel I want to.

“I feel like alcohol does not have any control over my life any more, it’s no longer consuming my thoughts.”

Cllr Lisa Denson, the Council’s Cabinet Member for A Fairer Future (Poverty, Public Health and Mental Health), said:

“This is a great new programme for people who are worried that they are drinking a bit too much or have a growing problem with drugs.

“It’s there to help people to curb their habits if they feel they’re getting a little out of control – it’s a rethink and a reset, providing people with the coping strategies they might need to cut down.

“As a Council we’re proud to support this programme as part of our work to help our residents flourish, be healthy and happy and to build a stronger future for our borough.”

Re-new is not a service for dependent drinkers or drug users, instead it provides early intervention for people who are concerned about their increasing level of alcohol or drug use.

The programme includes an hour-long wellbeing coaching session, once a week for six weeks.

These take place in private with a wellbeing coach who will listen and offer friendly and supportive advice and guidance.

Sessions can take place in person, at a venue to suit the individual, or online, and appointments are available during daytime, evenings or weekends.

The Re-new programme is open, for free, to any Cheshire West and Chester resident aged 18 or over.

To find out more and sign up visit: 

www.viaorg.uk/re-new-cheshire.

Residents can also sign up by texting: RENEWCHESHIRE to 82228, calling: 0300 303 2717 or emailing: renewcheshire@viaorg.uk.

Re-new has been launched by Via, the substance misuse service commissioned by Cheshire West and Chester Council to help people cope with their alcohol or drug issues.

The Council and Via are members of the Cheshire West and Chester Combatting Drugs Partnership, which brings together resources, expertise and experiences from a number of partners to tackle substance misuse.

It is part of a national 10-year drug strategy, ‘From harm to hope’, which is a roadmap for tackling drug and alcohol related issues in society.