Families Out Loud (FOL) is a Wiltshire-based mental health charity supporting family members who are struggling with the impact of someone else’s drug or alcohol dependency. Their aim is to help families bravely build a better life, providing emotional support, practical advice, and counselling.
Funding from CBLC will help Families Out Loud increase the support they provide in Chippenham over the next 12 months, with the aim of working with a further 11 adults, bringing their total number of local clients to 40. Evidence shows that for every individual supported by FOL, at least four other family members benefit indirectly from improved wellbeing, reduced stress, and better relationships.
FOL offers a range of support services tailored to the needs of each client, including:
- One-to-one counselling sessions providing a safe, confidential space
- Face-to-face and online support
- Advice to help families manage the practical and emotional challenges of living with a loved one’s addiction
The charity works closely with a range of organisations and health services including Turning Point (Connect Wiltshire), Ask Frank, GP surgeries, Living Well teams, Wiltshire Council’s MASH team, Social Services, and schools, receiving referrals from professionals who recognise the value of their specialist family support.
While services like Turning Point provide some support for family members affected by addiction, this is often limited to five sessions. Families Out Loud offers longer-term, ongoing support, and is the designated after-care provider for families who have completed initial programmes elsewhere.
FOL’s work is particularly important in Chippenham, where the number of people affected by addiction is high, but local support services are limited. The charity is currently exploring a venue in Chippenham to improve accessibility for local clients, having previously operated from Kington Langley.
Their work delivers significant outcomes for both individuals and the wider community, including:
- Improved access to support services
- Improved mental health and reduced isolation
- Increased self-confidence and resilience
- Stronger family relationships and social cohesion
Families Out Loud originated from a grassroots movement in 2018 when local people who had been attending support groups in Chippenham and Trowbridge took action to prevent the closure of these vital services. Today, they continue to provide specialist support that would otherwise not be available locally.
Given that 1 in 10 people in Britain are estimated to be affected by someone else’s drinking, drug-taking, or gambling, there is a clear and ongoing need for FOL’s work in Wiltshire, and specifically in Chippenham. Funding from CBLC will enable Families Out Loud to reach more local people in need, providing the long-term, person-centred support that is often missing from statutory services.
