Start Hartlepool

22/01/2026

Great to see our brand new home featured on ITV Tyne Tees 🎥

The piece includes words from our Clinical Lead, Sally, who speaks about the support that will be delivered from the building, alongside Billy, our Volunteer and Recovery Community Coordinator, who shares his inspiring 25‑year journey with Start.

Our new building will enable us to continue providing the very best care, support and opportunities for recovery to Hartlepool residents, now and into the future.

Specialist centre opening in Hartlepool to give people struggling with drug and alcohol addiction the best chance of recovery

Watch our full report on ITVX...

https://www.itv.com/watch/news/specialist-centre-to-give-people-struggling-with-drug-and-alcohol-addiction-best-chance-of-recovery/w1bh87k

22/01/2026

We can’t thank the team at Portakabin enough for their work in bringing our new building to life. They took the vision of our staff and patients and turned it into a welcoming, calm and positive space for the people of Hartlepool.

Start now finally has a new home, allowing us to continue providing high‑quality drug and alcohol support to those who need it most. Portakabin played a key role in ensuring this vital service has a strong future in our town, now and for years to come.

21/01/2026

It was fantastic to welcome colleagues, partners, and elected members to the opening of our BRAND NEW Start Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centre.

The opening of the new building has been a long time coming, and we can't wait to start welcoming patients into the new building and continue to provide the very best drug and alcohol support.

𝐀 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐥, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧, 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲.

The £3.7 million, purpose‑built centre on Whitby Street is now home to Start, Hartlepool’s drug and alcohol treatment service. Funded by Hartlepool Borough Council, the state‑of‑the‑art facility brings high‑quality support together under one roof, including:
• 18 consultation and clinical rooms
• A dedicated waiting area
• Meeting rooms
• Modern office space

Designed to feel calm, safe and supportive, the centre will help improve access to specialist treatment for individuals, families and professionals across the town.

Start provides free and confidential drug and alcohol treatment and support, with flexible options available if attending the service in person is difficult.

To find out more about the new Start Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centre please visit: https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/news/article/189/new-centre-marks-the-future-of-drug-and-alcohol-support-in-hartlepool

Image credit: Hartlepool Mail

16/01/2026

Project Pause – New Mental Health Support in Hartlepool

Project Pause is a brand-new charity supporting adults aged 18+ in Hartlepool. It’s free, open to everyone, and you don’t need a diagnosis or referral to take part.

We provide peer support sessions where people can share experiences, talk through challenges, support each other, and build coping skills to improve their mental wellbeing.

📍 Every Wednesday
🕓 4pm – 6pm
🏠 Recovery Connections, Hartlepool

More sessions across community venues will be launching soon.
For more info, email: project0pause@gmail.com

15/01/2026

Did you know Hartlepool has a thriving Mutual Aid community offering support from people with real lived experience. Whether you're looking for help with addiction, substance misuse, or mental health, there are groups across the town ready to welcome you.

Support available includes:

SMART Recovery
Alcoholics Anonymous
Other addiction and recovery groups
Andy’s Man Club
Project Pause …and many more.

Most groups are free, accessible, and run weekly across various venues with some offering online options too.

Why Mutual Aid can help:

Peer support and shared understanding
A sense of belonging and community
Structure, routine and motivation
Practical tips and coping strategies from people who’ve been there
Tailored programmes
Personal empowerment
Long‑term support

Mutual Aid groups can also complement professional treatment and offer continued support even after services come to an end.
If you or someone you know could benefit, there’s a community here ready to help. 💙

12/01/2026

Start is the drug and alcohol support service there for the recovery community.

If you or someone you know needs support with drug or alcohol use, our expert team are on hand to help you get back on your feet.

Find out more at Starthartlepool.co.uk

10/01/2026

💻 Online SMART Veterans Programme Meetings 📣

Are you a veteran looking for support with addictive or compulsive behaviours? The SMART Veterans Programme is here for you.

The SMART Recovery to meet the unique needs of veterans. Research shows that many veterans returning from deployment face challenges with addiction and mental health. Traumatic experiences can overwhelm coping skills, and some turn to substances or risky behaviours to cope.

You’re not alone. Join our online meetings and connect with others who understand.

👉 Find meeting details here: https://smartrecovery.org.uk/smart_veterans/

09/01/2026

Mutual Aid Month is all about highlighting the drug and alcohol support system in our town. SMART Family and Friends Meeting is the ideal place for family or friends of people struggling with addiction.

⏰Tuesday 6:15 – 7:30pm
📍The Peoples Centre, Raby Rd, TS24 8HA

Rather than focusing on the loved one, the F & F Programme invites participants to spend time concentrating on themselves and their goals, an area they may have been neglecting for some time.
The F & F programme explores ways participants can look after themselves better; even in difficult and stressful circumstances, and establish healthier relationships with their Loved One.

Online meetings are available and can be found at the link below
https://smartrecovery.org.uk/meeting-results/

07/01/2026

As part of Mutual Aid Month here at Start, why not attend the SMART Recovery Meetings taking place!

SMART (Self Management and Recovery Training) is a programme that provides training and tools for people who want to change their problematic behaviour, including addiction to drugs, alcohol, ci******es, gambling, food, shopping, Internet and others.

Guided by trained facilitators, participants come to help themselves and help each other using a variety of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and motivational tools and techniques.

The 4-Point Programme is the foundation and building blocks of SMART. Many of the tools and techniques can be used not only for your recovery journey, but to help you deal with future problems and achieve more satisfaction and balance in your life.

The four points are:
– Building and Maintaining Motivation
– Coping with urges
– Managing Thoughts, Feelings and Behaviours
– Living a Balanced Life

📅Mondays 6:15pm – 7:45pm, Recovery Connections Building, Avenue Rd,

📅Fridays 2 – 4pm, Recovery Connections Building, Avenue Rd,

Online meetings are available and can be found by visiting the link below
https://smartrecovery.org.uk/meeting-results/

06/01/2026

Dry January has officially begun!

After a busy festive period full of celebrations now’s the perfect time to hit reset.

Taking a break from alcohol for 31 days can help boost your energy, improve your sleep and give your mind and body a much‑needed breather.

Why not give it a go this year?

For support with alcohol use please visit Starthartlepool.co.uk

05/01/2026

🤝 Welcome to Mutual Aid Month!

Recovery is strongest when we work together. Throughout January, Start is highlighting the brilliant mutual aid groups and partners across Hartlepool who help people make positive changes every day.

Expect:
✨ Real stories
✨ Ways to get support
✨ Local groups you can join
✨ Helpful tools to stay on track

Let’s make recovery a community effort. 💙

05/01/2026

✨ New year, but the same support from Start ✨

As we head into 2026, Start is here for anyone in Hartlepool affected by drugs or alcohol.

Whether you’re looking for support for yourself or someone you care about, you don’t have to face it alone.

The team at Start are on hand to help with drug and alcohol use and help you access the services that can help you through recovery.

💙 Reach out. We’re here to help.