Our Essex service offers dedicated abstinence‑based recovery pathways for individuals and families affected by drug and alcohol use, delivered through our two SHARP programmes at Wickford and Braintree. These programmes provide structured, therapeutic support that helps people rebuild stability, confidence, and long‑term wellbeing.
Film commissioned by Essex Recovery Foundation, original film material by Back The Brave
Alongside abstinence pathways, we offer a suite of specialist interventions designed to meet people wherever they are in their recovery:
Brink of Change - a 6‑week CBT‑based programme consisting of OST‑focused sessions and psychoeducational workshops.
Non‑addiction counselling - emotional and psychological support delivered by trainee counsellors.
Addiction counselling - a therapeutic space for individuals ready to explore their relationship with substances.
M‑PACT - a structured programme supporting families affected by parental substance use.
Together, these services create a flexible, person‑centred offer that empowers individuals and families to move forward with clarity, confidence, and the right level of support.
Our Essex SHARP programme helps people to understand their addiction and achieve long-term, stable, abstinence-based recovery.
The programme adheres to our Self-Help Addiction Recovery Programme (SHARP) model, which involves 48 days of attendance at our treatment centres in Braintree and Wickford over 8 weeks.
This is a post-detoxification, abstinence-based programme, meaning participants must be abstinent from alcohol and drugs, including opiate based medication (discussion could take place with the GP if it is possible or suitable to switch to a non-opiate medication), prior to commencing treatment. If there is no other alternative, then this will be discussed on a case-by-case basis. Supervised detoxification is not available at this location.
Each year, people who complete the programme and continue to live their lives in stable recovery from addiction are invited to celebrate and reconnect with the growing recovery community across Essex.
Our structured day treatment programme is funded by Essex County Council. We also accept privately funded placements which are subject to the usual processes of full assessment and meeting the criteria for accessing the Essex SHARP programme, and prices are available on request.
The Essex treatment partnership offers a detox pathway, which could include a referral to the Brink of Change as the client goes through a detox. There is also pre-abstinence support in the form of Brink of Change for those who need it and aftercare (Recovery Support) for those who complete treatment successfully.
We currently offer the following interventions to Essex clients.
The Brink of Change – 6-8 week rolling CBT-based programme offers:
Motivational enhancement.
Goal setting.
Introduction to group work.
OST-focused sessions.
Expectations of the SHARP Programme.
The Peripatetic Team delivers this programme and is open to all Essex clients (abstinent or non-abstinent or individuals on Opiate Substitute Treatment), with referrals to be received from partner agencies. The Brink of Change is delivered face-to-face from partner hubs and online.
SHARP programmes include:
8-week cohort.
Assessment (by telephone or face-to-face).
Interpersonal group therapy and step work.
Peer-to-peer support.
One-to-one counselling.
Psychosocial group sessions.
Family Days and Family workshops
Peer support & recovery assignments
Transportation provided, including bus passes, reimbursing mileage costs for clients driving themselves, train cards, and taxis, etc.
Comprehensive Aftercare with Recovery Support/Forward Connect peer-to-peer support network and integrated with the Essex Recovery Foundation support systems for those in recovery.
Essex community rehabilitation is for those people who:
Are aged 18+.
Live in Essex.
Have issues with drugs and/or alcohol, or are impacted by the drug/alcohol use of a loved one.
In partnership with the prescribing services that EPUT deliver and partner agency (Open Road), we help people prepare for detox. This can be arranged in the community or in-patient detoxification. While reducing/detoxing, individuals will have the option to attend the Brink of Change programme or by preparations to join the SHARP group to build up to entering the intensive community day rehab programme.
We accept referrals from EDAP, which includes: EPUT, STARS, Open Road, Phoenix Futures/Futures Together, Next Chapter/Nest, Children’s Society, Southend and Thurrock Forward Trust services. All referrals are received via our case management system, Theseus. If you would like to find out more or self-refer, please contact us at ftessexsharpenquiries@forwardtrust.org.uk.
If you’d like to learn more about our Essex Community Day Rehabilitation programme, please email: ftessexsharpenquiries@forwardtrust.org.uk or call us on 01376 349237 during our opening hours.
Please note we are open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm and on Sundays between 9.30am and 1.30pm (closed on Saturdays).
