Hostels

Living in a hostel can bring stability and safety, but it can also come with challenges. Many people living in hostel accommodation are managing complex situations including substance use, mental health, physical health, and past trauma.

Wirral Ways provides dedicated hostel based support across Wirral, working closely with residents, hostel staff, and partner services to reduce harm, improve wellbeing, and create pathways into longer term support and recovery.

Our approach to hostel support

Our hostel support is flexible, practical, and built around the realities of hostel life. We recognise that people are often at very different stages of readiness for change.

Support is:

• Non judgemental and trauma informed

• Focused on safety, health, and engagement

• Delivered where people are, not just in offices

• Joined up with housing, health, and support services

You do not need to be abstinent or in treatment to access support.

Who hostel support is for

Our hostel service supports:

• People living in temporary or supported accommodation

• People using drugs or alcohol who may not access traditional services

• People with multiple and complex needs

• Hostel residents wanting information, advice, or ongoing support

• Hostel staff seeking advice or joint working

Support is offered whether someone wants brief advice or longer term engagement.

What support looks like in hostels

Our specialist team works directly within hostels and supported accommodation settings, offering:

• One to one support and brief interventions

• Harm reduction advice and safer use information

• Overdose awareness and naloxone provision

• Support to access drug and alcohol treatment

• Health advice and signposting to clinical services

• Help with appointments, referrals, and engagement

• Support to build trust and motivation over time

We work at the individual’s pace, recognising that trust often takes time.

Reducing risk and harm

A key focus of hostel support is reducing immediate risk and preventing harm. This includes:

• Advice on overdose prevention

• Support around tolerance changes and mixing substances

• Access to harm reduction equipment and information

• Blood borne virus testing and vaccination signposting

• Support around physical health and wound care

This work helps keep people safer and can be life saving.

Working alongside hostel staff

We work in partnership with hostel and accommodation providers to support residents and staff.

This includes:

• Joint working around high risk situations

• Advice and guidance for staff supporting residents

• Information sharing where appropriate and consented

• Training, awareness sessions, and harm reduction input

• Supporting safer environments within hostels

Our aim is to complement existing support, not duplicate it.

Creating pathways forward

While harm reduction is often the starting point, hostel support can also help people move forward when they are ready.

This may include:

• Linking into structured drug or alcohol treatment

• Accessing psychosocial or clinical support

• Support with recovery goals

• Connecting with housing, mental health, and wellbeing services

• Helping people move from crisis to stability

Change does not have to happen all at once.

No pressure, no judgement

You will not be judged or pushed to make changes before you are ready. Hostel support is about keeping people safe today, while creating opportunities for positive change in the future.

Honest conversations are welcomed and treated with respect.

How to access hostel support

Hostel support is delivered in partnership with accommodation providers. Residents can engage directly with our team where sessions are available, or be referred by hostel staff or professionals.

If you live in hostel accommodation and want support, or if you are a professional wanting to know more about our hostel work, get in touch with Wirral Ways and we can talk through the options.