Advice & Support

Understanding Your Mood: Free Apps That Make It Simple

Mental Health Awareness Week runs from 11 to 17 May 2026, with this year's theme set by the Mental Health Foundation: Take Action. The message is clear that while awareness matters, meaningful change comes from what we actually do. And action does not need to be big...

Festive Events and Safer Night Out Tips

Nights out are a big part of the festive season. Whether you are heading to a pub, club, gig or house party, it can feel good to celebrate, connect with friends and enjoy a change of routine. You deserve to have fun in a way that keeps you safe. A little planning can...

Where to Get Help in Wirral Over Christmas

Christmas can feel different for everyone. For some people it is all about celebrations, laughter and connection. For others it can bring stress, loneliness, financial pressure, relationship worries or memories that feel difficult. If alcohol or drugs are part of your...

Staying Safer Over the Festive Season

The festive season means different things to different people. For many, it is a chance to relax, catch up with family and friends, and take a break from the day-to-day pressures of life. For others, this time of year can feel complicated. Money worries, loneliness,...

Alcohol Harm Reduction at Home

The festive season often comes with more social events, family gatherings and opportunities to drink. For many people this can feel enjoyable, although for others it can bring pressure, cravings or risks that feel harder to manage. You might find yourself drinking...

Staying safe in the heat

The UK is currently experiencing a heatwave, and high temperatures can affect everyone, but especially people who are in recovery or managing their health. Here is what you need to know to keep yourself safe over the coming days. Drink plenty of water When it is hot,...

Ramadan and Medication: What You Need to Know

Ramadan Mubarak to everyone observing. As Ramadan approaches, we recognise that many people will be thinking carefully about how fasting fits alongside their health, wellbeing, and any medication they are prescribed. At Wirral Ways, we want to reassure you that your...

Drug Driving. The Risks Are Real

Choosing to drive after taking drugs can change lives in seconds. Across the last decade, drug driving has become a growing danger on UK roads. Between 2014 and 2023, there was a 70 percent increase in deceased drivers where drugs were present. Young men are...

Drug Market Changes Around the Holidays

The festive season can bring changes to the way drugs are supplied and sold. This can happen for lots of reasons, including travel disruption, dealers changing suppliers, or substances being cut differently to keep up with demand. Even if something looks the same as...

Staying Safe During Freshers’ Week

Freshers’ Week is a big moment – new friends, new places, new freedom. It’s all about enjoying yourself and making the most of student life. But with so much going on, it’s easy to get carried away. At Wirral Ways, we want you to have a brilliant time while also...

Overdose Awareness: Key Information

Overdoses can happen to anyone, and they often happen quickly, especially when drugs are mixed or taken after a break in use. Knowing the early warning signs and what to do in an emergency can save a life.

On our main overdose awareness page you will find clear advice on:
• How to spot the signs of different types of overdose
• What to do in an emergency
• How naloxone works and where to get it
• Why mixing drugs and alcohol increases risk
• How tolerance changes
• Simple harm reduction tips that help keep you and others safer

What if I Relapse?

If you’ve had a relapse, you’re not alone—and you’re not a failure. Recovery isn’t a straight line. It’s a journey with highs, lows, and everything in between. A relapse is just a bump in the road, not the end of it.

How Do I Tell Someone About My Drug or Alcohol Use?

Opening up about your drug or alcohol use can feel overwhelming—but you’re not alone. It’s one of the bravest steps you can take on your recovery journey, and being honest with someone you trust can lift a huge weight off your shoulders.

What to Do If Someone Overdoses

Overdoses can happen quickly and unexpectedly—but knowing what to do can save a life. If someone around you overdoses, your calm response and quick actions could make all the difference.

How Do I Handle Cravings?

If you’ve started cutting down or stopped using drugs or alcohol, cravings can be one of the toughest things to deal with. But here’s the good news—they won’t last forever, and you don’t have to face them alone.

What Is Cuckooing?

Cuckooing is a serious form of exploitation. It happens when criminals take over the home of a vulnerable person—often by force, threats or manipulation—and use it to carry out illegal activities, like dealing drugs.

Naloxone: The Lifesaving Medication You Should Know About

Naloxone is a medicine that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose—and it can save lives. If you or someone you know uses opioids (like heroin or methadone), carrying Naloxone could mean the difference between life and death in an emergency.

How Do I Avoid Triggers?

Avoiding triggers can feel like one of the hardest parts of recovery—especially in the early days. But learning to spot them, plan ahead, and make small changes can make a big difference in staying on track.

Drink Spiking: What You Need to Know

 Drink spiking is a serious and dangerous crime. It can leave people vulnerable to harm, and it’s more common than you might think. Whether you’re heading out with friends or supporting someone who’s been affected, knowing the facts can help keep you and others safe.

Staying Safe During Freshers’ Week

Freshers’ Week is a big moment – new friends, new places, new freedom. It’s all about enjoying yourself and making the most of student life. But with so much going on, it’s easy to get carried away. At Wirral Ways, we want you to have a brilliant time while also...

Understanding Your Mood: Free Apps That Make It Simple

Mental Health Awareness Week runs from 11 to 17 May 2026, with this year's theme set by the Mental Health Foundation: Take Action. The message is clear that while awareness matters, meaningful change comes from what we actually do. And action does not need to be big...

What to Do If Someone Overdoses

Overdoses can happen quickly and unexpectedly—but knowing what to do can save a life. If someone around you overdoses, your calm response and quick actions could make all the difference. How to Help Someone Who’s Overdosed Call 999 immediately. Tell the operator where...
The front windows of the Spider Project building in Birkenhead. The facade features three large arched windows with colourful text advertising activities such as yoga, meditation, creative writing, and more. Flower boxes sit below the windows, and the centre window displays the Spider Project logo.

Empowering Recovery Through Creativity with the Spider Project

Recovery is about more than stopping something. For many people, it’s about rebuilding confidence, finding purpose, and reconnecting with who they are. That’s why Wirral Ways works closely with the Spider Project, an award-winning creative arts and wellbeing recovery...

Drink and drug driving: what you need to know

Driving is something many of us do every day, often without thinking too much about it. But alcohol and drugs can change how we think, react, and make decisions in ways that are not always obvious at the time. Feeling “fine” does not always mean it is safe, or legal,...

Take control of your drinking with the NHS Drink Free Days app

It’s easy for drinking to become part of your routine — a glass of wine after work, a few pints at the weekend, or a drink to unwind after a stressful day. But even small changes can make a big difference to your health, energy, and mood. The NHS Drink Free Days app...

Staying safe in the heat

The UK is currently experiencing a heatwave, and high temperatures can affect everyone, but especially people who are in recovery or managing their health. Here is what you need to know to keep yourself safe over the coming days. Drink plenty of water When it is hot,...

Online gambling is not the same as a bingo hall. Here’s why that matters.

Mecca Bingo in Birkenhead is closing. For a lot of people who have visited regularly over the years, that is a real loss. Bingo halls are not just places to play – they are social spaces, weekly routines, somewhere familiar to go. Losing that matters. But the closure...

No Shame, Just Support: Women Come Together for Sexual Health Awareness Evening

On Tuesday 10th June, women from across Wirral came together at Market Wells for an evening of learning, laughter and looking after their health. Hosted by Wirral Ways, the Women’s STI Educational Evening was all about creating a safe, welcoming space to talk openly...

Upcoming FREE training from Wirral Ways

This spring and summer, Wirral Ways is offering a full programme of free, professional training - and we want you to be part of it. Our training is open to anyone working in or alongside the sector: health and social care professionals, community organisations,...

Last Updated on 26 January 2026