Support for Young People
Wirral Ways is a free, confidential drug and alcohol service for adults aged 18 and over. If you are under 18, we are not the right service for you but we want to make sure you find the support you need.
Whether you are a young person looking for help, or an adult worried about someone younger, this page will point you in the right direction.
If you are under 18
It can feel difficult to talk about drugs or alcohol, especially if you are worried about getting into trouble or letting people down. But support is available, and you do not have to deal with this on your own.
Response is the specialist drug and alcohol service for young people in Wirral. They work with people under 18 and their families, offering free, confidential support without judgement.
If you are a parent or carer
Worrying about a young person’s drug or alcohol use is one of the hardest things a parent or carer can face. You might be unsure what you have seen, unsure how to start a conversation, or unsure who to turn to.
You are not alone, and there is support available for you too.
If the young person is under 18, Response can work with the whole family, not just the young person. You can contact them directly for advice, even if your child has not agreed to get help yet.
If they are 18 or over, Wirral Ways can support them directly. You can also contact us for advice on how to support a loved one.
Worried someone is in immediate danger?
If you are concerned that a young person is in immediate danger, call 999.
If it is not an emergency but you need urgent advice, you can call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000, available 24 hours a day, free of charge.
County Lines and Cuckooing
Some young people in Wirral are targeted by criminal networks, sometimes called County Lines, and pressured or coerced into carrying or selling drugs. This is exploitation, not a lifestyle choice, and it is never the young person’s fault.
If you are worried that a young person is being exploited in this way, or if you are a young person who feels unsafe, please reach out. Our outreach team works closely with Response, Merseyside Police, and the County Lines team to support people affected by this.
You can report concerns anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Report it: Is it an emergency?
Call 999 now in emergency situations like these:
- a child, or anyone else, is in immediate danger
- someone is using violence or is threatening to be violent
- a crime is happening right now
Hearing or speech impairments
- If you’ve pre-registered with the emergencySMS service, use our textphone service 18000 or text us on 999.
- Call 999 BSLto use a British Sign Language interpreter.
Silent 999 calls
If you’re in danger but you can’t talk on the phone, you should still call 999, then follow these instructions.
Report it: If it's not an emergency
Report online
If you’re concerned about drug-related crime in your area or think someone may be a victim of drug exploitation, report it online.
Phone 101
Call us on 101.
Report anonymously
You can report anonymously via the Crimestoppers website or by calling 0800 555 111.
No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will not go to court or have to speak to police when contacting Crimestoppers. But any details you can give are extremely valuable in helping us plan how we police each area.
Transitioning from Response to Wirral Ways
If you are approaching 18 and currently getting support from Response, you do not need to start from scratch. Our service works alongside Response to support people as they transition into adult services, so the move feels as smooth as possible.
If you are about to turn 18 and want to find out more about what Wirral Ways offers, get in touch and we will talk you through it.
Useful contacts
| Service | Who it’s for | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Response | Under-18s in Wirral | 0151 666 4017 |
| Wirral Ways | Adults 18+ | 0151 556 1335 |
| NSPCC Helpline | Anyone worried about a child | 0808 800 5000 |
| Childline | Under-18s needing to talk | 0800 1111 |
| Crimestoppers | Anonymous reporting | 0800 555 111 |
| Frank | Drug information for young people | 0300 123 6600 / talktofrank.com |
Last Updated on 26 March 2026