Start Hartlepool

02/02/2026

A space built with you in mind.

We’re excited to open the doors to our brand-new Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centre, a place designed to feel calm, comfortable and truly welcoming from the moment you step inside.

🖌️ Thoughtfully chosen colours

The building uses soothing tones chosen to help reduce stress, ease anxiety and create a safe, supportive environment for patients. These colours weren’t picked at random, they’re part of a design approach that puts wellbeing first.

🏡 A space that supports recovery
From the natural light to the gentle colour palette, every detail is here to help you feel grounded, relaxed and ready to get the support you need.

✨ Whether you're visiting for the first time or returning for a session, we want you to feel at home.

Start is here for you or your loved ones to help start your recovery journey. Find out more at Starthartlepool.co.uk

30/01/2026

Just in case you missed it last week, we were featured on ITV Tyne Tees for the opening of our brand new Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centre!

The ITV piece speaks about our new building and features our very owen Volunteer and Community Coordinator, Billy, who talks about his journey with our service.

Watch here ➡

Watch the latest from ITV News - The new facility in Hartlepool will be able to help up to 7,000 a year, with the region home to the country's highest drug and alcohol death rates.

29/01/2026

✨Start is here for the young people of Hartlepool ✨

It's a fresh, welcoming space built to help you feel comfortable, supported and confident. A place to remove stress and focus on what matters most, your recovery.

Whether you're just starting out or already on your recovery journey, our centre is here for you.

☀️New home
☀️Fresh start
☀️Support that works for you.

Find out more at starthartlepool.co.uk

28/01/2026

We're still buzzing from the opening of our brand new Drug and Alcohol Treatment centre last week!

We start welcoming patients into our new home tomorrow, and we can't wait to continue providing the same top-quality care and support as always.

If you or someone you know needs support with drug or alcohol use, tell them to contact Start. Our team of experts is on hand to ensure you or your loved ones have the best chance of recovery.

Find out more at starthartlepool.co.uk!

27/01/2026

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/