Posted on: 27 July, 2021
Following a competitive tender process, Wokingham Borough Council is pleased to announce that
Cranstoun has been awarded the substance misuse service contract to borough residents. The contract
is for five years and has been running since 1 April 2021.
Cranstoun will deliver the drug and alcohol recovery service for adults, including their families and
carers, in the borough. The adults service will remain located in Station Road and will be known as
Cranstoun Wokingham. The children’s service will be known as Here4YOUth and will work with young
people up to the age of 18. There will be a presence in education settings, youth offending, children’s
centres, and a number of other partners where they will co-locate.
For over fifty years, Cranstoun have provided a wide range of services across England, including
community-based substance misuse services, supported housing, domestic abuse services and specialist
services for young people, families, and carers. Cranstoun will bring a wealth of specialist knowledge
and experience to the substance misuse contract, delivering high quality, effective help to those in need.
Executive member for adult social care and public health, Cllr Charles Margetts said: “On behalf of
Wokingham Borough Council, I would like to welcome Cranstoun as the new substance misuse service
provider. Substance abuse is a priority area for the council and in recognition of this and increasing
demands on services, funding has been significantly increased. We work with our partners to protect
and safeguard our children, young and vulnerable people, offering quality care and support at the right
time.”
Service manager at Cranstoun, Vikki Lake said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the contract to
deliver the substance misuse in Wokingham Borough. We offer free, non-judgemental advice and
information, specialist treatment, and recovery support to adults and young people across the borough.
Our mission is to empower and support people to make positive changes and we believe that everyone
should have the opportunity to live healthy, safe and happy lives.”
Cranstoun will provide a range of free services and confidential advice to help and support adults who
would like to change their alcohol and/or drug use. The services include assessments, information and
advice, one-to-one sessions, structured group talks, prescribing services and drug testing, detox and
rehabilitation support, harm reduction, access to mutual aid e.g. AA and NA, community outreach,
health and wellbeing checks, alongside a companion app ‘Breaking Free Online’.
With the ending of restrictions, Cranstoun is embarking on a series of promotional campaigns, ‘how
much is too much’, around Wokingham Borough, focusing on alcohol consumption post-lockdown. In
June, a banner was displayed in Broad Street, Wokingham for two weeks and will be present again in
August for two weeks in Denmark Street, Wokingham, with posters displayed at local and neighbouring
train stations, GP surgeries, some hairdressers and leisure centres.
Wokingham residents who would like further help with their alcohol or substance misuse should contact Cranstoun, Wokingham or Here4YOUth on 0118 977 2022 or wokinghamsreferrals@cranstoun.org.uk or take a look at the Cranstoun,Wokingham web page for further information: