Call free: 01923 211 122 (24 Hrs), or email: aawestessex@gmail.com
Contact us, and other useful information
Telephone (365; 24/7): 01923 211 122
Address: AA West Essex Group, c/o The Becket Centre, 557-559 High Rd, Woodford, Woodford Green IG8 0SG.
Come and see us*: at above address Fridays 7-10pm.
*The Newcomers' Meeting is an 'open' meeting, so family and friends of an alcoholic are welcome along with any others interested in our work with fellow alcoholics. The Active Service Crew meetings are 'closed' meetings for those who have sobriety (after their 90 in 90/first three months) and want to learn about the Traditions and Concepts underpinning service to other alcoholics.
Other useful contacts: Click here
Concerned relative or friend?
Please see our information on Al-Anon who will be there to support you.
Public relations
Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
We, as a local group, won't reply directly to media networks, channels, podcasts, newspapers nor broadcasts. Please do not come to our meetings without seeking permission through our Media Enquiries desk. We may consider unsolicited visitations as safeguarding issues and request the assistance of appropriate outside authorities.
No individual can speak on behalf of the Fellowship locally, nationally, or internationally. Each member speaks only for themself. However, we have 'special workers' who are trained in public relations who are not alcoholics who are authorised to answer any questions our friends in the media and broadcasting may have.
AA is indebted to all media for their assistance in strengthening the tradition of anonymity over the years.
Please speak to our national Media Enquiries desk, for any helpful information, press releases or interviews: Tel. 01904 644026 or Email: media@aamail.org
Researchers and students
We are eager to share our experience, strength and hope with those training to help alcoholics professionally or vocationally. Such as healthcare students, trainee human resources and workplace safety managers, therapists, humanities students and trainee ministers of religion.
Please use the contact form to seek permission to conduct any research. This must be done in line with evidence-based methodology and the approval of your institution's research ethics committee (REC). You must be prepared to send hard copy of the letter of consent/approval from your REC. On arrival at meetings, you should wear your institution's name badge or student ID badge. We can provide a lanyard upon request.
Please give us at least 2 weeks to consider your application to give time for us to gain consent from the whole Group.
Address all such applications to the Group Chair.
WE DO NOT BUY OR SELL PRODUCTS OR SERVICES FROM OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS VIA THIS WEBSITE. Nor do we enter into partnerships nor affiliations other than ones already listed on this website.
AA for Professionals
If you’re a professional working with alcoholics, or deal with issues around alcoholism, here you’ll find AA resources that support your important work.
Alcohol is a powerful drug that kills someone nearly every hour in the UK. If you are someone who wants to help problem drinkers in your line of work, or you’re a dedicated professional working to support the many people who drink at levels that pose a risk to their health, we want to help you.
Here you’ll find services from AA members that are designed to help professionals in sectors such as healthcare, employment, the armed services, prison, probation, and social services.
https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/Professionals/
If you are in the West Essex area we can come and give a talk to you. Email: aawestessex@gmail.com
Caring for the family of an alcoholic?
It is estimated that for every alcoholic there are at least five other people affected by their disease. Al-Anon Family Groups can complement the work of professionals working with the families and friends of alcoholics.
Contact Al-Anon for professional information about considering Signposting your Patients to Al‑Anon:
https://al-anonuk.org.uk/professionals/resources-for-professionals/
What actually is AA?
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) helps alcoholics to recover.
A Fellowship, alcoholics help each other and reach out to others struggling with alcoholism.
Founded in 1935, our approach works. Today, two million members around the world now live a new way of life.
- AA is concerned solely with the recovery and continued sobriety of individual alcoholics who seek our help.
- AA is freely available to all who seek it, regardless of class, ethnicity, religion, race, sexuality, or gender.
- Our experience is freely available to those who work with or come across problem drinkers, including health and social workers, educators, religious leaders, prison services and the military.
- Our approach is to co-operate with but not endorse or express an opinion on other groups concerned with the problem of alcoholism.
- We do not accept or seek financial support from outside sources.
- Members preserve personal anonymity in the press, social media, and at the public level.
Click here to know more: https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/about-aa/what-is-aa/
Are you being affected by someone else's drinking?
Al-Anon Family Groups UK & Eire is for anyone whose life is or has been affected by someone else’s drinking. Al-Anon members provide one another with mutual support, by sharing their experiences with each other at an Al-Anon meeting. Al-Anon meetings are a safe place where you can talk about your own concerns and feelings. If you don’t feel able or willing to talk, that’s OK too. Whatever your story or background, you won’t be judged.
You are not alone and it is possible to rediscover happiness, whether the alcoholic is still drinking or not. It is suggested that you attend at least six meetings before you decide if Al-Anon is for you.
Is Al-Anon for you?
If you are unsure whether Al-Anon is for you, it is best to start with the question: Is somebody’s drinking affecting you?
Al-Anon could be for you if:
- You regularly feel hurt, embarrassed or distressed by the drinker’s behaviour.
- You dread holidays and special occasions because you are worried that someone’s drinking will ruin them.
- You find yourself covering up for the actions of a drinker.
- You often prefer to stay away from home rather than spend time with the drinker.
- You discourage friends and other family members from visiting because of the drinker’s behaviour.
- You are ‘walking on eggshells’ because you fear you might set off a drinking bout or angry outburst.
- You have considered calling the Police because of a drinker’s behaviour.
- You feel everything would be OK if the alcoholic stopped drinking.
Is your life disrupted by someone’s drinking?
The alcoholic’s behaviour can disrupt your home life. You may be experiencing:
- Missed or irregular mealtimes.
- Late or disrupted bedtimes.
- Money problems.
- Missed appointments and social occasions.
Do you get the support you need at home?
Do you find yourself:
- Covering up your feelings, pretending you don’t care.
- Feeling you are unloved or not cared for.
- Blaming yourself, other members of the family, friends or life circumstances for the drinker’s behaviour.
Did you grow up with a drinker?
Did you grow up with parents, siblings or even a close family friend who was a drinker? If you did, you could still be suffering as a result of those experiences.
Whether your relationship with a drinker is in the past or present, Al-Anon is for you.
Are you feeling helpless?
Al-Anon can help you find a different way of coping with your relationship with an alcoholic. Al-Anon is here for you either as a first port of call or when you feel you have run out of ideas and have nowhere else to turn.
Alateen - for young family and friends of alcoholics
Alateen meetings are for 12-17 year olds inclusive. We believe alcoholism is a family disease that affects everyone in the family. By attending online, or in-person meetings, young people gain an understanding of the illness and feel the benefits of realising they are not alone.
They learn that they did not cause this problem and that they are not responsible for their relative’s or friend’s drinking or behaviour. Young people share their experiences of having, or having had, a problem drinker in their lives. They help and support each other.
For further information, call Alateen: 020 7593 2070 (Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm). You could ask a teacher or someone at your school to use their phone to make this call during school time.
Al-Anon Helpline - for young people and adults alike
Talk to an Al-Anon member in confidence
7 days a week
Free phone: 0800 0086 811 (UK)
https://al-anonuk.org.uk/about-us/
Fridays @ St Thomas of Canterbury, Woodford Green, 557-559 High Road, Woodford Green IG8 0RB
DOORS OPEN 7.15PM - MEETINGS START 8PM.
COME EARLY TO GUARANTEE A SEAT!
FREE Helpline: 01923 211 122 (24 Hrs), Email: use contact form
© Copyright 2024 The General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous (Great Britain) Limited and the West Essex Group of Alcoholics Anonymous (10289) All rights reserved. Registered charity: England and Wales no. 226745, Scotland no. SC038023.
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.