Public Health England has today awarded £6m in capital funding to help improve the lives of those affected by alcohol.
Twenty-three projects across the country are receiving funding for 2019-20. Many of these projects will focus on improving access to alcohol treatment for people experiencing rough sleeping, as this was one of the key topics chosen for the funding round this year.
This welcome focus reflects the fact that alcohol continues to be a major issue for people facing multiple disadvantage. Last year over 2,000 adults in treatment for alcohol had urgent housing problems and 43% of those sleeping rough in London during 2017-18 were found to have alcohol misuse problems.
A wide range of MEAM Approach and Fulfilling Lives areas have received capital grants under this round of funding (including Hull, Leeds, Newcastle, Preston (Lancashire), Manchester, Birmingham, Stoke, Nottingham). We hope that these investments will link closely to the coordinated work being delivered by the local MEAM Approach and Fulfilling Lives partnerships.
The full list of grants can be seen in the PHE press release.
We look forward to supporting PHE and the local areas across the county as these investments are implemented.