A local charity has received funding from the NHS to provide support in reducing health inequalities among people with complex and multiple needs in rural Northumberland.

ESCAPE Family Support will use the funding from the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board to employ a family support worker and a training and volunteer coordinator.

These two roles will enable the charity to work with carers and families in the rural parts of the county who are struggling to travel and access specialist support. 

The charity is Northumberland's only specialist provision for people whose lives are negatively impacted by the substance use of a loved one.

They provide trauma informed support which includes a 24/7 telephone helpline, crisis support, counselling, support groups, respite breaks, and workshops to address mental health issues. 

The north east has one of the highest rates of alcohol related deaths in England, a figure which increased by 20.5 per cent between 2019 and 2020. 

Since 1993, it has increased from 13 deaths to 37 in 2021 - an increase of 184.61 per cent. 

ESCAPE Family Support aims to maximise opportunities for families with multiple problems to get the right support and to stabilise their lives.