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-In collaboration with surrey county council-
alcohol
health
champions
Together we can make a difference!
Voluntary Action South West Surrey, in partnership with Surrey County Council Public Health and AlcoholWise, is delivering a 12-month pilot project designed to empower communities to make healthier choices around alcohol.
The Alcohol Health Champions (AHC) Project supports Surrey’s wider prevention and wellbeing priorities by equipping trusted community members with the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills to promote healthier conversations around alcohol, reduce stigma, and encourage early intervention within voluntary, community, and faith-based settings.
PARTNERSHIP PROJECT
The Alcohol Health Champions Project is delivered through a partnership between Voluntary Action South West Surrey, Surrey County Council Public Health, and AlcoholWise. By working together, the project combines local community knowledge, public health expertise, and specialist alcohol awareness support to help create healthier and more informed communities across Surrey.
COMMUNITY FOCUS
The project works across Guildford, Waverley, and surrounding areas, supporting local communities through early intervention, awareness raising, and community-led conversations around alcohol and wellbeing. By engaging local organisations, volunteers, and residents, the project aims to build stronger community connections and improve access to support.
FREE SUPPORT
All Alcohol Health Champions receive free training, practical resources, and ongoing support throughout the project. Champions also benefit from networking opportunities, shared learning, and continued guidance to help them feel confident in promoting healthier conversations and supporting their communities.
Project at a Glance...
34
Alcohol Health Champions trained
30
charities and organisations engaged
3
training sessions delivered
100%
found the training useful and relevant
100%
came away with new ideas to take back
About
About the project
Alcohol-related harm affects individuals, families, workplaces, and communities across Surrey. Early intervention and supportive conversations can play an important role in helping people make informed and healthier choices.
The Alcohol Health Champions Project recruits, trains, and supports volunteers and professionals from local charities, community organisations, faith groups, and wellbeing services to become trusted voices for health and wellbeing within their communities.
The project aims to:
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Promote healthier attitudes and behaviours around alcohol
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Increase awareness of alcohol-related health risks
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Encourage early intervention and prevention
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Reduce stigma around seeking support
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Strengthen community resilience and wellbeing
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Improve links between local organisations and support services
Why this matters
Community-based approaches can help people access support earlier and feel more comfortable discussing sensitive issues such as alcohol use.
Alcohol Health Champions help create supportive environments where conversations around alcohol and wellbeing can happen naturally, safely, and without judgement.
The project contributes towards:
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Stronger and healthier communities
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Increased awareness of alcohol-related harm
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Improved confidence in discussing alcohol use
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Better signposting to local support services
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Reduced stigma around alcohol dependency and mental health
Champions act as trusted messengers within their own communities, workplaces, and organisations.
What Alcohol Health Champions do
Alcohol Health Champions help encourage healthier choices by:
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Starting conversations about alcohol and wellbeing
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Sharing information and local support resources
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Signposting individuals to appropriate services
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Supporting awareness campaigns and community events
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Encouraging healthier lifestyle choices
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Helping reduce stigma around seeking support
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Completing simple monthly activity logs to support project evaluation
No previous experience is needed — just enthusiasm, compassion, and a commitment to supporting healthier communities.
Free training and ongoing support
All Champions receive:
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Free in-person training delivered by experienced professionals
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A practical toolkit to support community engagement
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Ongoing support, guidance, networking, and peer learning opportunities
Training covers:
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Alcohol screening techniques
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Understanding alcohol units and alcohol-related harm
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Motivational interviewing and person-centred approaches
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Communication and engagement skills for diverse communities
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Evidence-based approaches to encouraging healthier choices
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Practical role-play activities to build confidence
Participants consistently report increased confidence in having supportive conversations around alcohol both professionally and personally.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need previous experience?
No. Training is open to anyone with an interest in supporting healthier communities.
Is the training free?
Yes. All training and supporting resources are provided free of charge.
Who can become an Alcohol Health Champion?
We welcome volunteers, charity staff, community leaders, faith groups, social prescribers, and local residents.
What support will I receive?
Champions receive training, a practical toolkit, ongoing support, networking opportunities, and guidance throughout the project.
How much time is involved?
The role is flexible and designed to fit around existing commitments.
Can organisations send multiple staff or volunteers?
Yes — we actively encourage organisations to participate together where possible.
Gallery
View some of the highlights of the Alcohol Health Champions project, including some of our brilliant Champions during training sessions that we were grateful to run.
Project Impact
Community Impact
The Alcohol Health Champions Project is already beginning to make a positive difference within communities across Guildford, Waverley, and surrounding areas.
By training trusted volunteers and professionals from a wide range of organisations, the project is helping to create more open, informed, and supportive conversations around alcohol and wellbeing. Champions are using their skills both professionally and personally to encourage healthier choices, reduce stigma, and improve awareness of local support services.
Early feedback and activity logs show that Champions are:
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Having more confident conversations about alcohol and health
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Supporting individuals to reflect on their drinking habits
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Encouraging healthier lifestyle choices and “sober curiosity”
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Signposting people to appropriate support services and resources
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Applying learning within existing job roles and community settings
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Helping normalise conversations around alcohol and mental wellbeing
The project has also strengthened partnership working between charities, community groups, social prescribing services, faith organisations, and public health teams, creating a growing network of organisations committed to prevention, early intervention, and community wellbeing.
In addition to increasing awareness of alcohol-related harm, the project is helping to reduce stigma around seeking support by promoting compassionate, person-centred conversations within everyday community settings.
As the project develops, ongoing evaluation and impact assessment will help measure the longer-term benefits of the programme and identify opportunities to expand the model more widely across Surrey.
Organisations Involved
The Alcohol Health Champions Project has brought together a diverse and growing network of organisations from across Surrey, reflecting the wide-reaching importance of community health, prevention, and early intervention.
To date, the project has engaged charities, community groups, social prescribing services, faith organisations, local authorities, wellbeing providers, and voluntary sector partners, creating valuable opportunities for shared learning, collaboration, and community engagement.
Organisations involved include:
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Your Sanctuary
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Oakleaf Enterprise
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We Are With You
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VASWS Social Prescribing
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Surrey Heath Social Prescribing
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Peer Talk
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Via.org
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Action for Carers
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Brigitte Trust
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Waverley Borough Council
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Surrey County Council
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G Live
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Hale Community Centre
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Parish of Badshot Lea & Hale
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Dose of Nature
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South West Surrey Domestic Abuse Service
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Zero Carbon Guildford
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Whitmore Vale Housing Association
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Roots for the Future
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Rainbow Red
This strong cross-sector involvement demonstrates the growing recognition that alcohol awareness and early intervention are not solely health issues, but community issues that benefit from collaborative, locally led approaches.
By bringing together organisations from different sectors and backgrounds, the project is helping to build stronger community connections, improve knowledge sharing, and create a wider network of trusted individuals who can support healthier conversations and signpost people to appropriate support.
Feedback
Feedback from delegates has been overwhelmingly positive, with participants consistently describing the training as engaging, informative, and highly relevant to both their professional and personal lives.
Attendees particularly valued the practical communication skills covered throughout the sessions, including learning how to approach sensitive conversations around alcohol in a supportive and non-judgemental way. Motivational interviewing techniques and person-centred approaches were highlighted as especially useful in helping Champions feel more confident when engaging with others.
Participants also found the sessions on alcohol units and health impacts extremely informative, helping to increase understanding of alcohol-related harm and the wider impact on individuals, communities, and public services.
Role-play activities and practical exercises were frequently praised for helping delegates build confidence, empathy, and patience when discussing alcohol-related issues. Many attendees also valued the opportunity to network with others, share experiences across organisations, and learn from lived experience.
The trainer’s expertise, the welcoming and safe learning environment, and the interactive delivery style received particularly strong feedback. Delegates appreciated the balance of presentations, group discussion, and practical activities throughout the day.
Constructive feedback has also helped shape future sessions, with suggestions including larger spaces for group activities, additional demonstration role-plays, improved technology for video content, and opportunities for more lived-experience speakers and reflective discussion.
Upcoming Activity
The Alcohol Health Champions Project continues to build momentum across Surrey, with a range of new community engagement and awareness activities planned over the coming months.
As the project moves into its next phase, there will be a continued focus on strengthening local partnerships, expanding community outreach, and supporting Champions to apply their training within their own organisations and communities.
Planned activities include:
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Community pop-up engagement events in Guildford and Godalming
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Awareness activity during Alcohol Awareness Week (6–10 July)
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Outreach linked to major sporting events and seasonal periods where alcohol consumption may increase
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Ongoing networking and peer support opportunities for Champions
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Continued recruitment and engagement with voluntary, community, and faith-based organisations
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Promotion of local support services and healthier lifestyle campaigns
The project is also entering its Impact Assessment phase, which will help evaluate the longer-term benefits of the programme, gather community feedback, and identify opportunities for future development and expansion across Surrey.
By continuing to work collaboratively with local organisations and residents, the project aims to create sustainable, community-led approaches that encourage healthier conversations, reduce stigma, and improve wellbeing across local communities.
Get Involved!
We welcome expressions of interest from:
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Charities and voluntary organisations
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Community groups
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Faith organisations
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Social prescribers
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Health and wellbeing professionals
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Local residents and volunteers
No prior experience is required — only a passion for supporting healthier communities.
Access and Inclusion
We are committed to making training accessible and inclusive for everyone.
Please let us know if you have any accessibility requirements or additional support needs when registering your interest.
Meet our Alcohol Health Coordinator
Hilary Holness
For more information on the project, or to get in touch, please contact:
07842 019243
Working Pattern:
Monday to Wednesday: 9:00am - 4:30pm
Thursday: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Interested in becoming an Alcohol Health Champion?
Register your interest today and help support healthier communities across Surrey.
Together, we can make a difference!
