Each year, Alcohol Awareness Week shines a light on the harmful effects of alcohol misuse. This year the theme is Alcohol and Work. But here at Blossome, we’re also asking another question:
What about the families?
While much attention is given to supporting those struggling with addiction, the invisible weight carried by their loved ones often goes unnoticed. And the numbers speak volumes, almost five million people in the UK are negatively affected by someone else’s drinking or drug use. Yet just 1.58% of substance misuse budget is allocated to supporting families.*
This year, Blossome is standing up for those on the frontline and in the shadows — the partners, children, siblings, and friends who’ve lived through the chaos, heartbreak, and grief of a loved one’s addiction.
I know first-hand the impact that living with active alcoholism in the home can have on your life. My husband’s addiction cost us our marriage, and ultimately, his life. My kids lost their dad. I lost me. I was the one that had to call his work when he was unable to go in.
It’s the sickening knot in your stomach as you dial their workplace, rehearsing the lie. “He’s not feeling well.”
You’re covering for the chaos again, your voice steady while inside you’re breaking. It’s not flu. It’s not food poisoning. It’s drink, again.
And each time you do it, a little more of you disappears.
I had to lie – and I did, because I loved him. Little did know how I was enabling his illness and I simply didn’t know what else to do.
Making that call is one of the many invisible acts of survival.
You do it because you’re holding everything together, again. You say they’re sick, but what you really mean is, “I’m exhausted, and I don’t know what else to do.”
I founded Blossome to help myself and others heal, to gently rebuild their lives with the support, understanding, and care they may have never received.
At the heart of Blossome’s approach is Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), a powerful evidence-based practice that helps people speak to themselves with kindness rather than criticism. It’s a proven tool to ease shame and break the cycle of codependency.
We’re not here to fix or rescue anyone , we’re here to walk beside people as they begin tending to their own needs. We offer moments of support, from quick online drop-ins to whole days by the sea, because we know how hard it can be to ask for help. We’ll even help you take that first step.
To mark Alcohol Awareness Week (7–11 July), Blossome is offering several gentle, welcoming events that invite you to press pause and nurture yourself — especially if you’ve been affected by someone else’s drinking.
🌊 8 July 6-9pm – An Evening to Exhale – Qigong by the sea
Join us in Walton-on-the-Naze for a nourishing evening at The Red Beach Hut. We’ll enjoy a shared dinner and a grounding Qigong session on the sand — perfect for calming the nervous system and reconnecting to your body.
🫶 10 July, 7–7.45pm – Virtual “Resourcing Me” Session
This online drop-in session introduces the practice of Mindful Self-Compassion, a skill you can use anytime to ease emotional pain. Led by Blossome’s Kim Moore and MSC teacher Amy Noelle, it’s a gentle and welcoming way to begin your journey inward.
🐚 12 July, 9am–6pm – Beach Hut Day: A Day of Self Care
Come and go as you please during this free drop-in day at The Red Beach Hut. You’ll find space to rest, connect, and express yourself through activities like sea glass walks, art, and expressive writing — all guided with care and self-compassion.
At Blossome, we believe recovery isn’t just for the person with the addiction. The whole family needs time, space, and support to heal. Whether you’re in the thick of it, or grieving after loss, our message is simple:
You matter too.
If you or someone you know is silently suffering, making those calls to a loved ones place of work, we invite you to take the first step toward support. Explore our community, sign up for our self-compassion programme, or simply join one of this week’s gentle events. We are here to listen.
*Start counting: results from Adfam’s survey of local authorities in England on family support.
Kim Moore is the Founder of Blossome CIC. She lost her husband Chris to alcoholism in 2017. She faced a difficult journey while raising 2 children alone, with her family living on the opposite side of the world. Kim founded the Blossome Community and The Pathway to Peace healing journey so no one would have to feel alone while enduring the trauma of a loved one’s battle with alcoholism or addiction. She is also on a mission to end the generational cycle of alcoholism and addiction in families.
Kim lost her husband to alcohol dependency in 2017. She created the Blossome Community to help others enduring losing a loved one to alcoholism or addiction find a Pathway to Peace so they can let go of guilt/shame and live with self-compassion and joy.
Every Monday morning, start you week on a positive note with a Wonderful Week of Blossoming.
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