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Core Services

Community
Outreach

Meeting young people where they are, literally.

Early Break’s community outreach team supports young people in the places they spend time: parks, youth clubs, schools, events, and local neighbourhoods. We provide a friendly face, trusted advice, and a link to services, without pressure, judgement or formality.

Whether you're just looking for a chat or have questions about drugs, alcohol, relationships or emotional wellbeing, our outreach team is here to listen and help.

We’re out in the community several evenings a week, and our routes are shared regularly on social media.

“Sometimes I just needed someone to talk to before things got worse. The outreach team helped me realise I didn’t have to go through it alone.”
— Young person, Rochdale

What Our Community Outreach Workers Do

Early Break’s outreach workers are trained professionals who:

Connect with young people in their own environments

  • Offer on-the-spot advice about substance use, sexual health, and emotional wellbeing

  • Provide harm reduction tools and support strategies

  • Signpost to other Early Break services like advocacy, SafeZones, RISE or family support

  • Help safeguard young people and reduce risk-taking behaviour

  • Work closely with local professionals, youth services and safeguarding partners

We’re not here to preach. We’re here to support you in making safer, more informed decisions and to be a consistent, approachable presence in your local area.

Early Break’s Outreach Workers engage with young people wherever they are in the community.

This could be parks, youth clubs, events and much more.

See Where We’re Out This Week

Outreach FAQ’s

  • It’s a way for us to connect with young people in the community, outside of formal settings, so that we can offer advice, support and signposting in a safe, approachable way.

  • Our support is for young people up to age 25 who are affected by drug or alcohol misuse, whether they’re using substances themselves or impacted by someone else’s use.

    Some locations have differing age upper and lower limits, but don’t worry our referral forms will guide you.

  • We’re active in Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, Trafford, Salford and Blackburn with Darwen, and surrounding areas. Our team visits parks, youth groups, local events, and town centres.

  • Young people aged 10–25 who may need advice, support, or simply someone to talk to. You don’t need a referral or appointment to speak with us.

  • Anything you want, whether it’s drugs or alcohol, problems at home, mental health, stress, relationships, or just needing someone to listen.

  • Yes. What you share with us stays private, unless we’re concerned about your safety or someone else’s. We’ll always try to talk to you first.

  • Yes. We welcome collaboration with schools, youth services, health teams, housing providers, and local authorities to coordinate support or join outreach sessions.

  • Follow us on social to see our current locations and times, or check out our events section on this page.

  • You can stay connected to Early Break in various ways listed below:

  • If you or someone you know needs urgent help, you can access our list of emergency and useful helpline numbers by clicking the Get Help Now. 

    This will open a quick-reference popup with 24/7 services and support lines for mental health, safeguarding, substance use, and crisis care.

From the Blog

Here’s a selection of articles from the blog related to our Outreach services.