Who we are

Who Are Early Break?

Early Break is here for young people and families navigating life’s challenges.

We’re a youth-focused charity based in the North West of England. We provide free, confidential support services for emotional health, substance use, and family wellbeing.

Our mission is simple: to help young people feel heard, safe, and empowered to make positive choices.

  • Since 1994, we’ve supported thousands of children, teenagers and families across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, Salford, Bolton, Trafford, and Blackburn with Darwen—offering services that are inclusive, accessible and built around individual needs.

“We’re here to offer more than just support; we work with young people and families to understand their challenges and take real steps toward positive change.”
— Gemma Philburn (Operations Director)

What Makes Early Break Different?

We don’t believe in “one-size-fits-all” support.

Instead, we offer a wide range of services shaped by the voices and experiences of the young people and families we work with.

These include:

  • Substance Misuse Advocacy: One-to-one help for young people affected by drugs or alcohol

  • Emotional Health Services: Support with anxiety, low mood, grief, and self-esteem

  • Family-Focused Support: Programmes for families navigating parental substance use or safeguarding concerns

  • Housing Support: Early intervention and tailored support for young people and families at risk of homelessness

  • Outreach & Group Work: Safe, accessible sessions in schools, youth centres, and community venues

  • Training for Professionals: CPD-accredited courses on substance use and youth wellbeing

Our charitable objectives and values underpin everything we do.
Our team is made up of skilled professionals, many with lived experience, who genuinely care about helping young people thrive.

We also work closely with schools, healthcare professionals, social services, and community partners to create a joined-up approach to support.

Watch this short intro

Quick FAQ’s

  • We are a children and young people charity offering free, confidential support for emotional wellbeing, drug and alcohol use, and family life challenges across the North West.

  • We support children and young people aged 5 to 25, depending on the service, as well as families, parents, and carers.

  • Yes. All our services are completely free of charge thanks to local commissioning and charitable funding. But, you can help u

  • Our head office is in Bury, but we deliver services across Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Trafford, Bolton, and Blackburn with Darwen.

    We work flexibly from local offices in these areas and also provide support in schools, community venues, safe spaces, and out in the field, wherever young people and families need us most.

  • Some services accept self-referrals, while others require a professional referral.

    Visit our Referrals page for more information.

  • Early Break offers a comprehensive range of specialist services to support young people and their families across Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

    Our work covers mental health, substance use, emotional wellbeing, housing, family relationships, sexual health, and more.

    Depending on your needs and location, we offer both one-to-one and group-based support through the following services:

    Each service is free, confidential, and tailored to the needs of the individual or family.

  • Yes. What you share with us stays private unless we’re concerned for your safety or someone else’s. We’ll always try to speak to you before any information is shared.

  • You can donate, take part in surveys, receive training, or follow us on social media to help spread awareness of the work we do.