RIVER Women’s Hub opens on Belmont Road to support vulnerable women in Liverpool

The RIVER Women’s Hub was officially opened on Belmont Road in Liverpool, with Dame Carol Black leading the ceremony.

Located at 31 Belmont Road, the hub consolidates drug and alcohol treatment, primary health care, wellbeing programmes and specialist partner services within a single, trauma-informed facility designed for women.

It is aimed at women who experience a mix of issues such as substance misuse, mental-health difficulties, trauma, domestic abuse, exploitation or involvement in sex work, with the goal of removing obstacles that often block access to help.

Liverpool’s wider health strategy has identified that women disproportionately bear the burden of poverty, violence and mental-health problems, prompting the council to develop gender-responsive services like this hub.

Operational data from the first two weeks of June 2026 show the centre conducted 67 appointments, delivered medical and nursing interventions, carried out alcohol assessments and ran recovery-focused group sessions, while also offering rapid access to urgent assessments, prescribing and specialist input.

Rachel Fance, Service Manager for the RIVER Drug and Alcohol Service, explained that many women request a safe, non-judgemental environment where they can obtain comprehensive support, and that the hub’s co-location of services helps them engage earlier and remain in treatment longer, supporting health, confidence and future prospects.

The hub is already a focal point for partnership working: organisations such as RASA, Changing Lives and the Pearls Project provide services on-site, and plans are being discussed to launch a women-only Alcoholics Anonymous group.

During her visit Dame Carol Black toured the facility, met staff, partners and service users before cutting the ribbon, underscoring Liverpool’s whole-system approach to reducing drug-related harm.

Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, said the hub exemplifies the council’s effort to design services around women’s lived experiences and to remove the barriers many face.

Professor Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health and Senior Responsible Officer for Liverpool’s Combatting Drugs Partnership, noted that the hub demonstrates the trauma-informed, person-centred model the city is adopting, helping women receive timely help and contributing to a reduction in health inequalities across Liverpool.

The RIVER Women’s Hub forms part of the ongoing commitment of the RIVER Drug & Alcohol Service to improve health, wellbeing and long-term recovery for women. People seeking confidential advice about substance use can contact the service directly; urgent medical concerns should be directed to NHS 111, and emergencies to 999.