Colchester Centre

Contact Details

5a Queen Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 2PG (close to Firstsite and The Curzon cinema)

Telephone: 01206 766096

Centre Manager: Matt Gauden

Outreach Locations

Harwich

Opening Hours

Monday 09:30-17:00

Tuesday 09:30-17:00

Wednesday 09:30-17:00

Thursday 09:30-17:00

Friday 09:30-17:00

Saturday Closed

Sunday Closed

Colchester Drop In

Colchester Needle Exchange

About the Colchester centre

There is a range of services on offer in Colchester. We offer open access for anyone who would like advice, information, support, assessment and access to more formal treatment. We provide one to one support as well as support groups and advice.

Within the Colchester centre we have a Needle Exchange, where clients can come and discuss, confidentially, aspects of harm minimisation, and safe practice. Clients do not need appointments to access these services, and are welcome at any time we are open.

The other aspect to our work is in providing a treatment package for service users and their families. We do this by assessing the individual’s need, and then planning a treatment journey with the client to enable them to make changes in their lives.

As part of our joined up service provision you can access Essex Young Peoples Drug & Alcohol service (EYPDAS) for under 25's at this centre.

Support Groups

Our Colchester centre runs a number of groups to meet your needs. Take a look at what is on offer and get in contact with us to find out more:

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings in Essex - Listed in alphabetical order by town name

Cocaine Anonymous (CA) groups in Essex - Listed chronologically from Sunday to Saturday

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) groups in Essex - Listed chronologically from Sunday to Saturday

Latest

Medway's Wellbeing and Recovery Team

Meet the team behind Open Road's Medway Wellbeing and Recovery service. The helpful, professional and knowledgeable team are on hand to support people in their recovery when rebuilding their lives.
Recovery Worker, Harlow (22.5 hours per week)

As the Recovery Worker you will be responsible for care co-ordination of all clients entering the service and engaging in treatment. You will also be responsible for the development of recovery plans for individual clients, and for liaising with other service providers relevant to the individual’s needs. This role may include supporting the service as an Outreach in the future, so the ability to drive and access to a car is a requirement.
Drinkaware Crew Member

We are looking to train and provide Drinkaware Crew venues in Colchester and Chelmsford to improve our ability to look after guests on a night out, and to identify and support people who may be vulnerable due to drinking too much. Working with a partner, you will mingle with guests to encourage a positive atmosphere, and help guests in practical ways. You will work with security, management and bar staff to escalate issues if required, and will compete an activity log at the end of the shift.
Open Road's Steve Wood shortlisted for national award

Open Road's Welfare and Criminal Justice manager Steve Wood has been short listed in the "Outstanding Contribution" category at the annual DSC Social Change Awards. Open Road supporters are encouraged to go online and vote for him!

Basildon Centre

Open Road's Basildon Centre has an open access drop-in is available for anyone to access for advice, information, support, assessment and access to more formal treatment with drug or alcohol recovery.
Chelmsford Centre

Open Road's Chelmsford centre is located in Mansard House, on New London Road. Our Open Access service provides the opportunity for support, advice and information on a daily basis. We can do Personalised Assessments on the same day, which will signpost the service user to effective interventions and treatments.
Clacton Centre

Open Road's Clacton Centre operates a drop in needle exchange and open access support on an appointment basis. We run a friendly and non-judgmental service with a member of the team available for support, advice or initial assessment.
Harlow Centre

Open Road's Harlow Centre offers advice for anyone wanting advice, information, support, assessment and access to more formal treatment.
Medway Young People's Centre

We work with people aged 10 to 18 and 10 to 21 for people in Looked After Care, who are using drugs and/or alcohol. We will give you honest information about how they work, what the risks are, and how you can reduce those risks. You do not have to want to stop using.
Colchester Head Office

Open Road's Head Office is on North Hill, Colchester. As our administrative base, Head Office does not provide treatment services.

What we do

Open Road is an established Drug and Alcohol Recovery support charity in Essex and Medway. Open Road provides a variety of services to support individuals on their journey to recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.
Young People's Services

We offer a young people's Drug & Alcohol services from age 10 - 18 and beyond (25) for those in looked after care across Medway. Within Essex, we work with our partners EYPDAS as part of the Childrens Society.
Open Road headlines welfare services at Latitude

Open Road returned to provide welfare services at Latitude in 2019. Read the article to find out how we got on.
Make a referral

If you are a professional working with a client who requires support around their drug or alcohol usage, then make the referral here.
Need help now

Reach out to Open Road and start your journey to recovery today.
Colchester Centre

Open Road's Colchester site is our longest established treatment centre, conveniently located in the town centre. We offer open access for anyone who would like advice, information, support, assessment and access to more formal treatment.
New funding for Women Only Workshops

Open Road has received funding for its Women Only Workshops from the Essex Community Foundation to supply welfare packs to our engaging members.
How we make a difference

Read our Occasional Paper 'Evaluating and Evidencing the Impact of Open Road'
Chelmsford Centre

Open Road's Chelmsford centre is located in Mansard House, on New London Road. Our Open Access service provides the opportunity for support, advice and information on a daily basis. We can do Personalised Assessments on the same day, which will signpost the service user to effective interventions and treatments.
Who we work with

Open Road work with a number of agencies to deliver the best possible service and facilities to people requiring addiction and recovery support.