Changing lives through the Blue Light Approach

The Blue Light Approach was developed to provide hope to those living with severe alcohol dependence, who often fall through the gaps. These are often people living in constant crisis, repeatedly in contact with police, ambulance services, A&E, housing, and social care, yet who rarely find support through traditional treatment services. All too often unfairly labelled as “treatment resistant” and written off.

The Blue Light Approach pushes back against that assumption and the results speak for themselves. Providing a person-centred approach, offering persistence, patience, and a coordinated, multi-agency response that sees the person behind the label, makes way for a different kind of support and engagement that is so desperately needed.

“The Blue Light project has probably saved my life.”[i]

In Buckinghamshire, 44 people were supported through the Blue Light Project between 2021 and 2024. Almost half of those whose cases have been closed achieved positive outcomes such as completing treatment and actively engaging in recovery. For those still involved, most have stabilised: drinking less, experiencing fewer crises, and turning far less often to emergency services.

The evaluation also highlighted six in-depth case studies. These stories show people moving from homelessness into secure housing, reducing or stopping drinking, reconnecting with family, volunteering, and improving both their mental and physical health.

One participant summed it up:

“The Blue Light Project saved me. The support provided and the confidence instilled in me is invaluable. I am now 10 months abstinent from alcohol! I had been in structured treatment multiple times in the past which I was unable to stick to due to the severity of my addiction. I am forever grateful this support was offered to me.”

The benefits weren’t felt by individuals alone. The evaluation showed clear reductions in police callouts, crime reports, antisocial behaviour, and emergency healthcare use. Average annual service costs per person dropped from £57,200 to £45,100. That’s a saving of more than £12,000 per person, and a return on investment of between £4 and £5.70 for every £1 spent.

In a county the size of Buckinghamshire, hundreds of people could meet the Blue Light criteria. Left unsupported, the combined costs to local services could run into the tens of millions. By investing in the Blue Light Approach, those costs can be reduced while offering people dignity, stability, and hope.

The evaluation identified the elements that make the Blue Light Approach effective:

• Persistent, flexible, and patient engagement
• Smaller caseloads, allowing for intensive support
• Strong relationships across agencies through a dedicated multi-agency group
• An understanding that people who have not engaged before can still engage in the future

As one professional said during the evaluation:

“Previous non-engagement doesn’t mean future non-engagement. The Blue Light Approach proves that with the right methods, people do respond.”

In November, Alcohol Change UK will be launching a new Blue Light manual, building on 10 years of learning, practice, and independent evaluations like Buckinghamshire’s. The new manual will provide the tools and guidance local areas need to embed the Blue Light model.

For commissioners, this evaluation adds to a growing body of evidence that the Blue Light Approach is both highly effective and cost-efficient. With alcohol-related harm on the increase, with costs in England alone running at an estimated £27.44 billion each year[ii], the findings highlight the huge potential to save and improve lives, alongside real financial savings.

[i] Blue Light Project Service User
[ii] https://www.ias.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-costs-of-alcohol-to-society.pdf