Choices Rehabs collaborates on parliamentary launch of national Open Houses initiative

A parliamentary reception, hosted by Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe at the House of Lords on 7 July, marked the launch of Open Houses 26, a national initiative designed to reconnect decision-makers with residential drug and alcohol treatment services across England.

The event brought together MPs, peers, commissioners, clinicians, service providers and people with lived experience to highlight the role residential rehabilitation plays in supporting recovery for people with complex addiction needs.

Open Houses 26, led by Choices Rehabs and Phoenix Futures, will see providers across England host open days throughout September, inviting commissioners, probation services, local authorities and health leaders to visit services, meet residents and staff, and observe treatment programmes first hand.

The initiative comes in response to more than a decade of pressure on residential services, including reduced funding and fragmented commissioning, which organisers say has limited access and weakened integration with wider treatment systems.

Lord Brooke said: ‘It was a privilege to host the launch of Open Houses 26 at the House of Lords and to welcome such a diverse group of parliamentarians, commissioners, clinicians, providers and people with lived experience. Residential rehabilitation services play a vital role in helping individuals with complex drug and alcohol treatment needs rebuild their lives, yet too often these services are misunderstood or overlooked.

Open Houses 26 presents an invaluable opportunity for decision-makers to see first-hand the expertise, compassion and effectiveness of residential treatment services across England. By opening their doors to commissioners, local authorities, probation services and health leaders, providers can help strengthen understanding, improve collaboration and ultimately increase access to life-changing support.

The speeches from people with lived experience were particularly moving and served as a powerful reminder that recovery is possible when people are given the right support at the right time. I hope this campaign will encourage greater engagement with residential services and contribute to a more joined-up and effective treatment system for the future.’

The initiative has three main aims:

• Improving understanding of residential treatment models, outcomes and governance.
• Strengthening relationships between community, residential and aftercare services.
• Building support for policy and commissioning reforms to ensure long-term sustainability.

Attendees also heard from people in recovery about the impact residential treatment had on their lives, alongside providers who highlighted both the effectiveness of their work and the challenges created by current funding arrangements.

A central online calendar will list participating open days, supported by a shared communications campaign to maximise engagement across the sector.

Penny Williams, chair of Choices Rehabs, said: ‘Open Houses 26 is about opening doors—not just to our services, but to greater understanding of what recovery looks like and how residential rehabilitation changes lives. For too long, residential treatment has been viewed from a distance, despite the evidence of its impact on individuals, families and communities.

We are proud to have collaborated with partners across the sector to launch this initiative in Parliament and to create opportunities for commissioners, policymakers and system leaders to experience residential services first-hand. Seeing the dedication of staff, hearing the experiences of people in recovery and understanding the complexity of the support provided can help challenge misconceptions and strengthen confidence in residential treatment.

At a time when demand for effective addiction support continues to grow, it is vital that we work together to ensure people can access the right help at the right time. Open Houses 26 provides a unique opportunity to showcase the expertise, compassion and outcomes delivered by residential services across England, and to build stronger partnerships that support long-term recovery.’

Organisers are encouraging commissioners, policymakers and system leaders to visit a participating service during September and engage directly with staff and residents. Details of all participating providers and open days are available at www.openhouses.org.uk.