The Elms | UK’s First Women-Only Detox Centre

The UK’s first women’s only detox centre

A safe, supportive space tailored to women’s needs.

About The Elms

The Elms will be the UK’s first dedicated women’s only detox centre, providing a safe, healing and nurturing environment for women recovering from drug and alcohol use.

Via, the charity behind The Elms, has supported people affected by drug and alcohol use for more than 30 years. We run community and residential services across the UK, and every day we see how urgently women need a safe, gender-responsive space to detox and continue their recovery journey.

The Elms will offer:

Specialist medical detox support tailored to women’s needs

Psychologically-informed care delivered by experienced professionals

A secure and supportive space for stability and personal growth

Holistic therapies, including mental health support, peer mentoring, and wellbeing activities

Our approach is built on the belief that personal recovery is possible for everyone, and The Elms will provide women with the tools, care, and community to rebuild their lives.

Your support can make The Elms a reality. Help us build a place where women can find safety, connection, and hope.
Anna Whitton, CEO

Why The Elms matters

Women face unique barriers when seeking treatment for drug and alcohol use, yet there are currently no detox services designed just for them. The Elms will be a first of its kind: a safe, specialist and supportive space created specifically to meet women’s needs and help them move forward.

The reality:

1 in 2 women in treatment have experienced domestic abuse

Drug- and alcohol-related deaths among women are increasing

The number of women losing custody of their children due to drug and alcohol use continues to grow

Women are less likely to seek help due to stigma and caregiving responsibilities

A gender-responsive approach improves recovery outcomes

At The Elms, we’re not just offering detox, we’re offering hope, care, and a path forward.

Join the journey

The vision

The Elms will be built in stages, ensuring long-term sustainability and impact, with a clear road to success:

📍 Phase 1 – Securing funding & community partnerships

📍 Phase 2 – Renovation & facility development

📍 Phase 3 – Hiring and training specialist staff

📍 Phase 4 – Opening doors to the first residents

We are working closely with local authorities, healthcare professionals, and community partners to ensure that The Elms becomes a sustainable and trusted resource for women in need.

Be part of the journey

Your support makes The Elms possible.

There are many ways you can be part of the journey:

Donate – Every contribution, big or small, helps build a safe space where women can heal and rebuild.

Spread the word – Share our mission with your network to help us grow.

Partner with us – Join us as a funding or service partner and play a role in the transformation of women’s recovery services across the UK.

Change a life today – Donate now

Every contribution creates change.

Be part of this change.

Every woman deserves the chance to recover in a space that understands her needs. With your support, The Elms will become a reality. Join us in creating a space where women can heal.

Be part of her journey – Donate now

We’re creating a safe, supportive, and nurturing space designed specifically for women, where they can focus on their wellbeing without fear of judgment.
Jane Simons, Clinical Director and Clinical Lead

FAQs

Why do women need a dedicated detox centre?

Right now, there are no detox services in the UK designed exclusively for women and that’s a gap we can’t ignore.

Women face unique challenges when it comes to drug and alcohol dependence, often shaped by a range of factors, including trauma, domestic abuse and the fear of losing their children. These experiences can often demand a different kind of support. Care that’s safe, sensitive, and built around women’s needs.

The Elms will be the UK’s first women-only detox centre, offering expert medical care in a psychologically –informed*, supportive setting. It will be a place where women can continue their personal recovery free from fear, stigma or judgement, in an environment designed to help them heal.

* Psychologically informed environments are designed to be inclusive, safe and welcoming, taking into consideration the emotional and psychological needs of those we serve and of people who work in the environment.

Where will the Elms be located?

The Elms is located on the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire border, in a peaceful countryside setting that offers space, privacy and calm. It’s the kind of environment where women can continue their recovery journey with dignity, surrounded by nature and supported every step of the way.

How will my donation be used?

We’ve secured a beautiful building with spacious grounds, now we need your help to transform it. Your donation will go directly towards refurbishing the space into a warm, trauma-informed environment where women can feel safe and supported. You’ll be helping to fund clinical care, psychological support and long-term recovery planning. It’s all about creating an environment that feels safe, welcoming and built for recovery.

When is The Elms expected to open?

The Elms is expected to open towards the end of 2026. We’re working hard behind the scenes to create a warm, welcoming space where women can feel safe and supported on their journey.

What unique challenges do women face in recovery?

Women face distinct and often hidden challenges when it comes to drug and alcohol recovery. Many carry experiences of trauma, including violence, loss, or deep social isolation, that aren’t always visible or easily recognised. For some, recovery includes navigating motherhood, grief, or systems that may have failed or re-traumatised them.

We know that:

Drug-related mortality rates continue to rise for women.

Women who use drugs experience gender-based abuse at up to 25 times the rate of the general population.

Substance use is a growing factor in child removal cases.

Women with drug, alcohol or mental health problems accounted for 40% of maternal deaths within a year of pregnancy (2015–2020).

That’s why The Elms is being built. It will offer a safe, women-only space designed with these realities in mind, providing medically managed detox, psychological support and care that recognises the strength it takes to ask for help.

Women deserve more than a one-size-fits-all approach to recovery. They deserve a place made for them.

How many women will The Elms be able to serve each year?

With 16 beds available, The Elms will be able to support approximately 104 women every year. Each with the space, care and dignity they need.

Why is crowdfunding necessary for The Elms?

Via is a charity and while we’ve secured the building for The Elms, we need your support to bring it to life. That’s why we’re turning to people like you. Your support will help us create a safe, welcoming space where women can start or continue their journey with dignity, care and hope. Every donation brings us closer to opening the doors of The Elms.

What happens if the crowdfunding goal isn’t reached?

We’re fully committed to making The Elms a reality, no matter what. If we fall short of our crowdfunding goal, we will bridge the gap through other means. But the more we raise now, the more we can invest in making the building a truly outstanding, healing space for women. Your donation doesn’t just help us open the doors, it helps us open them right.

Are there other ways to contribute besides donating money?

Yes! There are many ways to get involved beyond making a financial donation. Whether you’d like to offer your time, skills, furnishings, materials, or something else, we’d love to hear from you. Every contribution helps us bring The Elms to life. Please get in touch to talk about how you can support the project.