Nacoa UK

'I spent countless nights staying up with her, making sure she got to bed safely, pleading with her that she didn’t need to turn to alcohol anymore. What I didn’t fully understand at the time was that change has to come from within – no matter how much love, care, and effort you give. Because of seeing her put herself through this pain, I vowed to channel my own suffering into compassion and action for others. I witnessed some of the darkest moments of her life on a daily basis, and while it was challenging beyond words, it has shaped me into the person I am today. Those who have been in my position will understand how painful it is... Knowing that you can’t control their choices or make the decision for them to change.’ 💙🙏 Thank you Joe for sharing so honestly. Your love shines through! Read Joe's full piece here: https://lnkd.in/ewS7MSwU Please do send huge love 💙 in the comments. It's heartbreaking that kids like Joe was are still NOT hearing the message: I can’t control it I can’t cure it I can take care of myself I can communicate my feelings I can make healthy choices Our mission is to change that for good. And one by one, we can share the message and break the silence. https://lnkd.in/ewS7MSwU #URNotAlone #childrenofalcoholics #adultchildrenofalcoholics #acoa #coa #adultchild #sober #RecoveryisPossible #addiction #alcoholism #FYP

"I am so grateful to the people and spaces over the last 8 years that allowed me to face the darkness. Where I could access the COurAgeous Confidence to stop running away and start leaning in. To find the ‘me’ underneath the trauma and survival, and finally begin to heal and empower myself." A huge thank you to Jess for sharing her personal experience ahead of taking part in the Leicester half marathon this weekend. 💙 Good luck Jess! 🎽 Read her experience here: https://lnkd.in/eQzhYnic #COA #ACOA #ChildrenOfAlcoholics #AdultChildrenOfAlcoholics

Can you help to support Scott, Ian and Josh with their incredible fundraising challenge? Find out more about their Chasing Yesterday Marathons, and drop us a line if you'd like to discuss sponsorship: 🎥 https://lnkd.in/d6RQDDmX

‘Behind his bright smile, he fought a silent battle. As teenagers, we felt the weight of his struggle in ways we couldn’t yet name... It’s heartbreaking that he won’t be at our weddings one day or to see us become fathers ourselves. We’re committed to raising awareness about alcoholism and its impact. So last weekend we ran the West Coast Half Marathon for Nacoa! ‘Dad’s love lives on in us. Through every laugh we share every story we tell, every Liverpool game we watch. And every step we take to support others.’ 💙 Read full article: https://lnkd.in/eKyhC8C2 So delighted to report that Quinn and Charlie completed the half marathon over the weekend. Raising £1,700 to support children like them affected by parental addiction. In memory of loving dad, Karlos. 'We share your story to honour his memory, to acknowledge the complexities of his life, and to support Nacoa’s vital work in helping families like ours navigate the challenges of addiction.' #URNotAlone and You Never Walk Alone #childrenofalcoholics #adultchildrenofalcoholics #acoa #coa #adultchild #sober #RecoveryisPossible #addiction #alcoholism #FYP

As a COA, appearances don’t often match the reality. We guess at normality. Underneath the veneer, there lies the cracks of anxiety, hypervigilance, and exhaustion. And we face this so often alone. Don’t talk, don’t trust, don’t feel. 🎙️ In our new episode, psychotherapist, a animator and film maker Quint Boa shares what it was like growing up with his actor dad Bruce Boa, facing his own addiction, and finding recovery through storytelling and therapy. Episode out now on the Children of Alcoholics Podcast feed. Full video up on the Nacoa UK YouTube. #childrenofalcoholics #adultchildrenofalcoholics #acoa #coa #adultchild #sober #RecoveryisPossible #addiction #alcoholism #FYP

A huge thank you to the incredible runners who took part in the Cardiff Half Marathon yesterday to fundraise for us! 💙 Together, they’ve raised over £2,600 to support children affected by their parents’ drinking 👏👏👏 Here’s what some of them had to say about taking part… 🏃♀️ Jess 🏃♀️ “What an amazing day it was! It was my first half marathon, and running to raise money for Nacoa made it even more special. I’d like to say thank you to everyone behind the scenes, helping all those children like me.” 🏃♀️ Kelly 🏃♀️ “Running for Nacoa was an amazing experience. Dad left us last October, so being able to turn this anniversary into something positive was really special. This was my first half marathon - I started running in January just to do this! I wanted to give something back to Nacoa after all the support they gave me.” 🏃♀️ Carly 🏃♀️ "Running gives me a way to focus and feel like the past doesn't have to be all negative when sometimes it can get too much being a COA. I've lost my mum twice - as a child and then when she died. All the training, sweating, commitment, time and aches are worth it to cross the finish line and feel the satisfaction and achievement that it gives you. Nacoa and all their staff are true heroes. They helped me 31 years ago. I'd have been lost without them." 💙💙💙 If you're inspired to fundraise for us, we'd love to hear from you. Follow the link in the comments to find out more ⬇️ #Nacoa #COA #ChildrenOfAlcoholics #ACOA #AdultChildrenOfAlcoholics

My mother was an alcoholic. (and, yes, for probably the first time in my entire life, this IS a serious LinkedIn post). My childhood was hard. Scary. Confusing. I was often frightened to go back to the very place that was meant to be my home. I prayed, and I cried, and until I was 28(!), I never told anyone what life was really like for me and my family. ❌ In some ways, my upbringing made me weaker. ✅ But in many ways, it also made me stronger. These days, I’m determined, and stubborn, and driven, and I don’t let my mental health problems win. … and that’s one of the reasons I do tough physical challenges to raise money for charity. And so, that leads me onto my next one: 📣 In early 2026, I'm gonna attempt to run the entire length of northern England's Tyne-Wear Metro public transport system, within 24 hours. It's gonna be horrible and gruelling, and I think it's 73 miles (118km) 📣 I’m doing it to raise money for the charity Nacoa UK, who help and support the kids of alcoholics (that’s 1 in 5 kids in the UK). I want to spread the word as widely as possible, to raise as much money as possible. So—a quick follow on Instagram can help me to reach more people, and ultimately raise more money. I’ve put my Instagram link in the comments of this post—please follow me there. Btw, in future LinkedIn posts, you can expect more silliness, and made-up stories, and a complete inability to take any part of this platform seriously. I won’t be doing these serious posts very often. It’s not my usual style. Thanks for reading, you heroes—and thanks in advance for following me. ------ ✏️ Oh, and in other news, I currently have space for one more client. If you want content that isn't mind-bendingly boring, send me a message ✏️

'Instead of happy memories of him tucking me in at night or cheering me on at school, my memories are full of tension, fear, and disappointment. I never knew which version of him would walk through the door. The one who was light-hearted and joking, or the one whose temper and drinking made me shrink into myself. Children of alcoholics become experts at scanning a room, at reading body language, tone of voice, and silence. It’s survival. Some of my strongest memories aren’t of comfort but of fear. Like the time he chased me up the stairs, a man twice my size, gripping a t-shirt between his teeth as he came into my room, and then beat me. Experiences like that shaped how unsafe I felt in my own home I learned to make myself small, quiet, and invisible, even putting a lock on my bedroom door so I felt a sense of safety... When you’re a child, you don’t understand that it’s the alcohol controlling them. You just feel like you’re not enough to make them stop. That belief cuts deep...' 💙 Read Rebecca's full powerful experience piece here: https://lnkd.in/ekww5Eda There's so much in the full article we couldn't fit into this post, about setting boundaries, late life recovery, coping with death and then grief. Rebecca is tagged in on Instagram if you would like to send a message there. But we'll also share with her any comments from here on Facebook with all your warmth and love in the comments. We want you all to know how much strength it takes to share experiences like this. None of this was your fault. We share so we all can know we are not alone, and support is here for you, whenever you’re ready. Your story matters, and by speaking out you’re helping to break the silence for others too. #URNotAlone #childrenofalcoholics #adultchildrenofalcoholics #acoa #coa #adultchild #sober #RecoveryisPossible #addiction #alcoholism #FYP