A COLCHESTER company has been awarded a five-figure sum in funding as it continues to support the community.

Blossome, a not-for profit Community Interest Company for those affected by substance abuse, has been awarded £60,000 in funding from Essex County Council.

Founded by Kim Moore in 2021, following her own struggles after living through her late husband’s alcohol abuse, Blossome offers a ‘safe and brave space’ to members of the community that have been affected by a loved one’s alcohol abuse.

It supports people across north and mid Essex.

The new funding, awarded to the community by the county council, will cover Blossome for the next two years, enabling the development of Blossome’s self-compassion training programme.

Kim said: “Self-compassion is at the heart of Blossome,

“It’s about treating yourself with self-compassion and kindness,

“We’re creating our own ‘inner self-compassion coach to help us through adversity."

The new programme will consist of six weeks in in-depth training, centred around self-compassion, taking into account the trauma and mental health challenges people in the community face from being in an environment involving active substance abuse.

The funding gives Blossome the ability to look for and reach out to more people who may be suffering, encouraging them to come forward and ask for support.

In Colchester and Tendring training will be delivered, in person, on Saturday mornings – as well as an online option.

In Braintree, Chelmsford and Maldon training will be delivered online only.

Kim said: “This funding from the council is recognising that there is a gap for support for families who have suffered for so long without support.

“Changing your life is hard, it requires a supportive environment – you’re more likely to stick to something if there’s others beside you doing it too.

“We learn and practice together and it’s the practising that changes lives – this is why I do it, it means so much."

For more information on Blossome, visit www.blossome.support