SUPPORT to conquer addictions from compulsive eating to gambling is being offered to the Bradford public for the first time by a health and well-being charity.

Shipley-based ARCH is now extending its services, by using its 30 years experience working with substance abusers, to support others across the district struggling with different types of addictive behaviour.

ARCH manager Julie Helliwell is hoping the new Transform service will soon see it changing more lives for the better by running a series of group sessions, rooted in cognitive behavioural therapy.

The charity workers believe people can be victims of their own thoughts but can make positive change by becoming more aware and in control of how those thoughts are influencing their behaviour.

Ms Helliwell said the decision to open up its free services to the public was after it recognised that the skills it has been teaching drug and alcohol addicts can be used in other areas to break difficult, entrenched habits.

It wants to hear from people ready to make changes and get help by joining in its new enhanced group work sessions.

For the past four years the Bradford branch of ARCH, which now works out of Shipley Town Hall, has been delivering group work to people at risk of offending or already in the criminal justice system.

Its Intuitive Recovery work sessions is run over four meetings, providing people with the skills and tools to recognise and control their addictive desires and to take responsibility for their choices and behaviours.

Ms Helliwell said: "Addiction tends to be hidden but we want people to get it out in the open and break down stigmas attached.

"It is possible to change thoughts that will change these behaviour patterns. People are not all that different, whether its drugs, alcohol, food or gambling, we've all got something we can change about our thinking.

"ARCH is about health and well-being , we wanted to be able to offer more services to more people. We want to reach out to as many as possible, looking for more venues, offering our help to local community groups and training up volunteers.

"There's a lot of people out there who would get amazing benefits from our support.

"Our thought was that after 30 years of helping drug and alcohol addicts change why not open it up to people who are struggling with their weight or those with gambling and shopping addictions seeking immediate gratification."

Venues for group sessions would be spread out in different communities depending on the demand and possibly the type of addiction.

To find out more about getting help, call ARCH on 01274 809800.