Aquarius
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| Category | Support community |
|---|---|
| Founded | June 3, 1977 |
| Address | Birmingham, UK |
| Official website | https://aquarius.org.uk |
| Help and Support | |
| Help & Support settings | Phone, Online, One-to-one, Group session |
| Helpline hours | 09 am – 17 pm |
| Helpline number | 03004564293 |
| [email protected] | |
| Social Media | |
| Visit | |
| TikTok | Visit |
| Visit | |
| Visit | |
| X (Twitter) | Visit |
| Last Updated | 23.03.2026 |
UK Midlands-based charity providing free, confidential support for people affected by alcohol, drugs, and gambling.
What is Aquarius
Aquarius (operating name of Aquarius Action Projects) is a registered charity (No. 1014305) headquartered in Birmingham.[1] It delivers free, confidential support services to adults and young people affected by alcohol, drugs and gambling, as well as to their families and carers.
As of 1 April 2026, Aquarius formally merges into Waythrough, continuing to operate as Waythrough's Midlands area, with no changes to services or staff.[2]
Role in the industry
Aquarius is a GambleAware and GamCare provider for the Midlands.[3][4] It is part of the National Gambling Support Network and partners with organisations including Betknowmore and EPIC Restart to deliver wraparound gambling care. It delivers substance use services under NHS and local authority contracts. Its workplace arm, Aquarius Life, provides employer training and consultancy on alcohol, drugs, gambling, and wellbeing. In 2024/2025, over 82% of clients referred to the Gambling team were seen, with 50% successfully completing treatment.[5]
History and Reach
| Year | Milestone | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Founded | Established as part of a Birmingham University research project to develop interventions for people with alcohol problems[6] |
| 27 September 1989 | Incorporated | Registered at Companies House as Aquarius Action Projects, a private company limited by guarantee (No. 02427100)[7] |
| 24 September 1992 | Registered charity | Registered with the Charity Commission under number 1014305[8] |
| 2014 | Aquarius Life launched | Workplace wellbeing arm created through a partnership with a large automotive organisation to support employees with substance use issues[6] |
| 1 June 2024 | New parent formed | Richmond Fellowship merged with Humankind Charity to create Waythrough, which became Aquarius's new parent organisation[9] |
| 1 October 2024 | Waythrough name launched | The merged parent charity formally launched its new name, brand, and strategy[10] |
| 1 April 2026 | Merger with Waythrough | Aquarius formally merged into Waythrough, continuing to operate as Waythrough's Midlands area with no changes to services or staff[11] |
Support Options
| Support Type | Description |
|---|---|
| One-to-one sessions | Individual sessions with a practitioner tailored to the person's goals and circumstances |
| Group sessions | Structured group sessions for adults, with separate groups available for men and women |
| Outreach | Support delivered in the community, reaching people who may not attend a fixed location |
| Family and carer support | Advice and support for family members and carers affected by someone else's gambling[12] |
| Young people's gambling service | Free, confidential gambling support for young people and families in Birmingham for those under 25[13] |
| Adult gambling service | Free gambling support for adults 18 and over, accessible via self-referral or professional referral[14] |
| Trainings | Evidence-based workplace wellbeing training on alcohol, drugs, gambling and mental health[15] |
| Healthy Futures | Free, expert-led drug and alcohol training for professionals and community members[16] |
Aquarius alternatives
| Community | Country | Help for Problem Gambling |
|---|---|---|
| Gam-Anon | Global | Find a meeting |
| Gamblers Anonymous (GA) | Global | Find a meeting |
| SMART Recovery | Global | Find a meeting |
| GambleAware | UK | Find local support |
| GamCare | UK | Find local support |
| Evive | UK | Find support |
| GamLEARN | UK | Get justice support |
| GamFam | UK | Visit website |
| Gambling with Lives | UK | Get help |
| Betknowmore (BKM) | UK | Get help |
| Adferiad Recovery | UK | Get help |
| Gordon Moody Association | UK | Get help |
| EPIC Restart Foundation | UK | Get help |
| Breakeven | UK | Find support group |
| Ara Recovery for All | UK | Get help |
| GamblingCare | IE | Get help |
References
- ↑ https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1014305
- ↑ https://aquarius.org.uk/aquarius-to-merge-with-waythrough-in-april-2026/
- ↑ https://aquarius.org.uk/services/gambling-support/
- ↑ https://www.gambleaware.org/media/dcejgkpl/annual-statistics-report-23-24.pdf
- ↑ https://aquarius.org.uk/services/adults/gambling/
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 https://www.aquariuslife.org.uk/who-we-are/
- ↑ https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02427100
- ↑ https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/1014305/
- ↑ https://www.waythrough.org.uk/news/uks-biggest-charity-merger-promises-a-waythrough-for-people-dealing-with-drug-and-alcohol-mental-health-and-housing-challenges/
- ↑ https://www.waythrough.org.uk/
- ↑ https://aquarius.org.uk/aquarius-to-merge-with-waythrough-in-april-2026/
- ↑ https://aquarius.org.uk/services/adults/
- ↑ https://aquarius.org.uk/services/young-people/gambling-yp/
- ↑ https://aquarius.org.uk/services/adults/gambling/
- ↑ https://aquarius.org.uk/services/training/aquarius-life/
- ↑ https://aquarius.org.uk/services/training/healthy-futures/