£20m to Tackle Addiction.

Addiction in the UK is not a niche issue. It is one of the most complex public health challenges we face, touching families, communities and frontline services across the country.

Recent data from the Office for National Statistics shows that 5,565 deaths related to drug poisoning were registered in England and Wales in 2024, reflecting a long-term upward trend since 2012. At the same time, nearly 330,000 adults were in contact with drug and alcohol treatment services in England in 2024 to 2025, the highest number on record.

Those figures tell two stories.

One is about the scale of the challenge. The other is about engagement. More people are reaching services. More organisations are stepping up. And increasingly, there is recognition that traditional models of support need to be strengthened with smarter, more accessible tools.

This is where innovation becomes less about technology for its own sake and more about expanding reach, improving response times and supporting overstretched teams.

What This Means for Charities and Treatment Providers

For charities, third sector organisations and treatment providers working on addiction every day, digital innovation is not a side project — it’s a force multiplier.

Digital tools can extend reach, reduce friction and save lives. They can provide crisis support outside traditional clinic hours, offer access to life-saving guidance anonymously, and deliver tailored information when people need it most.

The potential becomes clear when you look at how technology complements lived experience — particularly in high-stress, time-sensitive moments.

A Real-World Example: Turning Point

We partnered with Turning Point to design an app focused on harm reduction for people who use opioids — an initiative that illustrates what thoughtful technology can do.

Turning Point is a leading UK social enterprise supporting more than 197,000 people each year. One of its most pressing challenges was that even with increased availability of resources like Naloxone, many individuals struggled to access clear, trusted support quickly — especially in moments of crisis.

Together, we built a mobile app that prioritises speed, accessibility and dignity:

• No sign-in required — reducing friction when it matters most
  
  
• Offline access for key content — essential when connectivity is limited
  
  
• GPS-enabled locator for Naloxone and needle and syringe services
  
  
• Clear, stigma-free overdose response guidance
  
  
• WCAG-aligned accessibility and low-literacy-friendly writing
  
  

Design choices were informed by real user needs and clinical strategy, creating a tool that doesn’t replace services — it extends them.

This is the kind of innovation that can fit neatly into the current funding landscape, while also making a tangible difference in people’s lives.

Turning Funding Into Impact

The current funding programme has two strands:

• Up to £10m for late-stage projects with a clear path to regulatory approval and deployment
  
  
• Up to £1.5m for early-stage ideas that need to show effectiveness and strengthen their foundations
  
  

This structure creates space for organisations at very different stages — whether you already have a digital concept or are just beginning to explore one.

We want to work with you. Not just build for you.

At Arch, we help organisations shape their ideas into robust, evidence-aligned digital products. That means:

• Refining your ideas so they align with user needs and clinical priorities
  
  
• Advising on regulatory evidence requirements and pathways
  
  
• Designing accessible, inclusive user experiences
  
  
• Building scalable technical platforms
  
  
• Articulating impact in ways funders and commissioners can understand
  
  

If you already have a concept ready for funding, we can help you sharpen it.

If you know there is a need but are unsure what shape a digital solution should take, we can help you explore and define it.

The government has opened the door with £20m in funding and structured support. The question now is how organisations working in addiction respond.

Your expertise in harm reduction, treatment and recovery, combined with digital innovation, could unlock solutions that reach people earlier, reduce harm, and save lives.

If you are working in this space and considering digital transformation or innovation, let’s talk. We will help you shape something fundable, scalable and impactful.

The opportunity is here. The need is urgent. Let’s build something that matters.

FAQs: Funding & How We Help

1. Who can apply for this £20m funding?
Eligible applicants include UK-based businesses, charities, and organisations developing innovative solutions for addiction—such as digital tools, MedTech, or new therapies.

2. What types of projects are funded?
The funding supports both late-stage projects ready for deployment (up to £10m) and early-stage innovations (up to £1.5m) that need to demonstrate initial effectiveness.

3. How can Arch help us apply or prepare?
We guide you at any stage. If you have an idea, we’ll refine it for impact and funding alignment. If not, we co-create solutions with you, focusing on user needs, regulatory pathways, and delivery.

4. What if we don’t have a digital product idea yet?
That’s fine! We’ll help identify gaps in your services or unmet needs. Together, we’ll shape an innovation that’s both impactful and aligned to funding criteria.

5. What makes Arch a good partner for this funding?
We combine experience in healthtech with a collaborative approach. We design for accessibility, privacy, and scale—and we ensure your digital solution fits both funding and frontline needs.