Pictured: Dr Jonathan Ward, CPA Limited, Hannah Liptrott,
Breaking Free Online, Ian Fairclough, Investment Manager for the
Exceed Fund and Dr Lloyd Humphreys, CPA Limited
A highly innovative internet-based treatment programme for
people dependent on alcohol or drugs has had an investment of
£380,000 from the Exceed Fund, managed by Birmingham-based
Midven.
West Midlands-based Breaking Free Online's treatment programme
harnesses a wide range of evidence-based psychological
interventions to help people understand and overcome their
dependence on alcohol or drugs. Designed to be interactive,
engaging and very easy to use, it gives people instant access in
their own homes to confidential treatment for their substance
misuse difficulties.
Ian Fairclough, Investment Manager for the Exceed Fund, said:
"Breaking Free Online is a company with great potential.
Computerised treatment for psychological problems is now well
accepted both in the UK and overseas and this product has the
potential to expand rapidly.
"Breaking Free is a very high-quality treatment programme yet is
priced to be attractive to drug and alcohol treatment services and
healthcare providers, including in the primary care sector. Much of
the hard work and costs have already been incurred in getting the
product to where it is today, and the company can potentially
generate a significant level of turnover with a relatively low cost
base."
Breaking Free Online, which is based at Keele University Science
and Business Park, was spun out of Clinical Psychology Associates
Ltd (CPA). Co-directors and owners of CPA, Dr Lloyd Humphreys and
Dr Jonathan Ward, have invested significant time and resources in
producing the Breaking Free treatment programme.
"We have worked hard over the past two years to develop an
online treatment programme that is genuinely engaging and powerful.
Computer-based therapy is now recommended by the National Institute
for Health and Clinical Excellence and is becoming an increasingly
important method of delivering treatment for addictions and other
psychological problems. This funding from Midven is providing
a major boost, enabling us to grow the business much more
rapidly," said Dr Humphreys.
For more information about Midven, please visit their website
here: www.midven.co.uk