COA Week 2026 – The next generation 

Earlier this month (9 – 15 February) we celebrated COA Week, which this year had the theme ‘the next generation’. 

It was another action-packed seven days, so here are some of our highlights. 

Paul’s incredible RunTheMetro challenge 

COA Week 2026 kicked off with Paul McDougal, aka the Geordie Challenger, running the length of the Tyne and Wear Metro (73.5 miles!) in 24 hours to fundraise for our work. 

“When I was a kid, I lived with three siblings – and a kind, patient, caring, loving stepdad,” Paul said. “Outside that home, I had many other loving and supportive family members – including the best dad anyone could hope for. But because of my own shame, and my mother’s expert manipulation, we didn’t tell anyone what life was really like at home. And so, no one knew.” 

Paul completed this mammoth challenge on Sunday 8 February, day one of COA Week 2026.

Read more about Paul’s challenge

Amelie returned to Good Morning Britain 

Inspirational teenager Amelie Peek returned to Good Morning Britain on Tuesday 10 February. This was ahead of her addressing the House of Commons at our Stafford Ward Memorial Lecture on Wednesday 11 February. 

Now 14, Amelie joined presenters Susanna Reid and Ed Balls alongside her mum Lucy and Liberty X singer Michelle Heaton, who is nearly five years sober. 

Amelie is calling on the government to provide greater support for children living with parental alcohol problems, following the loss of her father to alcohol when she was just 10 years old. 

Watch Amelie on Good Morning Britain

Last year’s breakthrough 

This is Amelie’s second appearance on Good Morning Britain. Last year, she spoke to Ed Balls and Kate Garraway about her powerful letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer before delivering it to 10 Downing Street. 

Later that day, Amelie was invited inside Number 10 where she met Chancellor Rachel Reeves and sat down with the Prime Minister’s chief policy advisors to discuss the urgent need for national strategy to support children affected by parental drinking. 

She then read her letter at the Nacoa Lecture at the House of Commons during COA Week 2025 – a truly breakthrough moment for children of alcoholics. 

Now, a year later, Amelie continues her powerful advocacy for the 1 in 5 children in the UK affected by a parent’s drinking. 

Read more about Amelie’s 2025 letter 

Stafford Ward Memorial Lecture 

This year’s Stafford Ward Memorial Lecture at the House of Commons on Wednesday 11 February brought together politicians, filmmakers, sports figures and advocates – all united by their experience of parental alcohol problems. 

Chaired by Nacoa Patron Camilla Tominey, this was another inspiring, emotional lecture. 

It began with George Freeman MP, Chair of the APPG (All-Party Parliamentary group) on Children of Alcoholics, sharing some of his own story, including how he’d been taken from his father’s arms at just 11 months old. 

Nacoa Patron Tony Adams has been sober for 30 years and spoke with unflinching honesty about the chaos of his past.

He reflected on leaving his young son behind a pub bar for a weekend while he went out drinking, and the gratitude he has now for his sobriety. 

Maleena Pone’s documentary Saving Mum (now on Channel 4) was 30 years in the making. She shared about the two versions of her mother when she was drinking: the version who danced around the house could be quite entertaining; the other was often sobbing and inconsolable, banging her head against the wall while 12-year-old Maleena tried to stop her.

In the Punjabi community, Maleena explained, the shame around mothers who drink runs especially deep. Since the film’s release, countless people have told her about their own parents’ drinking, saying: “I’ve never said this out loud before.” 

This sentiment is at heart of our Widening Access project through which we reach communities – including the Punjabi and Sikh community – where cultural stigma and silence around parental alcohol problems can be particularly powerful.

Ian Stringer – who’ll be taking part in the Chasing Yesterday marathons later in the year – talked about how COAs often try normalise their home life.

A therapist once asked what the pyramid he and his siblings knocked over during childhood skittles games was made from. 

When he told her that it was made up of Skol lager cans, she helped him realise that he was growing up in a home where alcohol was a problem.  

Fresh from his 73.5 mile run, Paul McDougal explained how, for years, he’d avoided Nacoa entirely.

“I was embarrassed and ashamed,” he explained, often fundraising for charities that had less personal resonance. 

Only after his mother’s death did he feel able to connect. Now he realizes his story is helping others find their own resilience. 

A day after her appearance on Good Morning Britain, Amelie – attending with her mum Lucy – read the letter she’s written to Kier Starmer.  

“Thank you for replying to my letter and for acknowledging the impact alcohol has on families like mine,” it began. 

“It’s really good to hear that you are increasing funding to help people who have an addiction. I was sad though that you’re not planning to help kids like me where a parent isn’t getting help or died. 

I want to share more about my journey advocating for children of alcohol-dependent parents, so you can see how real this issue is for us and why it’s so important to specifically support all children affected, especially those of us who are left behind.” 

Needless to say, she was met with a standing ovation.  

Before we moved into audience Q&A, George closed the panel discussion by reflecting that “with privilege comes a responsibility to give back”, a sentiment echoed by all. 

Would you like to join our 2027 lecture? Become a member to receive your invitation

Sam’s Story

We were proud to launch Sam’s Story, a powerful new animated short film created in collaboration with Synima, to mark COA Week 2026.

Sam’s Story captures a quiet moment of fear and uncertainty. Alone in his bedroom, Sam sits curled up, surrounded only by panicked thoughts — the need to stay still and silent, the worry that someone might come upstairs.

Just be really still and quiet. I hope they don’t come up here.

Launched as part of COA Week 2026, Sam’s Story aims to raise awareness, spark understanding, and encourage children, young people, and adults affected by parental drinking to find help.

Breakthrough for COAs in Northern Ireland  

There has been significant progress this year for children affected by parental drinking in Northern Ireland.  

Following a question raised in the Northern Ireland Assembly by Cara Hunter MLA, the Health Minister has now agreed to meet with the Education Minister to strengthen support for children of alcoholics within schools. 

This is an important and welcome step forward. As Cara says, “No child should suffer in silence, no child should be left behind.” 

This progress builds on work begun in May 2025, when Nacoa UK met with Cara at Stormont, home of the Northern Ireland Assembly. 

Read more about our partnership with Cara 

Special episode of In Their Words: COA Lives 

We were delighted to see Nacoa Patron Camilla Tominey join Ambassador Jonathan Ashworth for a special COA Week episode of his podcast In Their Words: COA Lives.  

Camilla speaks openly about growing up with an alcoholic mum, the hidden realities behind a seemingly picture-perfect childhood, and the lasting impact of parental addiction. She reflects on family loyalty, loss, resilience, and how those early experiences shaped her drive, career, and her approach to parenting. 

Watch Camilla in discussion with Jonathan 

Instagram Live Young People’s Panel: The Next Generation 

It was a pleasure to host another of our popular Instagram Live Young People’s Panels on Thursday 12 February.  

We were joined by Jess and Mel who shared their experiences of growing up with an alcoholic parent. They talked about when they first realised their parents had a problem, how their childhood experience continues to affect them and what they think needs to change for the next generation.  

Watch the Instagram Live recording 

Alcoholic Memories 

A big thank you to Andrew, whose experience with his late mum inspired him to write a song he’s shared with Nacoa – Alcoholic Memories.  

Read Andrew’s story 

International webinar 

We joined Nacoa USA, Ireland, Germany, Slovenia and Switzerland to share how each of our organisations is supporting COA Week 2026, working together to raise awareness and improve support for children affected by parental addiction around the world.  

Find out more about Nacoa around the world 

What a week! Thank you to everyone who played a part in letting COAs know that they are not alone.

For more information about our work and how you can get involved, visit www.nacoa.org.uk.