Amelie Peek replies to Sir Keir Starmer MP

Dear Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP

Thank you for replying to my letter and for acknowledging the impact alcohol has on families like mine.

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.

My dad died from alcoholism. It was horrible. Schools, doctors, no one would help us. Teachers told me to stop talking about it because I was upsetting my classmates. No one seemed to have any training to help.

Then I found Nacoa. They couldn’t fix what happened with my dad. But they’ve helped me to understand what I went through and make healthy choices for myself. Because of them I know there is help for me.

Yet in 2021, all money for children of alcoholics like me was cut, including funding for Nacoa, the only charity here for kids like us all over the country. I know that is so wrong and hurts future generations.

In February 2025, I delivered you my letter to 10 Downing Street. I was honoured to speak with your Policy Advisors and even meet Rachel Reeves. It was a proud moment. I felt truly heard and hopeful for real change.

I also appeared on Good Morning Britain, supported by my mum, Nacoa ambassador Calum Best and TV hosts Ed Balls and Kate Garraway. We met Jonathan Ashworth who is a child of an alcoholic too.

After that day, the Nacoa helpline saw a massive rise in calls many people told me they didn’t know there was help for them.

But after the media went away, we did not hear anything from you for ages.

Then your letter arrived. It seemed to forget all the things we talked about that day.

Nacoa told me you didn’t even reply to their emails.

It really deeply hurts to feel ignored like that.

Please help Nacoa to help the children of alcoholics so they can be happier and have someone to talk to and understand them. I miss my dad so much and so does my brother.

I would be so happy if you could help us please.

You understood before. Please try to understand again and make a change.

Kindest regards,
Amelie Peek