Stage 3

SPACES Work Package Three:  Developing the SPACES tool

Why we did this
Many mid‑life women in the UK told us they want to think differently about alcohol. Some aim to cut down, others to stop, and many simply want space to reflect without judgement. We set out to co‑create a supportive resource with women, not just for them. The result is SPACES: a story‑led website and a short print leaflet version that share real experiences, simple tools, and signposts to help.

How we did this
We worked in five steps alongside our Public Advisory Group (PAG):

1. Listening first (April 2025): two group discussions to understand what makes stories feel real and helpful. Women asked for honest accounts (including the tricky parts), recognition of moderation (as well as stopping), and practical ideas people can use. 

2. Co‑creating stories (May–June 2025): one‑to‑one sessions shaped new stories around five simple elements—the person, context, turning point, what helped, and ‘how it is now’. Drafts were checked and approved by participants

3. Checking design preferences (late June 2025): a short survey asked women what makes websites easy and inviting. Clear themes were identiifed: state the purpose upfront, keep pages calm and uncluttered, avoid moving banners, and use simple navigation. 

4. First design review (July 2025): our designer shared an early website build (created in Google Sites so we could iterate quickly). The group asked for a stronger opening message, clearer pathways (e.g., trying to moderate, trying to stop), and short “quick tips” earlier in the page.

5. Final prototype feedback (September 2025): women said the site felt inviting and easy, especially on mobile, and liked that stories come first. They also suggested keeping FAQs concise and exploring future interactive features.

What we built

• A website with relatable stories, quick tools, FAQs, and links to support; designed to be clear, calm, and mobile‑friendly. Built in Google Sites to enable rapid changes during co‑production.

• A short leaflet for people who prefer print or first encounter SPACES offline. It includes two snapshot stories, paired “Tools for Change,” and a QR code to the full site

What’s happened next
These then moved to acceptability testing: we asked a wider group of women whether SPACES feels useful, inclusive, and easy to use.