- Charity launches expansion of services in Scotland
A service which provides support for young people affected by
substance use in their family is being expanded to six new areas
of Scotland.
The Routes youth programme, which is run by Scottish Families
Affected by Alcohol and Drugs (SFAD), offers one-to-one and group
support to people aged 12 to 26 and currently operates in East
and West Dunbartonshire.
Now SFAD has formed a partnership with six other charities who
will roll out the programme to East Lothian, Falkirk,
Renfrewshire, North Aberdeenshire, North Lanarkshire and Orkney.
The expansion comes after the Scottish Government announced SFAD
would receive £4 million earlier this year from the Whole Family
Wellbeing Fund as part of the cross-government approach to
tackling the drug deaths crisis.
Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy said:
“Young people living with a loved one who is using substances
need to feel they are not alone.
“They may want to share their experiences, learn more about
substance use and explore how they can achieve their own goals.
“I recognise that the Scottish Government must not only have to
help people who are facing problems with drugs, but also their
family members. Help and support is available from a number of
sources, including dedicated charities like Scottish Families
Affected by Alcohol and Drugs through projects such as Routes and
I am pleased this funding will allow more young people to benefit
from the Routes model.”
Justina Murray, CEO of Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and
Drugs, said:
“We are delighted to see our Routes model expand across Scotland
through this new partnership with six fantastic partner
organisations, supported by the Scottish Government’s Whole
Family Wellbeing Fund. A key part of Routes’ success has been the
involvement of young people from the start – they have shaped
every aspect of our initial Routes programme in East and West
Dunbartonshire, and remain at the heart of this new national
roll-out.
“Our Routes young people are the most enthusiastic, creative and
ambitious ambassadors for the programme’s life-changing impact.
Grow Your Own Routes will allow us to learn how this youthwork
model can support young people affected by family alcohol and
drug use across urban, rural and island communities from Orkney
to East Lothian, and from small to large organisations.”
Background
The delivery partners are:
Aberlour – Falkirk
Action for Children – Renfrewshire
Alcohol and Drugs Action – North Aberdeenshire
Barnardo’s - North Lanarkshire
Circle – East Lothian
Right There - Orkney
The Whole Family Wellbeing
Fund, is a £500 million investment over the life of this
Parliament, shifts investment towards prevention and early
intervention and aims to help family support services to make
transformational system changes to reduce the need for crisis
intervention.
