Even though we have seen lockdowns and restrictions remain firmly in place over winter, our support services continue to offer support online and by phone. Our local support services are creating timetables of activities for families and our team are going above and beyond to support anyone who needs it. All of our local support services can be accessed through our Helpline by phone 08080 10 10 11 by email helpline@sfad.org.uk or by webchat www.sfad.org.uk.
Forth Valley Support Service
Our service currently offers one-to-one support and are taking in new referrals from anyone in the local area. There are online groups using WhatsApp and Zoom and one-to-one support over the phone. Lynne, Gill and Lena from the team have put together a timetable of activities for the online group.
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- What’s Your Story?
Suitable for newcomers and existing family members to share their personal experiences of alcohol and drugs.
First Tuesday of the month (next starting March 2nd) 6.30pm – 8.00pm
- What’s Your Story?
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- Connect, Learn & Share
Suitable for anyone who is interested in discussing alcohol and drugs in a wider context, bringing in current events, speakers and videos.
Second Tuesday of the month (next starting March 9th) 6.30pm – 8.00pm
- Connect, Learn & Share
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- A Place to Share
A chance to share day to day worries.
Third Tuesday of the month (next starting March 16th) 6.30pm – 8.00pm
- A Place to Share
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- CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training)
Suitable for families who wish to use this technique to support their loved ones. Learn the CRAFT techniques and discuss how to put them into practice.
Fourth Tuesday of the month (next group March 23rd) 6.30pm – 8.00pm
- CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training)
Aberdeenshire Support Service
Our Aberdeenshire Family Support Service continues to offer one-to-one and group support to family members. Most of the support is carried out over Zoom or by telephone calls. The virtual family support group is open to family members from across Aberdeenshire. It is held every 2 weeks on zoom, alternating between Thursday evenings and Friday afternoons to try and accommodate everyone.
Carly has put together lots of different activities coming up over the next few months. We have a Victoria sponge bake-along with Hannah Gault on Thursday 11th March. There will be an Indian Cooking session on Friday 23rd April with Pushp Vaid. And we will be decorating plant pots and planting bulbs on Thursday 8th April. For more details or to book a place on our activities contact Carly at carly@sfad.org.uk – spaces are limited!
East Dunbartonshire Support Service
The East Dunbartonshire Family Support Service continues to offer one-to-one support and currently has two family support meetings online via Zoom. These meetings take place on a Thursday. Colin continues to provide one-to-one support over the phone or by Zoom. The family members of the group had discussions on the intensity they felt often when using Zoom for the groups. It was decided that the group will have suggested topics and themes for one of the regular meetings. Topics have ranged from Mindfulness Meditation to What is Addiction to how to control an overactive mind. There is now a ‘Chair Yoga’ session three mornings a week! There are plans in place for a writing group and our first session will have published author Frank from Ringwood Publishers as the guest speaker.
South Lanarkshire Support Service
All In The Family are currently offering one-to-one sessions online and over the phone. There is also three online group sessions per week. The group has been busy delivering different sessions including Changing Stigma, Naloxone training, and drug awareness training.
Through February, Emma from SAMH Let’s Talk Project delivered excellent mental health sessions. The Let’s Talk project offers free workshops on a range of topics that are designed around 5 Ways to Wellbeing for adults.
In March they will be offering Alcohol and Drug Workshops online through Zoom delivered by Landed Peer Education Service.
All In The Family also offer a free meditation session every Friday at 9am on Zoom and are looking to deliver other sessions when the need arises.
Follow on Twitter and Facebook @FamilySouthLan for all updates!
Inverclyde Support Service
The Inverclyde Family Support service has been up and running since November and has supported 19 people through 1:1 and Group support over Zoom, WhatsApp and phone calls.
Daryl was featured in the Greenock Telegraph in December, which caught the attention of a few families in need. We’ve started our weekly Wednesday Zoom group, which has become a space to share any difficulties you’re experiencing and brainstorm some solutions.
“… thank you for taking the time to listen to my mum last night, it’s made a difference and I’m so glad she’s finally spoke to someone I feel like last night she achieved something thanks very much.”
Follow on Facebook: @InverclydeFSS
Routes – Young Person’s Group
Routes have been busy during lockdown learning how to cook some pretty amazing meals for their families. Each week our Routes Team shop for and deliver everything needed from utensils to ingredients in preparation for a Zoom cook along with Amanda from FS Training. Amanda shares a step-by-step guide on how to cook a meal, allowing the young people to cook it again without her. Feedback from family members has been fantastic, they are enjoying having a meal cooked for them each week.
“The cooking on Mondays is amazing. I get my money on a Wednesday so we’re always skint by Monday so it’s lovely to know we’ll all get a big lunch not cooked by me for once. The soup was lovely (even the little ones ate it) and the apple crumble was the best I’ve ever had. He was so proud of himself for making it all.”
If you are worried about someone else’s alcohol or drug use, we are here to listen and to help. You can contact our team on 08080 10 10 11, helpline@sfad.org.uk or use the webchat on our website.