Forth Valley Family Support Service

We offer support to anyone in Forth Valley over the age of 16 who is affected by someone else’s drug or alcohol use. 

To find out about support available in Forth Valley contact 01786 583299 or fvfamilies@sfad.org.uk or call our National Helpline on 08080 10 10 11

You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

We also take referrals from all external agencies – make a referral here.

What We Offer

Support comes in a range of different sizes. In Forth Valley, we offer:

One-to-One Support

We can offer you one-to-one support if you would like to speak to someone, in confidence, about a loved one you are concerned about.

We will offer you time and space to explore the issues affecting you, let you express your thoughts and feelings, and help you to come up with ideas and solutions to move forward. Common topics include improving communication, setting boundaries with your loved one, and looking after yourself.

Each support session lasts around one hour, and the frequency can be arranged to suit your needs. We travel across Forth Valley and frequently use rooms in libraries, community centres and treatment services to meet with family members. Alternatively, support can be arranged via phone or video calls (Zoom etc).

Group Support

Currently, in Forth Valley, we are facilitating in-person Family Support Groups in Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling. These are open groups, for anyone 16+ affected by someone else’s substance use.

Most Family Members are anxious about joining a group and often will say – “I’ll come but I probably won’t say very much”. That’s rarely the case, sharing experiences with others who really ‘get it’ and are willing to share what they have experienced can bring a sense of relief, make you feel less isolated and help you find a way to cope with your situation.

If you want to talk to someone before attending email fvfamilies@sfad.org.uk or call 01786 583 299.

Dates and times for our groups can be found here.

CRAFT

(Community Reinforcement Approach & Family Training)

At Scottish Families, we love using a programme called CRAFT.

CRAFT is a set of 7 structured sessions and is a solution-focused, skills-based programme with a strong evidence base. It involves role-plays to help you practice new skills and has small assignments and tasks which you will be asked to do away from the sessions.

If you would like to learn more about the CRAFT principles, this is something we can deliver either 1:1 or in group settings.

Additional Support

Project Balance – Since 2019 the brilliant Angie Harron (Miss H Yoga) has been running Project Balance for us, offering Guided Meditation, Reiki, Yoga and Massage. For any enquiries about Project Balance, contact fvfamilies@sfad.org.uk 

Creative Coping –  This group is a space to explore the things we enjoy doing that bring us peace and tend to go out the window when we are under immense amounts of stress. The group is held in the community and online, we experiment with a variety of outlets from crochet to oil pastels. Each member is encouraged to bring along their chosen activity and we provide the space and the resources to experiment. The aim is to empower people to use these things in their own time to manage their emotions and to connect with other people who can provide the support they need. The group are invited to join a closed Facebook group where we share what we have been up to to inspire and motivate one another.

For any enquiries about the Creative Coping Group, contact Gillian- fvfamilies@sfad.org.uk

Drop in Sessions

The Forth Valley Team are available across the community at various drop-in -links to calendar sessions, where they’d be happy to have a chat with you.

If you want to talk to someone before attending contact fvfamilies@sfad.org.uk or call 01786 583 299.

Access to Naloxone

Naloxone is a drug that can reverse the effects of opioid drugs like heroin, methadone, opium, codeine, morphine and buprenorphine. It is only effective for opioid overdoses and won’t work with any other drug.

We are now able to provide naloxone directly to anyone living in Scotland who is over the age of 16 through our ‘Click & Deliver’ take-home naloxone service, you can visit our Take Home Naloxone page to order a kit.

Support to Access Bereavement Counselling

If you have lost someone who used alcohol or drugs, our bereavement service is here to support you. We can chat and offer some advice and information. We also can put you in touch with an accredited counsellor who is local to you. Our service is free and is available across Scotland.

Our Forth Valley Family Support Team:

Lena McMillan – Forth Valley Family Support Development Officer 

Lena has worked for over twenty years in the third sector, in both paid and voluntary positions, and qualified as a counsellor in 2005 and has been employed as a Recovery Support Worker and as a counsellor working with both adults and young people affected by their own or someone else’s drug or alcohol use.

Magali Redding – Forth Valley Family Support Development Officer 

Magali joined Scottish Families in December 2023. She has over twenty years of experience working in the charity sector in front-line and management roles across causes such as the environment, autism, physical conditions, social isolation and mental health. Before joining Scottish Families, Magali gained an MSc in Psychology while working as a Mental Health Practitioner and Befriending Services Manager, which followed a 10-year entrepreneurial adventure as the founding CEO of a UK-wide support charity for families affected by childhood eczema.

Gillian McHendry – Forth Valley Family Support Officer

Gillian first started working in social care 16 years ago in youth homelessness and then progressed into criminal justice and addictions. She discovered that her strengths lay in relationship building, empowering people to find their voice and supporting them to use it. Gillian is passionate about using creative outlets to improve your overall health and well-being and loves having the ability to promote creative coping within her role.

Brian Scott – Forth Valley Family Support Assistant

Brian previously worked for the UK’s largest disabled persons’ organisation where he supported disabled people in employment, volunteering, and education. He led on the organisation’s work on reducing poverty and tackling hate crimes. He has worked in both the public and the third sector supporting those facing exclusion, discrimination, and deprivation. He is passionate about providing person-led services; the value of peer support and empowering people to use their voice to change society. 

Gavin Heron – Forth Valley Family Support Assistant

Gavin joined Scottish Families in January 2024. He has lived experience of living with a family member who had problems relating to their substance use and mental health as well as substance-related bereavement. Before joining Scottish Families Gavin worked in the cosmetics industry as a supply chain manager and has experience working within the voluntary sector for The Unity Centre focusing on providing practical & emotional support for those in the UK asylum & detention systems. Gavin also sits on the board of Crew, an Edinburgh-based charity which aims to reduce drug-related harms through a variety of evidence-based methods such as counselling provision & harm reduction initiatives.

We use cookies. By browsing our site you agree to our use of cookies.

Accept