Support Scheme Helps Children Affected By Drugs

A Scheme that provides funding to help children in Aberdeen affected by drug and alcohol abuse has been praised in a Scottish Executive report. The Partnership Drugs Initiative (PDI) finances a number of projects throughout Scotland that help tackle the issues surrounding drink and drugs.

An evaluation carried out by the executive found the initiative was making a positive difference to the lives of young people living in households where there were drink or drug problems.

It also received an endorsement from the charities it supports.

In Aberdeen, one of the projects funded by the initiative is the Substance Misuse Outreach Project at Richmondhill House.

Sandra Forbes, a substance-misuse social worker, said: “We work with families affected by parental substance misuse where there is a child under the age of 12.

“Many of the families we work with have previously not been accessing the services available to them and the children are particularly vulnerable.

“The £17,799 we’ve received through the PDI has helped us to continue to deliver an intensive support service for the parents and children we work with.

“This makes a huge difference to the children involved, and also to the local communities in which they live.”

The initiative is a funding partnership between the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland, the executive, the Laidlaw Youth Project and the Atlantic Philanthropies.

Deputy Education Minister Robert Brown said: “It’s great to see the difference we can make when we work in partnership to improve the day-to-day lives of children and young people in Scotland.

“Tackling drug and alcohol abuse is one of the biggest challenges in our age.

“This study shows our partnership working with the voluntary sector has delivered £18.5million to help children and young people affected by drug and alcohol misuse.”