Turning Point In £1M Bid To Curb Alcohol Misuse
A £1 million project to aid alcohol misuse has been launched in Carmarthenshire.The Turning Point social care charity has received funding from the Big Lottery Fund to set up the Carmarthenshire Life Skills Project
Drop-in sessions, group work programmes, and individual support will be available at centres in Carmarthen, Ammanford, and Llanelli.
Contact will also be made with village groups.
Help will be given to people with a history of alcohol misuse on how to reduce their drinking.
Information and advice will also be given on job searching, CV writing, interview, and presentation skills.
Turning Point’s locality manager for Wales, Sue Humphreys, said: “There is a desperate need to support those with problems associated with alcohol misuse in Wales.
“All too often the funding just simply isn’t there.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to help one specific group that normally misses out.
“This is an excellent way of getting people with a history of alcohol-related problems to re-engage in society and to live productive lives in their communities in Carmarthenshire.”
Big Lottery Fund Wales country chairman, Huw Vaughan Thomas said: “There is very little funding available for informal life skills work, but Stepping Stones aims to fill that void.
“This and the other projects involved will make a big difference in communities by enabling people to function independently, communicate and integrate with others, and help them adopt healthy behaviours.
“In turn, these skills will help them participate in community life and maximise their training and employment opportunities.”
Alcohol-related deaths have increased more than four-fold among men, and three-fold among women in Wales in the past 20 years, according to a health report.
The report, Alcohol and Health in Wales – a major public health issue, said 170 men and 90 women are likely to die of alcohol related conditions according to the report published by the National Public Health Service for Wales.
With cheaper drink prices, alcohol consumption among young people have risen dramatically in recent years.
