Nacoa announces ‘Widening Access’ project
Nacoa has launched a new project aimed at better understanding the needs of the diverse communities using their services.
The Nacoa helpline is unique because it is available to everyone affected by their parent’s drinking in the United Kingdom. No matter where you are, your age, or what is your cultural background, the helpline is here with no judgements. Through the Widening Access project, Nacoa is seeking to increase awareness of Nacoa’s availability, as well as to learn how different communities are affected by parental drinking.
Recognising the struggles that some minority or marginalised communities face, Nacoa is working to hear what barriers may exist to people finding help. Nacoa is proud to be working to help people from Punjabi and/or Sikh background alongside organisations Bac-In, Sab Ke Seva, No More Pretending, Sikh Recovery Network and Punjabi Al-Anon.
SHAAP and AFS letter on uprating MUP
Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) and Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS) have written a letter to the Scottish Government calling for the minimum unit price (MUP) in Scotland to be increased to 65p per unit, with the price to be kept in line with inflation.
The letter was co-signed by 28 additional leading health organisations and charities, including the AHA. This call to increase MUP to 65p received widespread media coverage including from the BBC, The Herald, and The Scotsman.
SHAAP and Scottish Women’s Football: new sponsorship kicks off
SHAAP were delighted to renew their partnership with Scottish Women’s Football (SWF) during International Awareness Week on Alcohol Related Harm, and SHAAP will sponsor the SWF National Performance League for season 2021/22.
With SHAAP’s support, the league enables youth players to aim towards senior and elite performance. Meghan Gallacher MSP submitted a Motion with significant cross-Party support, which included that the Scottish Parliament commends SHAAP for their work to help make the case for rejecting alcohol sponsorship and applauds SWF for rejecting sponsorship by the alcohol industry.
Alcohol Awareness Week at Scottish Families
Over Alcohol Awareness Week, Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs published several blogs to highlight the theme of alcohol and relationships. The blogs included insight from a family member, a recovery journey and a friend who supported and witnessed that recovery journey.
Scottish Families also published an episode of their podcast Life with Alcohol and Drugs looking at alcohol and relationships, taking feedback from our family support groups and sharing people’s thoughts and opinions on the topic.
Events
Sustainability seminar series: Alcohol industry sustainability commitments
Institute of Alcohol Studies
12 January 2022
Managing drugs and alcohol problems in primary care conference
Royal College of General Practitioners and Addiction Professionals
24–25 March 2022