News
This month saw the Accreditation Panel at Alcohol Focus Scotland welcome the 1000th successful volunteer alcohol counsellor through its two year accreditation programme. Barbara Dunn from Orkney, who works with Orkney Alcohol Counselling and Advisory Service,(OACAS) was given a certificate with the milestone 1000 as her registration number. When asked how she felt reaching candidate number 1000 Barbara said ‘really wonderful’
Barbara graduated through taking part in the full volunteer alcohol training programme which has a long history of supporting the development of alcohol counsellors in Scotland. The programme has been updated to provide more flexibility by including the ‘stepping stones’ of the COSCA Counselling Skills Certificate and the COSCA approved Fast Track alcohol counsellor training within it. The focus continues to be on preparing people to help those with alcohol problems, or those affected by alcohol problems, through using cognitive and behavioural therapeutic interventions with a person centred ethos.
Barbara says ‘The training has really changed my life. Before I was quite judgemental but the training has opened a new door and I’m really enjoying the whole experience, I really appreciate the chance I’ve been given’. She will continue to see people affected by alcohol problems, often on a weekly basis, and along with her fellow volunteers play an important part in providing frontline alcohol services in Scotland.
For more information or to see where your nearest agency offering help with alcohol or substance misuse problems please see the ‘Getting Help’ page of our website
http://www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/getting-help