A community-driven approach to alcohol and drugs recovery in South Lanarkshire has been praised by the Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing.

During a recent visit to The Beacons in Blantyre, Joe FitzPatrick commended the project on its ‘innovative, compassionate and person-centred’ approach.

The Beacons is a recovery hub where people facing challenges with drugs and/or alcohol can access support.  It’s also a place for families who are concerned about a loved one’s alcohol and or substance use to get help.

A key component of The Beacons approach is investing and training volunteers/people with lived experience of alcohol and drugs to provide peer support.

Mr FitzPatrick said: “The Beacons is a very impressive service – it’s recovery model is based, fundamentally, on compassion and empathy.

“People with experience of drugs and alcohol dependency, who are equipped with training, are walking alongside and supporting those on their road to recovery.

“Coupled with professional expertise, lived-insight and knowledge the network that has been created is evidently making a real difference – and providing real hope – to those who have reached out.”

South Lanarkshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership recently commissioned Liber8, a registered charity, to host and manage The Beacons. People across South Lanarkshire have access and two further hubs, in Lanark and Cambuslang, are scheduled to open in the near future.

The community-based ethos of The Beacons is reflective of South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership’s Building and Celebrating Communities programme, which seeks to identify and build on areas of community strength.

Carol Chamberlain, Strategic Lead of South Lanarkshire Alcohol Drug Partnership explained: “Our vision is to ensure that visible outreach and recovery is embedded into local communities.

“We look to do this by developing a model focussed on wellbeing, care and support. The Beacons offers a healing environment where the challenges – and trauma that can be associated with alcohol and drugs – are completely understood.”

Liam Purdie, Chair of the Alcohol Drug Partnership Board, added: “The Beacons offer a non-judgmental, holistic service run at the heart - and with the support - of communities”.

“I’d encourage anyone impacted by problematic use of alcohol and drugs to get in touch.”

For more information, contact: The Beacons 01698 755926, 1 Station Road, Blantyre G72 9AA  Email:admin@thebeacons.org.uk

Picture above: Joe FitzPatrick, Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, with representatives of The Beacons and South Lanarkshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership