Grants worth a total of £1.61 million have been allocated to community-based drugs organisations and support services in Scotland, providing access to treatment and residential rehabilitation.
The Local Support Fund – for groups with an annual income of under £1 million – issued 24 awards. Recipients included the Navigator project, run by Medics Against Violence, which will get £37,256 to help patients who attend Emergency Departments access appropriate local services after discharge.
Grants of up to £100,000 were awarded to 17 organisations under the Improvement Fund which supports services leading to fast access to treatment, residential rehabilitation and initiatives which help drug users address the underlying challenges they face. The Moving On project in Inverclyde which provides counselling for people in recovery was among the successful applicants.
This round of funding is from the £18 million package announced in March to support the national mission to reduce drug related deaths and improve lives.
Drugs Policy Minister Angela Constance said:
“I am pleased we have been able to support these organisations to improve and extend their services.
“The Local Support Fund will help community based projects increase their capacity so they can reach more people who experience problem drug use and offer increased support to them and their families.
“The Improvement Fund supports initiatives which lead to quick access to treatment and help for families. It can also be used for residential rehabilitation and to provide access to additional support, such as mental health services, to enable people to address any underlying challenges they face.
“Over the next five years we will spend £250 million on addressing the drug deaths crisis, £100 million of which will go on improving the provision of residential rehabilitation and I will update Parliament on progress in this area after the summer recess.
“As I have said before, I am determined that every penny of this additional funding will make a difference to all those affected by drug use in Scotland.”
Director of Medics Against Violence Christine Goodall said:
“Medics Against Violence are absolutely delighted to have been given the opportunity to expand the capacity of the Navigator Project.
“This project provides relational and responsive support for people who are at risk or in crisis, so this expansion will play an important role in keeping even more people safe and connected. We hope that by continuing to working together with partners we can support people towards safer and healthier lives.”