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6th July 2011
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
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