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CARDS (Community Alcohol Related Damage Service) is a befriending service which provides emotional health and social networks to service users through volunteers. CARDS has an active partnership with the NHS Alcohol Referral Unit based at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. This allows us to build relationships with people who are enduring a health crisis related to alcohol, before they return to the community.
What does CARDS do?
CARDS service is driven by the input of over 50 volunteers. We utilise the breadth of unique life experiences to match up each individual who comes to us for support, with somebody who meets all of the criteria that they have stated will enable them to get the most out of the relationship.
It’s a simple formula, but it works because it is based around what the individual thinks is best for themselves, not the service. Our volunteer pool includes students, retirees, people in recovery from addictions themselves, and even some Social Care professionals who appreciate the opportunity to throw off the ‘professional’ gloves and get a chance to just BE with people. The influence of the third of our volunteers who are ‘Peer’, has served to enhance our practice. The unique life skills and insights that they bring has helped the non ‘Peer’ volunteers to learn about selfcare, appropriate sharing and the debilitating effects of stigma.
Key facts:
- Operates in the community across Edinburgh
- Over 50 active volunteers
- Staff member based at NHS Alcohol Liaison Unit
- Specialist in social isolation and issues related to long-term alcohol addiction
- Partnership with Alcohol Concern to create training for Licensed Trade
How we apply our 3 principles to CARDS
Accept
We accept that there are those that will continue to drink alcohol.
CARDS does not promote a Recovery model, or an interventionist approach.
Support
We support people with the one thing they say that they are motivated towards, which is to be more social. As people become more social, they drink less, as they drink less they are able to be more social.
Include
We include everyone in the conversation, service users, staff, volunteers, local and national government. We include the voices of lived experience, from those who come to us for support, and those who offer it.
Copyright © 2024 EVOC is a company limited by guarantee No. SC173582 and is registered Scottish charity No. SC009944.
Registered Office: 525 Ferry Road, Edinburgh EH5 2FF