National Mission on Drugs: annual report 2022-2023

Outcome 6: Children, families and communities affected by substance use are supported

7.1 Overview

Families require dedicated support to empower them and allow them to support the recovery of their loved one. They also need access to services to enable their own recovery.

7.2 Progress in 2022-23

7.2.1 Whole Family Approach Framework

We continued to support the implementation of our framework for holistic family approaches and family inclusive practice. In addition to providing investment totalling £6.5 million per year over the life of the Parliament, in 2022-23 the Whole Family Approach Working Group undertook a baselining exercise with ADPs to understand the implementation of the framework so far. This was used to develop a support offer to ADPs to encourage faster, consistent implementation of the principles in the framework.

In September 2022 we worked with local partners in Highland to deliver an event for services and local stakeholders, which included family members to promote the framework. This brought together partners from across Highland to understand the barriers to a whole family approach and identify solutions together.

Highland ADP said, “The collaborative event provided a great opportunity to bring together family members, front-line workers and policymakers to share learning and discuss how to implement the framework across services in Highland”.

Case Study: Families on the front line

In March 2023 we supported Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs and Families Campaign for Change to host Families on the Frontline, the first national conference of its kind for families affected by substance use. This provided space for families to connect and learn, on a range of topics, which included the importance of self-care and how to support the development of the family recovery movement in Scotland. They were then joined by service providers and commissioners to work together to help services strengthen family support and family-inclusive practice through sharing practical ideas.

“It was an amazing conference, and I was really quite inspired by the energy and wisdom of the families that were there – the power of community” (Day Two participant)

“The conference was amazing!! So powerful to see so many families together and I know the individuals we brought along came away feeling positive with a renewed sense of hope and empowerment.” (Family Support worker, attended both days)

We continue to invest more in the Family Recovery Initiative Fund to support even more grassroots family support groups in our local communities, increasing annual investment from £30,000 to £100,000, from 2023. This funding supports a range of groups from small, independent, mainly peer-led voluntary family groups, to small established organisations supporting families that need funding to maintain their programmes, including sessional staff, training, and for new projects.

Case Study: Supporting grassroots family support groups through the Family Recovery Initiative Fund

A community interest company offering drum/sound/meditation and reiki workshops to recovery families throughout Ayrshire and beyond received £3,300 from the FRIF. Their aim is to empower individuals and families to try something new and take responsibility for their mental health and wellbeing at a whole new level, while feeling the benefits and to help shift trauma at a deep level.

The group have ‘made some noise’ and lifted spirits by bringing drums and instruments to the Recovery Walk Scotland 2022. The funding will enable more workshops to more groups and families.

They have reported in their evaluation that “Participants loved the workshops and felt lighter and more present within themselves afterwards. They enjoyed the activities, and some reported there not being many activities a whole family could do together. We were able to reach people we wouldn’t otherwise have been able to.”

Their plan going forward is to continue the work and expand on the services they can offer, do some training, especially to help them build confidence in the facilitation of the drumming. The group are also looking at opportunities to expand their connections and offer their workshops in other parts of Scotland.

Scottish Government are looking to learn from the event in Highland and Families on the Frontline to support more local events which bring services and families together to improve support for people affected by substance use.