Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care (SDAC) is a limited company and registered charity. It has a free phone telephone number and all the services it provides are free of charge.  In 2011 we were delighted to be the recipient of the Queen’s Award for voluntary work, which recognises the vitally important work that our helpline volunteers do.

The charity is managed by a Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Board of Trustees.  The position of Co-ordinator is contracted in.  The Trustees take on additional roles, such as a Marketing Lead and Outreach Lead.  Other members of the Board take an active role in fund raising activities or other required functions.

Telephone Helpline

The charity provides a confidential free helpline number that is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year giving support, information, guidance and signposting to drug and alcohol users, their friends and families and those with mild to moderate mental health concerns within Surrey.  The service also assists professionals and other organisations with signposting to services or treatment providers.

The telephone line is staffed by a team of up to 40 volunteers, all of whom are trained by the charity in listening skills, the effects of drugs and alcohol, mental wellbeing and the follow-on services that can be offered to people wishing to get help. The volunteers can refer callers into treatment services within 7 days and significant others into counselling services. They are ready to receive calls at any time of the day or night for 365 days of the year, thereby providing a continuous service for those in need of help with addiction problems or struggling with mental health.

As the helpline is advertised on the SDAC website and social medial platforms, it is also available to callers outside of Surrey and advice and direction to their local services can be provided.

An SMS service for clients who suffer from hearing difficulties is accessible between the hours of 9am to 2pm Monday to Friday.

In 2019-2020 we received over 900 calls for help and referred 200 people into treatment of which 86% successfully engaged.

Telephone Counselling Service (TCS)

In 2010 SDAC became the first organisation in Surrey to operate a Telephone Counselling Service.  A team of professional British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Registered Counsellors staff this free of charge service.

The client base for TCS often includes those who are deemed hard to reach, due to disabilities, non-attendance at walk in services, people in rural areas without access to suitable transport, those with child care issues or high-profile users.  TCS offers people with substance misuse dependencies and their families a 12-session programme of counselling.  Referrals can be made directly through the SDAC helpline or through their GP or other local agencies.

Many mainstream mental health agencies will not engage with people who are still using substances and our service may be their only option for support.  People with drug or alcohol problems often have other needs which have a high impact on public services.  These may include domestic violence and family breakdown leading to the intervention of Social Services, criminal activity requiring the involvement of Police, Courts and Probation and additional calls on the NHS and adult social care resources.

In 2020 TCS piloted a bespoke and intensive telephone Boot Camp (BC) recovery programme. It now forms part of the services offered by SDAC and its success led to a weekly Boot Camp Recovery Group (BCRG).

Funded by SCC, TCS will launch a pilot Drug Related Death counselling service in Spring 2021.

Outreach

SDAC has an outreach programme providing educational talks or workshops for schools, colleges and other community groups such as Scouts, rugby clubs.  We are constantly working on developing this service and will hold a Young People’s Festival in July 2022 which will include interactive and creative workshops around drugs and alcohol and mental wellbeing and outdoor activities.  This will be available to PRU’s and schools in Surrey.

Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care (SDAC) is a limited company and registered charity. It has a free phone telephone number and all the services it provides are free of charge.  In 2011 we were delighted to be the recipient of the Queen’s Award for voluntary work, which recognises the vitally important work that our helpline volunteers do.

The charity is managed by a Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Board of Trustees.  The position of Co-ordinator is contracted in.  The Trustees take on additional roles, such as a Marketing Lead and Outreach Lead.  Other members of the Board take an active role in fund raising activities or other required functions.

Telephone Helpline

The charity provides a confidential free helpline number that is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year giving support, information, guidance and signposting to drug and alcohol users, their friends and families and those with mild to moderate mental health concerns within Surrey.  The service also assists professionals and other organisations with signposting to services or treatment providers.

The telephone line is staffed by a team of up to 40 volunteers, all of whom are trained by the charity in listening skills, the effects of drugs and alcohol, mental wellbeing and the follow-on services that can be offered to people wishing to get help. The volunteers can refer callers into treatment services within 7 days and significant others into counselling services. They are ready to receive calls at any time of the day or night for 365 days of the year, thereby providing a continuous service for those in need of help with addiction problems or struggling with mental health.

As the helpline is advertised on the SDAC website and social medial platforms, it is also available to callers outside of Surrey and advice and direction to their local services can be provided.

An SMS service for clients who suffer from hearing difficulties is accessible between the hours of 9am to 2pm Monday to Friday.

In 2019-2020 we received over 900 calls for help and referred 200 people into treatment of which 86% successfully engaged.

The helpline is primarily funded by Surrey County Council (SCC).

Telephone Counselling Service (TCS)

In 2010 SDAC became the first organisation in Surrey to operate a Telephone Counselling Service.  A team of professional British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Registered Counsellors staff this free of charge service.

The client base for TCS often includes those who are deemed hard to reach, due to disabilities, non-attendance at walk in services, people in rural areas without access to suitable transport, those with child care issues or high-profile users.  TCS offers people with substance misuse dependencies and their families a 12-session programme of counselling.  Referrals can be made directly through the SDAC helpline or through their GP or other local agencies.

Many mainstream mental health agencies will not engage with people who are still using substances and our service may be their only option for support.  People with drug or alcohol problems often have other needs which have a high impact on public services.  These may include domestic violence and family breakdown leading to the intervention of Social Services, criminal activity requiring the involvement of Police, Courts and Probation and additional calls on the NHS and adult social care resources.

In 2020 TCS piloted a bespoke and intensive telephone Boot Camp (BC) recovery programme. It now forms part of the services offered by SDAC and its success led to a weekly Boot Camp Recovery Group (BCRG).

Funded by SCC, TCS will launch a pilot Drug Related Death counselling service in Spring 2021.

TCS is funded by private donations and awards from local trusts and businesses.  

Outreach

SDAC has an outreach programme providing educational talks or workshops for schools, colleges and other community groups such as Scouts, rugby clubs.  We are constantly working on developing this service and will hold a Young People’s Festival in July 2022 which will include interactive and creative workshops around drugs and alcohol and mental wellbeing and outdoor activities.  This will be available to PRU’s and schools in Surrey.

Outreach is funded by private donations and awards from local trusts and businesses.