The national charity, Ypeople, has a new name, Right There.

Y People applied to deliver 1 to 1 outreach support to people who have problems with drug use in Orkney. Its funding application was successful and it will receive £288,207. The fund is managed by the CORRA Foundation on behalf of the Scottish Government’s National Drugs Mission.

Throughout Scotland  77 initiatives working with people affected by drug use are to receive awards totalling more than £25 million over the next five years including:

• £6 million to 16 organisations providing residential rehabilitation and pre and post rehabilitation support to enable them to further enhance their services.
•  38 awards totalling more than £10 million have been made to organisations who support people through recovery
•  23 projects working with children and families have received funding of almost £9.5 million.

Highlands and Islands SNP MSP Emma Roddick said:

‘I am delighted that local services in Orkney will benefit from an additional £288,207 from the national Improvement Fund and the Children and Family Fund that the SNP Scottish Government established last year.

‘This funding will enable services to increase and improve support provided to those affected by drug and alcohol use including their families. 

‘A whole family approach is needed to ensure more people can access treatment and recovery that is right for them at an earlier stage.  Supporting family members in their own right is also important as for every single person struggling with drugs or alcohol there are, on average, 11 other people affected.  

‘This additional investment will help local services in Orkney to work together and respond to problems earlier to prevent children, young people and their families from reaching the point of crisis.’

The aim of the national mission is save and improve lives through:

• fast and appropriate access to treatment and support through all services
• improved frontline drugs services (including third sector)
• services in place and working together to react immediately and maintain support for as long as needed
• increased capacity in and use of residential rehabilitation
• more joined-up approach across policies to address underlying issues

Drugs Policy Minister in the Scottish Government Angela Constance said:

“I am pleased that so many organisations doing valuable work around the country are to benefit from this latest round of funding from our Improvement Fund and Children and Families Fund.

“The grants awarded will enable services to increase and improve the support available for people suffering from addiction and of course, their families.

 “I am determined that the £250 million we are investing in tackling this public health emergency will make a difference and we will continue to prioritise our efforts to turn this crisis around.”