News

VOLUNTEERS FROM a Wales-wide recovery and employability programme are picking up a fresh insight into the Secret Life of the Chester Zoo as part of a new tie-up with the major attraction. Keilie Wycherley is one of a group who are giving their own time to help thousands of daytrippers enjoy their visit, enhance the zoo’s conservation efforts, and develop their own skills. She is a participant in the Cyfle Cymru [.....]

Fresh life chances delivered by £7m investment in new employability scheme Thousands of people with a history of drug and alcohol misuse and mental health issues will be given fresh life chances by a new employability scheme backed by EU funds and the Welsh Government. Cyfle Cymru will provide peer mentoring, training and confidence-building life skills for some of the most vulnerable people in Wales, helping [.....]

National substance misuse consortium DACW has adopted a new brand as it welcomes mental health charity Hafal as its newest member. The newly-expanded group will focus its work on Developing a caring Wales. DACW secretary Clive Wolfendale said: “Our new brand reflects DACW’s overriding ambition to make Wales a more caring place for people with substance misuse and mental health issues – and to ensure everyone [.....]

Drug and Alcohol Charities Wales has underlined its commitment to the armed forces by signing a Corporate Covenant with the Ministry of Defence. The agreement – signed by DACW director Clive Wolfendale on behalf of the consortium – has now been formally registered with the UK Government. DACW partners already provide effective, innovative support to armed forces veterans and their families through the delivery [.....]

You are cordially invited to our event to celebrate the successes of our two veterans’ services; ‘Change Step’ and ‘Listen In’ on Monday 19th October 2015 from 13:00-16.30 at Portland House in Cardiff Bay. During the celebration we will share with you the work that our Change Step Peer Mentors and Listen In Development Officers have delivered over the past 2 years supporting veterans and their families across [.....]

Drink Wise, Age Well is a UK wide programme funded by the Big Lottery Fund (BLF).   The programme aims to influence and inform policy and practice in preventing alcohol misuse amongst adults aged 50 and over.   The fund outcomes are: Better informed policy and practice about preventing alcohol dependency in later life. Improved health and well-being for people age 50 and over who are at risk of developing [.....]

A pioneering initiative, which aims to offer guidance and support to military veterans and others with post traumatic stress disorder and other psychosocial problems is now available across Wales for the first time. The launch event will take place at the Pierhead Building, Cardiff Bay at 12pm on Wednesday 1 October, 2014.  The event will include keynote addresses by Kirsty Williams AM and Change Step patron, [.....]

A career accountant, Lynn Bennoch joined CAIS in August 2006 following previous posts within higher education and local government. In her capacity as Deputy Chief Executive and Commercial Director, Lynn oversees the charity’s financial affairs and also leads a number of key projects. She has responsibility for the Wales-wide Peer Mentoring Programme, an employment-focused scheme working to secure training [.....]

Ifor Glyn is originally from North Wales graduated with a BA degree in Communications at Bangor before moving South Wales to study to become a social worker at Swansea University. His first employment in the substance misuse field was with Swansea Drugs Project in 1990 as an outreach worker and later as its deputy director. After 8 years working with the agency, Ifor moved to the statutory sector and helped [.....]

Led by North Wales charity CAIS, Change Step is a peer mentoring and advice service for military veterans and others with post traumatic stress disorder and a range of psychosocial problems who want to make positive changes to their lives. With the help of a community grant from the Armed Forces Covenant they plan to offer gardening services to help maintain war graves in the six local authorities in North Wales. [.....]