Thursday 28 March 2024
 6.5°C   NE Fresh Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

News / ‘Severe’ cuts spell the end for CADSS service

CADSS' Lerwick premises, nestled behind the Faerdie Maet (Solotti's) cafe on Commercial Street. Photo: Shetnews

A MUCH valued service for those affected by alcohol and other drug problems is being wound up with immediate effect after falling victim to crippling funding cuts.

CADSS (Community Alcohol and Drugs Support Service) announced on Wednesday that it was regrettably shutting up shop after 25 years.

The service, based on Lerwick’s Commercial Street, has been providing education and support to young people affected by misuse of drugs for quarter of a century.

Adult service users previously given support by CADSS will instead be able to access an NHS Shetland-run substance misuse recovery service.

CADSS was formed in October 2007 following the merger of separate alcohol and drugs services which have been running since the early 1990s. It functioned as a volunteer-run charity supported by grants and public donations.

Efforts have been made in the past 12 months to find a way of maintaining the service amid government cuts to funding for substance abuse.

CADSS board chairwoman Jacqui Diamond said: “The board has not taken this decision lightly. We have been working closely over the past few months with Shetland Islands Council and NHS Shetland to look at ways to find a long-term sustainable position for CADSS, but unfortunately that has proved to be impossible.”

She said that as part of the redesign of substance misuse services, CADSS had suffered “severe” budget cuts over the last two years.

In 2015/16 it lost 57 per cent of its funding and was facing a further 68 per cent cut in 2016/17.

“As a result we have exhausted our reserves,” she said. “Over the past 15 months we have made significant efforts to source external funding to make up our budget shortfall.

“However our lack of success in obtaining the necessary additional external funding has made us realise that in today’s very competitive climate this is unlikely to happen, and as a result we have no option but to cease providing services.”

Become a supporter of Shetland News

 

SIC councillor Cecil Smith, who chairs the SIC/NHS Shetland “integration joint board”, said: “This is obviously very disappointing news, as CADSS has provided a valuable service to our community for many years.

“I can, however, reassure service users and their families that they will continue to be supported.

“The substance misuse recovery service (SMRS) will continue to provide the open access drop-in and needle exchange and informal support for anyone struggling with alcohol and drug-related issues. The SMRS will also arrange for services to young people to continue.”

Smith added that anyone with concerns could contact the substance misuse service on (01595) 743675 or 743006.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.

Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.

Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has  over 600 supporters  who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.

Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -

  • Bring you the headlines as they happen;
  • Stay editorially independent;
  • Give a voice to the community;
  • Grow site traffic further;
  • Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.

 
Categories

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

We're committed to ensuring everyone has equitable access to impartial, open and quality local journalism that benefits all residents.

By supporting Shetland News, you play a vital role in ensuring we remain a pivotal resource in supporting the community.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.