[our history]
Since our early days as a Norwich-based alcohol service, NORCAS has grown to become the largest independent provider of addiction services in East Anglia. Here's a brief look at the way we've developed our services over the last 30 years.
1978 
NORCAS started in Norwich as a Registered Charity with a grant from the then DHSS, as an alcohol service in the community.
1986
Our expansion began with a pilot drug and alcohol project established in temporary premises in Great Yarmouth.
1987
We opened a resource centre, developed and funded by Great Yarmouth and Waveney Health Authority, at Deneside in Great Yarmouth.
1991
We obtained three years' development funds from Alcohol Concern and the Norwich Mental Health Unit (as it was then) to establish a rural alcohol service in North Norfolk. This service developed into an independent team, closely linked to our services based in Norwich, working in Cromer, Aylsham, North Walsham, Reepham, and Sheringham. This rural service is now part of our Central Norfolk Team, which also works in the south of the county from a Thetford base.
1993
The Health Advisory Service reported on drug and alcohol services in Great Yarmouth and Waveney, and as a result NORCAS was contracted to co-ordinate substance abuse services across these locations from 1 April 1994. The team incorporated and built on work undertaken for many years by Anglian Harbours Trust, and continues to work from premises in Regent Road, Lowestoft. The team also runs the needle exchange schemes in Waveney.
1994
We established a part-time alcohol service, funded initially through joint finance, based in GP practices in Thetford. This has developed into a full-time service operating from rented premises in the town centre, with sessional work from Thetford undertaken in Watton and Attleborough.
1995
We obtained a three-year grant from the National Lottery Charities Board to establish youth services in Thetford, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and surrounding areas. Work with young people has been established in all three urban areas, with the development of a Youth Team. There are also three youth staff seconded to Youth Offending Teams in Suffolk. This team now offers a specialist countywide service that is person-centred and accessible to all young people in Suffolk. Services offered include 1-1 specialist assessment and individual care planning and a range of targeted group work sessions.
1996
The Great Yarmouth service began outreach work with potential and actual drug users to encourage safer practices and greater use of the clinic and needle exchanges. This progressed to a Shared Care Project in September 1997. During 1996 a women's alcohol post, which had been funded by Alcohol Concern as a development project in Great Yarmouth/Lowestoft, also became part of our core services.
1997
The Great Yarmouth team moved into larger premises in North Quay. Today a wide range of services is offered including counselling, advice and information, complementary therapies and a Structured Day Programme. We continue to work in partnership with health and social care as the primary provider of adult services in Great Yarmouth.
1999
NORCAS was commissioned by Health, Social Services and Probation to provide an alcohol service in Ipswich and the small towns in Suffolk (excluding Waveney). In addition, a community support scheme employing three staff was started in Lowestoft. Our Ipswich service now offers clinical and non-clinical counselling and support services, delivering a range of therapeutic interventions using an eclectic approach. Our Lowestoft service now offer daycare services, 1-1 support including counselling, clinical prescribing, residential rehab referrals, needle exchange, and pre- and post-test counselling for BBV and vaccination. In 1999, NORCAS was also first recognised as an Investor in People.
2000
We employed a Training Consultancy Manager to offer drug and alcohol training to other professionals and organisations, a post that was initially funded by NLCB Millennium money. The service now has two trainers and is working towards becoming self-financing through the development of services to businesses.
2002
We established a new senior post, responsible for all aspects of therapeutic good practice and governance. We also started an outreach service for the homeless and vulnerably housed across Norfolk.
2004
The Housing and Homeless Outreach Service expanded to provide direct input into residential premises in Kings Lynn. In partnership with Wherry Housing and the Supporting People Programme, a supported house for five people was developed. The aim of this project is to help the residents develop independent living skills and reintegrate into the community.
2005
We successfully tendered to provide structured day care across Norfolk, and services are now offered in Great Yarmouth, Kings Lynn and Norwich. Our Central Norfolk team continued to offer counselling as a core activity, enhanced by group work, complementary therapies and social activities organised by clients.
2006
The Housing and Homeless Outreach Service won a contract to work with the Drug Intervention Programme (DIP) and Supporting People Programme to provide hostel in-reach support in Lowestoft and to provide a supported housing scheme in Norwich.
2007
Our Lowestoft team was contracted by Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT to provide a service offering clinical input and guidance in the management of inmates with substance misuse issues referred under the Integrated Drug Treatment System, as part of a multi-disciplinary approach within HMP Blundeston.
2008
Our Central Norfolk team successfully submitted a bid to the Big Lottery to deliver support and services to people aged over 50 living in Norfolk who would otherwise not have accessed our services. The project, which is funded for four years, aims to reduce anxiety and improve physical and psychological health.
Penny McVeigh, our former chief executive, retired after nineteen years' service with NORCAS. Our new chief executive, Maggie Williams, took up the post in August, at a challenging time for the organisation. With the external funding environment changing and statutory providers needing to comply with EU procurement legislation, traditional contracting will be replaced with competitive tendering, opening up the market to organisations nationally.
2009
The Board of Trustees agreed a new Vision, Mission and Values and supported our strategy to become the provider of choice to deliver alcohol, drugs or gambling services, and to enable clients to be able to access our services where they live. We embarked on a major change programme, which involved strengthening our structure, rebranding our organisation and developing our finance and funding strategy.
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