Changing lives: In my view…Maggie Williams, NORCAS chief executive.
Posted on | March 30, 2010 | No Comments
How wonderful it is to see the first signs of spring finally starting to appear around us! Of course the arrival of the new season also means that the prospect of a general election is ever more imminent, which may well bring with it a new political landscape and inevitable changes to the environment within which we operate.
We also know that whichever party ends up in power, we face a challenging period where there is likely to be increased demand for the services we provide, but less money to fund them.
Thankfully at NORCAS, we have been planning ahead for some time and are well prepared to face these challenges head on with lots of positive energy! It has been a very busy six months since our relaunch in September 2009, when we announced a series of changes that would ensure we are in the best possible shape to continue to meet the increasing demand for our services.
Since then everyone involved with the organisation has been working hard to effectively implement these changes.
Our new brand identity has been very well received and our ongoing media relations campaign, which began at the time of the relaunch, is successfully raising awareness and building the reputation of the charity. The new NORCAS website is regularly receiving more than 1,800 unique visitors per month and enquiries from those interested in volunteering have also increased significantly. Referrals to the charity have also continued to increase, with there being a sharp increase in self referrals since the relaunch.
Substance misuse is a public health problem and so we need interventions that minimise harm and health inequalities. It affects communities; but addictive behaviour is often an indication of other deeper rooted problems, which must be treated as well as the symptoms. The bottom line however, is that substance misuse is deeply individual and personal, which requires a diverse range of treatments. One-size does not fit all and we need a range of options to help every individual tackle their problems at any one time.
At NORCAS we believe that change happens together and whatever the political environment come June, we are urging everyone to work together to utilise the resources we have, as wisely as possible, to protect and enhance the communities we live in.
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