Prevention through Invention

CrossReach – Prevention through Intervention

Children affected by alcohol misuse are more likely to go on and misuse alcohol themselves as young people and adults. The specific impact of parental drinking on children is often overlooked in the wider policy context and has not resulted in widespread services for children or families affected by alcohol misuse.
 
80,000 - 100,000 children are affected by parental alcohol misuse in Scotland. Research shows that parental alcohol misuse is a risk factor in contributing to poor school outcomes for children. Children often miss school or find it difficult to concentrate with generally poor performance and low aspirations to succeed. Many children also comment on difficulties in making friends and present as very isolated, and can find it really difficult to seek help or talk openly about what is going on due to a sense of shame, guilt, fear or embarrassment. Alcohol misuse by parents has been identified as a factor in over 50% of child protection cases. Children are more likely to experiment with alcohol at an earlier age and more likely to progress to problematic use where they had grown up with harmful parental drinking.
 
In contrast the CrossReach Sunflower Garden project based at Simpson House in Edinburgh is being further developed to support children affected by parental alcohol and drug use. Established in 2003, it uses a range of ways to support children and young people including one to one work and group work. Sunflower Garden offers therapeutic support to children and young people (5 to 14), building their confidence and resilience. Managing Co-ordinator, Glenn Liddall says “We can offer children alternatives – another way to look at things and respond. A place where they can express how they feel and what they’re worried about. The research outcomes for children affected by alcohol use doesn’t make for pleasant reading – but we know from Sunflower Garden – that things can be different”. “We call it Prevention through Intervention”.
 
Simpson House Counselling located in the same building can offer counselling to adults affected by their substance use and others. A range of training courses are also provided in the fields of children & young people; substance use & dependency; counselling & supervision and people skills.
 
For more information visit: www.simpson-house.org
 
Book a Prevention through Invention Workshop place at The Gathering on 24 February 2011 http://tiny.cc/l8jl7