Local MSP Sandra White has today congratulated the Scottish Drugs Forum and Equal Say Ltd on receiving an Investing in Communities grant from the Big Lottery Fund totalling £1,117,029.

The Scottish Drugs Forum received a £596,141 award for its “Addiction Worker Training Project 2012-15” which aims to support individuals who have recovered from alcohol or drug misuse to improve their employability skills and to access jobs in the social care sector by providing a 50 week employability programme to 84 trainees in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Equal Say Ltd received a £520,888 grant which will support parents with learning disabilities to develop their skills and confidence as parents through personalised parenting support programmes and group activities.

Sandra White MSP for Glasgow Kelvin said: “It’s a sad fact that many people who’ve managed to overcome an addiction such as alcohol or drug misuse find it difficult to get a job and that they often lack the necessary support to regain any lost confidence, the “Addiction Worker Training Project 2012-15” will go a long way to addressing these needs

“The grant awarded to Equal Say Ltd is just as welcome as it’ll help many parents who may feel they lack the skills or confidence to be good parents overcome these fears through a series of tailored activities

“Many people rely on support from organisations like these, people who otherwise would find it hard to get that extra bit of support they need and this is fantastic news for the Scottish Drugs Forum and Equal Say Ltd , they already do a great job and this funding will give them the chance to help even more people”