Carers in Glasgow receive boost

Families caring for the children of drug addicted relatives are
to receive a boost in respite care services following a new
initiative by Glasgow council.

The local authority is to invest the majority of an additional
£3.9 million granted by the Scottish executive for addiction
services in increasing the level of family support services. The
initiative will help support the children of drug addicted adults
often cared for by grandparents. In addition, seven new addiction
workers posts will be created doubling the size of the team which
has a remit to protect vulnerable children from the effects of drug
and alcohol misuse.

Rab Murray, deputy director of social work for Glasgow council,
said: “This money will provide a significant extension in respite
so that grandparents can get a break from caring and we hope this
provides a basis we can build on.”

More than 50 family support groups across the city stand to
benefit from the initiative. Glasgow is estimated to have
approximately 25 per cent of Scotland’s drug users, but
receives only 12.5 per cent of annual block grant funding from the
Scottish executive to tackle the problem.

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