Free Help for Families in Gloucestershire

Alcohol and drug misuse is one of the biggest challenges facing society today.

For the parent of an addict they not only live in daily fear, they also often endure isolation and crippling stigma.

The work the Nelson Trust does has been proven to help people affected by substance misuse. The award winning local charity is now in a position to offer help to families whose lives have been damaged by addiction.

The Nelson Trust is running a series of Free Family Weekend Seminars for people living in Gloucestershire which are designed specifically for one or two members of a family affected by drug and/or alcohol misuse to attend.   These weekends do not include the individual who has been affected by their own substance misuse, but is for those who have been affected by that person.

People who have already attended the two days of lectures and workshops say the weekend was invaluable in helping them understand and cope with what their child was going through, Mary said  ‘The weekend seminar helped me focus and understand more about how it came about that my daughter was like she was. It was good meeting other parents - your one of them, and if you can like them, you can’t be so bad yourself.  I admire others for trying so hard and failing, then accepting it’s not their fault’ She added:  ‘I started to notice that my daughter was much more sensitive to mine and other people’s feelings.  It was that Eureka moment when I realised I could trust what she was saying.’

Philip Trenchard, Family Services Manager said ‘The experience of meeting others who are in a similar situation, in significant relationships with a substance misuser, has shown itself to be immensely helpful in reducing anxiety and depression within the family and, ultimately, being more beneficial for the substance misuser.’ He adds ‘Gaining education and understanding as well as practical strategies for managing communication with a substance misuser has also proved beneficial’

The Weekend Seminar covers:

•  Addiction and substance misuse
•  Addiction and substance misuse and its effects on families
•  Family network mapping
•  Understanding anger, shame and other feelings
•  Grief, attachment and loss
•  Communications, boundaries, exploring difference
•  Self care commitment

The weekends are open to any family member of a substance misuser whether or not that person is in treatment of any kind.  If you live outside of Gloucestershire and would like to attend please contact us for more information:

If you would like more information about this service please contact:
The Nelson Trust 01453 885633
Philip Trenchard:  07818 044733

Click the link for more information about our Family Services