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Sheffield Alcohol Support Service (formerly known as Sheffield Alcohol Advisory Service) is a registered charity set up over thirty years ago to provide community alcohol services for Sheffield. The organisation has evolved over the years and now hosts a number of different projects. |
Sheffield Alcohol Support Service, in partnership with Families Together has been funded by Comic Relief to employ a Young Person’s Alcohol Worker. This is a brand new service to SASS, which will provide interventions for young people whose alcohol consumption is at a hazardous level. We are delighted to welcome Lee Sheriffe to the role, and know that his experience in youth work and substance misuse will be a valuable asset to the team. For the last three years Lee has worked exclusively in the field of alcohol, both here at SASS and for Sheffield Health and Social Care at the Fitzwilliam Centre. His remit is to work primarily with young people aged 16-25, but he can also work with 11-16 year olds either individually, with their families, or in an education/youth club/criminal justice setting. This will be a uniquely person-centred service, taking into account the young person’s particular needs, strengths and aspirations in order for them to get the best from support. The service will offer the following: • Partnership working • Outreach • Educational workshops to raise awareness and reduce alcohol-related harm • Group work and 1-2-1 • Brief or longer-term interventions • Access to activities/trips out through the ARC project • Drop-in sessions, e.g. at universities, schools, youth groups • Home visits • Time-flexible, so can book in sessions to suit
To discuss potential referrals with Lee please contact him via one of the following: t. 0114 2506964 e. lee.sheriffe@sheffieldass.org.uk Charity Seeks City’s Reformed Drinkers
The role models, referred to as Recovery Coaches, will form part of a project at Sheffield Alcohol Support Service (SASS) where volunteers can effectively work as one to one coaches for people trying to change their drinking habits. An essential part of becoming a Recovery Coach is to have had a previous problem with alcohol and the charity is appealing for people across the city to come forward and offer their time. Alcohol addiction affects 4% of the population in England and local analysis has estimated there are 85,637 people drinking at hazardous levels in Sheffield. But along with the thousands who are affected on a daily basis there are significant numbers of people who have moved on from their addiction and these are the people SASS would like to speak to. As Manja Wolfram, SASS Volunteer Coordinator, explains: “We are looking for people who have had a significant period of abstinence and are available to support people on a 1:1 basis for 1-2 hours per week. The Recovery Coach project is all part of SASS’ model of recovery and significantly differs from the traditional sense of a sponsor who concentrates solely on abstinence. The Recovery Coach acts much more as a community resource/role model; celebrating achievements but also encouraging people to rebuild life aspects while in recovery, such as engaging with people from non-problematic drinking circles.” SASS will provide all volunteers with in-depth training, including NOCN level 2 accredited training, to help them acquire the tools to successfully support people. If you would like to get involved and fit the criteria please contact Sheffield Alcohol Support Service on 0114 2587553 or arc@sheffieldass.org.uk  Are you one of "Britain's Hidden Alcoholics"? Do you have a problem with alcohol? Do you feel it's time to make changes? Do you want support? Then call 0114 258 7553 or email: arc@sheffieldass.org.uk Santa and his little helpers The children of Families Together got a surprise visitor as Father Christmas took time out of his busy toy making schedule to visit their Christmas party. Dressed in his signature red suit, with wispy beard and black boots, Father Christmas made a guest appearance to hand out presents to children whose families have been through a really difficult year. Santa didn’t do it alone though, he had some help from the Hallam FM Cash for Kids team who have been busy collecting toys from the Sheffield community to hand out to underprivileged children. For many of the families we work with Christmas can be a difficult time as many are away from loved-ones or struggling with financial hard-ship. “The donation of toys was absolutely brilliant as we could really take the pressure off parents and it was a delight seeing the children’s little faces light up as they unwrapped their very own present.” Teresa Clayton, Senior Practitioner, Families Together It wasn’t just the children who got a surprise as retailers John Lewis and Lush donated goody bags of smelly’s and soaps to treat the parents. So a huge thank you to all involved: Father Christmas, the Hallam FM Cash for Kids team, John Lewis, Lush and particularly the parents for coming along and getting stuck in.
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Sheffield’s leading alcohol charity is appealing for people who have previously had an alcohol problem to come forward and become role models for those who are trying to stay sober.