Drug And Alcohol Abuse Charity Receives £492k Lottery Grant

Published on: 18 Aug, 2015
Updated on: 18 Aug, 2015

A Guildford-based charity that helps people with drug, alcohol and mental health issues has received a grant of £492,000 from the Big Lottery fund.

It means that Catalyst will continue to providing counselling for its clients as well as supporting affected family and friends.

Its Reach Out project has been running for four years with Big Lottery support and the trained volunteer counsellors and group facilitators have worked with hundreds of people to help them and their friends and families.

Up to 5,000 hours of counselling is offered every year throughout Surrey.

The deputy CEO at Catalyst, Sue Murphy, said: “We are delighted that the Big Lottery has recognised the difference that counselling can make and have funded us again.

“Often people who use substances are dealing with traumatic events in their lives and counselling can help people gain the skills needed to find other ways to deal with difficulties. Working together helps people tackle their problems and builds stronger communities.”

Catalyst was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in June for the work of its volunteer counsellors.

More information at www.catalystsupport.org.uk