Firstport

We provide a befriending service to people determined to conquer their opiate or alcohol addiction. We give them unconditional, non-judgemental support throughout the entire process from detoxification to achieving employability. We finance our activity partly from social enterprise and this is planned to become the sole source of operating income over a 5 year period. We have a charity shop and are just opening a community publishing house/print shop plus a groundwork scheme all of which also provide work experience for our 'friends'. We have 3 full time employees who are trained counsellors and around 12 volunteers. 2 employees and 5 volunteers have themselves recovered from drug and alcohol dependency. We have recently begun to help young people address their alcohol dependendy issues.

For the Right Reasons focuses its activities in the Merkinch/South Kessock are of Inverness, which consists of 4 NIMD datazones that are amongst the most deprived in Scotland. Our research shows that there are about 6 times the national per capita numbers of peopla with drug addiction and about twice the national average with alcohol dependence. The social cost of drug dependency in the area is about £8 million per annum so we have an enormous challenge but also a significant potential impact on the community.

1. 60 Grant Street
2. Inverness
3. IV3 8BL

• Tel: 01456 459 353
• Website: www.fortherightreasons.org.uk

• Full time staff: 3
• Part time staff: 1
• Volunteers: 12
• Operational Since: September 2006