3 days ago
Glasgow group's 60-year fight to tackle drink and drugs crisis
'I used to feel sorry for the men still sitting there at the end of night, drinking,' she recalls.
'They'd finish work at Babcock's in Renfrew on a Friday, pick up their pay cheque, and come straight to the pub to spend it all.'
Anne, who is a senior counsellor with the charity, adds: 'I didn't know what the word empathy meant back then, but I knew I felt something for those people. I wanted to help.
'I saw an ad in the newspaper for GCA and applied, and I have been here ever since.'
Anne McLean joined as a volunteer and is now senior counsellor (Image: GordonTerris/Newsquest)
Glasgow Council on Alcohol is marking its 60th anniversary of helping people affected by alcohol and drug-related harms, with Memory Box, a lovely new initiative for clients, staff, families, funders and friends.
Since 1965, GCA has supported around 200,000 people, and the charity is inviting anyone touched by its work to share their stories in celebration of the significant impact the charity has had.
It is a huge challenge, acknowledges chief executive Lesley Ross.
'We are in an alcohol emergency,' she says, simply. 'Last year's figures for alcohol deaths in Scotland were the highest they have been for 15 years, and we expect this year's to be even higher.
'Each is a life cut tragically short, leaving behind family members and friends suffering their loss, and the impact on society is much wider.'
GCA was set up by Sir Alistair Murray, a successful businessman and financier, in 1965, when he announced in a radio interview that he was an alcoholic.
He sought help in London and returned with the idea to set up an organisation like the Council on Alcoholism founded by Marty Mann in New York - a breakaway group from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
With a group of legal and medical professionals, he established the Glasgow Council on Alcoholism, based in his Gordon Street flats near Central Station.
Early efforts focused on the 'industrial programme,' addressing alcoholism's impact on industry. Senior director John Gray led this, offering rehabilitation to employees whose work suffered due to drinking - an approach ahead of its time in the UK.
The charity now has 55 paid staff and 55 volunteers. Last year, it supported more than 12,400 people through a range of services, including counselling, employability programmes, wellbeing support and specialised help.
'Over the last 15 to 20 years, we have taken a more holistic view,' says Lesley, who joined GCA eight years ago and became chief executive in 2023.
Lesley Ross, CEO of GCA (Image: GordonTerris/Newsquest)
'When people come to us struggling with alcoholism, that's a symptom, not a cause.
'So, we look at the whole picture to try and get to the root cause, and find the right support.'
For senior counsellor Anne, who now lives on the Southside of the city, working for the charity is 'a privilege', she says.
'It can be hard at times, you hear a lot of stories from people in very difficult circumstances,' she says.
'But it's a privilege to be able to help people.'
More than half the people who work and volunteer at GCA have lived experience of the impact of alcohol, says Lesley.
'What family in the west of Scotland doesn't know someone affected by it?' she says. 'There is still a huge stigma around it, and still so much to do.'
The Memory Box project allows everyone with a connection to GCA to share their memories as the charity marks its milestone anniversary.
Lesley adds: 'All memories matter, whether big or small. Those who wish to share stories of their involvement can so do – anonymously if desired – on our website.
'We are looking to collect as many stories as possible as we assess our legacy over the last six decades while planning for our future.'
Neil Macaulay (Image: GordonTerris/Newsquest)
Training manager Neil Macaulay, 70, who is now a qualified practice supervisor and psychotherapist, joined GCA as a volunteer almost 30 years ago.
'I was a teacher, looking for a change of career,' he explains. 'Like many families, some of my relatives and friends had been affected by alcohol problems.
'I love working here. Supporting people to change is a rewarding thing to do.'
He adds: 'To see people who are struggling then manage to make something of their lives – it's great to be part of that.'
The charity will be showcasing the stories, which can be added via the GCA website, at a special event in November at Glasgow City Chambers, and on social media throughout the year.
