Lottery Funding for CASM Group

CASM celebrates after receiving £10,000.00 from the National Lottery to expand their current outreach work, to continue to provide social opportunities for families who access support and increase their presence on Social media.

Local voluntary community group CASM (Carers of those within Alcohol and Substance Misuse), is today celebrating after being awarded £10,000.00 in National Lottery funding to support its work with Carers of those within alcohol and substance misuse. The group based in St Barnabus Hall, Llewellyn Street, Llanelli, will use the cash to expand on their current outreach work, continuing to provide social opportunities for families and to increase their presence on Social Media.

CASM has been running as a voluntary constituted group since 2010 and is staffed by a core group of 10 volunteers, all of who have been affected by a family members substance misuse, CASM  was founded by a lady called Gay Savage to provide much needed support for the carers of those within substance misuse.

The group meet once a week on a Tuesday evening and provide an outreach service for those who need it, they also provide monthly family sessions to include providing  children of the families with fun activities and days out and respite breaks away, the sessions help the children to make friends, while learning new skills and having fun.

While enjoyable, the children are also gaining greater confidence, self-belief and important collaboration skills. At the same time, the group will be able to press on with plans to introduce outreach support sessions for teenagers in schools and colleges within the Carmarthenshire County area.  These sessions will help them to build relationships with others experiencing the same challenges and hopefully enable them to develop their own support network.

Sarah Morris-Herbert Chairperson of CASM, says: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. Now, thanks to National Lottery players we will be able to extend and press on with our plans to broaden the range of opportunities available to local carers and their families. This is important because it helps both the children and the parents to build relationships with others facing similar challenges and to create their own supportive circles of friends and peers, through receiving this funding children can have respite, some have never had a holiday and so the joy it brings to see their happy faces is so rewarding, we’ll also be able to reach out to young adults who are too embarrassed to disclose their situation, by visiting schools and colleges with our information stands it will enable us to build relationships and allow us to build supportive relationships with the young people who are suffering.”

JP , volunteer at CASM,  says: “Securing funding means that we are able to have much needed time out away from the daily pressures that the addict has on the family and our children, being able to include the children is priceless, the joy on their faces is priceless, thanks to the funding we are able to move forward, growing and continuing to reach out to those in need of support.”

NR , volunteer at CASM, says: “ the funding will allow us to continue to give carers a place to find strength, a place of encouragement to carry on, it will allow us to reach out and give invaluable, non-judgemental, emotional support to people like me who may feel isolated.”

AM , volunteer at CASM , says: “ with the new funding we will be able to let schools and colleges know that there is someone and somewhere who can listen, advise, help and support, we can empower the youngsters and give them the platform they need to survive.”