The Discovery College is proud to be working with the award winning Family Recovery College to offer a free informal course - Understanding Substance Use and Holding on to Hope. This course will run over 12 sessions between 18/8/2026 and 19/09/2026. To apply for a place please book a ticket . You will need to also complete a application of interest form by following this link https://tinyurl.com/539n5j9p or scanning the QR code at the end of this information. 
Your application will be reviewed and you will be informed if you have been accepted in March. 

This course is for anyone living in Highland who is concerned about someone else’s alcohol or drug use. It will be delivered across 12 sessions face to face in the Discovery College, Eastgate Shopping Centre, Inverness. We will support you to build knowledge, skills, and confidence to support yourself and your loved one. The course will take place in person every second Saturday between 1-3pm, starting on the 18th of April and finishing on 19th September, 2026. Travel expenses for participants may be available - please contact us directly.

Students on the course will: - Increase their positive connection with others - Develop communication strategies to improve relationships - Improve self-care and emotional wellbeing - Improve understanding of substance use through new knowledge and skills - Feel empowered to influence change in their lives and the lives of their loved one.

The Family Recovery College developed this course in spring 2019 with a group of family members who have their own lived experience of supporting a loved one with problematic drug/alcohol use. Our course advisors worked with family members to design, deliver and evaluate the project to ensure that it was helpful and relevant to participants needs. The Discovery College Peer Support Facilitator has completed the course and worked together with Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs to train in the course facilitation and delivery. We will learn with you and tailor the course to suit the needs of the families we will be supporting.

Eligibility

Anyone who is affected by another person’s drug or alcohol use is warmly welcomed – that includes biological and non-biological families, BAME families, LGBT+ people and families, families with or without children, friends, partners, siblings, young people, older people, foster carers, kinship carers, neighbours, work colleagues, etc. We hope to make the Family Recovery College accessible to all. Please do not hesitate to contact us if there is anything additional we can do to make you feel welcomed and included.

Why the Family Recovery College is important

Families and concerned significant others often take on the primary role of caring for or supporting their loved one. Due to the secrecy, shame and stigma of supporting a loved one with problematic drug and alcohol use often there is little acknowledgement or support for those doing the supporting. Many people find themselves experiencing long-term mental health and physical health conditions, often related to the challenges and stress of their caring role. We hope that the Family Recovery College will enable students to feel empowered to support both themselves and their loved one. Please note: If you have any concerns or difficulties completing this form please phone - Sarah 07745 530 966 or Debbi 07826 906 802.

The programme is certificated by Scottish Families as the Scottish Government’s Nationally Commissioned Organisation (NCO) for families affected by alcohol or drug use.