Stephen Williams MP praises Bristol based charity
October 6, 2006 4:48 PM
Stephen Williams, MP who represents the Bristol West constituency, recently visited the offices of the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA) in Bristol. He met Trustees, staff and volunteers during his visit, and heard first-hand of the work that the charity carries out nation-wide from its Bristol office.
After the visit he commented "I was very impressed by the dedication and commitment shown by staff and volunteers to their work. Children are perhaps the most innocent victims of alcohol abuse, and without NACOA many would have little hope. It is impressive that they work with so many young people with no statutory funding, depending entirely on voluntary contributions."
Hilary Henriques, MBE, NACOA's Chief Executive said " We are extremely grateful to Stephen for visiting and spending so long with us, discussing our work and looking for ways to help. Recognition like this gives us all a boost."
Mr. Williams has pledged his support for the charity in the future.
NACOA was founded in 1990 to address the problems of children growing up in families where one of both parents suffer from alcoholism or a similar addictive problem.
NACOA has four broad aims:
• To offer information, advice and support to children of alcoholics
• To reach professionals who deal with children of alcoholics in their everyday work
• To raise the profile of children of alcoholics in the public consciousness
• To promote research into
1. the particular problems faced by those who grow up with parental alcoholism
2. the prevention of alcoholism developing in this vulnerable group of children
Their latest research indicates that there are 2.8 M adult children of alcoholics in the UK today and 920,000 children and young people up to 18 years living in a home in the UK today with one or both parents who have a problem with alcohol.
The effects of growing up in a family where one or both parents are dependent on alcohol are extremely wide-ranging. Statistics from their latest research reveal that the problem can affect all areas of a child's life, from school life through to behavioural problems and compulsive disorders.
Although many children of alcoholics grow up to be successful and productive members of society, a number also develop serious problems both as children and later in life as adults.
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