The History of HAGA
In 1979 Tony Smythe began a discussion in Haringey Community Health Council about the need to do something about street drinking in Finsbury Park. The public authorities didn’t seem interested in the problem and there was no service for heavy drinkers, let alone those who were alcoholics. The CHC decided to do a piece of research.
No-one cared
This report found that there was little concern about alcohol and excess drinking as a personal or social problem. Most doctors were of the view that nothing could be done for alcoholics but let them drink themselves to death. St Bernard’s Hospital, Ealing had a service where willing people were sent for detox and rehab, but there was no follow-up or aftercare.
HAGA launched
At the report’s launch Don Steele encouraged the CHC to fundraise for a counselling service, and Haringey Action Group on Alcohol was formed and registered as a charity. The first donation of £500 from Marks and Spencer paid for a counsellor, Zbigniew (Ziggy) Kotowicz. Community Health and Social Services allowed two of their staff to work as volunteer counsellors. Appointments were made through London Council on Alcohol and counselling took place in the CHC’s meeting room in Tottenham Town Hall.
The GLC began funding the project, giving £4263 by 1984. This was enough to employ part-time organiser Ian McGregor. The CHC moved to new offices on Tottenham High Rd where HAGA had their own room and shared a small meeting room for counselling. Further funding enabled Senior Counsellor Angie Sparrowhawk to be employed. She stayed with HAGA for 6 years.
In 1983 Dr Alex Paton, Regional Postgraduate Dean, was appointed as Consultant Physician in Haringey. He was passionate about preventing liver cirrhosis caused by alcohol consumption and believed early intervention was the only way. He became a great supporter of HAGA’s development.
Detox
HAGA wanted to set up home detox to enable people to change their lives in their own environment, and persuaded the Health Service that it would be cheaper than putting people into hospital. Two community nurses were employed in 1989. Alex Paton, Post-graduate Dean, gained GP support and gave medical credibility. That year Community Health Services provided offices at St Ann’s Hospital, allowing space for the increased staff.
In 1986 HAGA became Haringey Advisory Group on Alcohol, fortunately able to keep the same acronym.
Because Haringey is so multi-cultural, HAGA felt counselling should be available in different languages. City Parochial Foundation provided funds and a training course was started to train foreign language speakers as alcohol counsellors. Further funding was obtained to do alcohol awareness work among the ethnic minority communities and this was continued for four years, training 40 counsellors.
Community
In 1993 Haringey Borough asked HAGA to take on community care assessments. People are assessed and referred for the appropriate services, like residential rehabilitation, the one service that HAGA doesn’t provide. Any prescribing is done by the client’s GP.
A new home
In 1994 St Ann’s Hospital supplied a building for a day centre, but the work was constrained by the limited accommodation and by 1994 the London Borough of Haringey, always supportive of HAGA, found a building on Seven Sister’s Road which allowed them to operate on a larger scale.
It was felt that GPs, Social Workers, Health Visitors and A&E Nurses should be trained to recognise alcohol problems, and training courses were started and have continued.
Children
HAGA had long acknowledged the difficulties faced by children when parents misuse alcohol. In 1996 funding was obtained from the National Lottery and a Children & Families worker was employed. Demands for the service grew rapidly and in 2001, the Cosmic conference was held to highlight the need for expansion. Building work was undertaken to convert the garage behind the Day Centre into a purpose built facility with its own separate entrance.
The service, later renamed COSMIC, now has five staff. Referrals come from HAGA, DASH and social services. COSMIC staff visit schools and youth centres, and clients can refer themselves.
Safety
In 2001 HAGA was part of a Community Safety conference, which spawned the ‘A Safer Pub’ assessment scheme. They visiting clubs and pubs with the Police to make risk assessments and advise on staff training and Health and Safety issues.
Day centre
The Day Centre is HAGA’s hub, where clients can socialise and get help and advice for all kinds of issues. There’s individual counselling, group therapy and workshop programmes, Yoga, acupuncture and aromatherapy. The Centre is now open on Saturdays, as well as on weekdays and clients have their own forum where they can air their own comments and suggestions.
Back to work
The Day Centre’s IT training service outgrew its space and moved in 2004 to newly upgraded premises in Northumberland Park. Now called Kinesis, the project, has expanded and made links with colleges and local employers, enabling clients to further their education and do work experience. Most referrals come from HAGA, DASH, the Drug Intervention Programme and the Dual Diagnosis service at St Ann’s. The training and support provided by Kinesis is seen as part of the rehabilitation process after clients have overcome their alcohol problem.
Homeless
Abuse of alcohol is often the reason people become homeless, so HAGA and Haringey Council got together to set up a bed-sit scheme. The Council provide the housing and HAGA handle the management and support. There are now three houses, two for alcohol and one for drugs. The project is closely linked to the Day Centre and each house has a support worker. Residents have to take part in a rehab programme and the houses are ‘dry’, so no drugs or alcohol are allowed on the premises. The project has been named Newstart and the Council has agreed to re-house clients in ordinary housing provided they have overcome their alcohol/drug problem.
For people who are elderly or disabled, or whose lives are too chaotic HAGA has set up the Home Support Team to visit them in their own homes.
Street drinking
The Street Drinkers Project approaches people drinking on the streets and offers help and information on various issues, like health, alcohol and housing.
Street drinkers are a very difficult group to reach. Some abuse drugs as well as alcohol, and some have mental health problems. Persuading them to make life-style changes and accept help is a tough task.
A wet centre
For those who find it impossible to change HAGA has suggested that a staffed Wet Centre where alcohol is allowed and a hot meal is provided could be the answer to helping this group to move forward.
In 1985, Ian McGregor and Dr Alex Paton produced a paper entitled “A District Alcohol Service” which provided an outline of how an integrated service could work.
The paper emphasised the need for cooperation between statutory and voluntary caring services. It also acknowledged that staff needed further training to help them recognise people who have an alcohol problem.
Each service development has been in response to need. The aim is always to help people overcome their alcohol problem and in the process build up their self esteem and confidence so they can take control of their lives, and where possible move on to education, training and independent living. All the while HAGA staff are there with help and support, knowing that efforts to overcome alcohol abuse are not always successful the first time round.
Funding
Fundraising is done through grant applications to various trusts and the Statutory Authorities, which has brought in a large amount of money over the years; however, HAGA relies on social services and local health services for the major part of its funding.
By the diversity of the services and all the support and follow-up work it has been recognised that HAGA provides good value for money. For example, by introducing a community detox service, it has reduced the need for expensive admissions to hospital or specialist units, helping many people to overcome their alcohol problem and regain their lives.
HAGA’s aim is always to reduce the individual and social harm caused by abusing alcohol.
