12 May 2026
Every day in Scotland, people reach out to WithYou for help with some of the most difficult challenges they've ever faced. Last year, our teams were there for 14,000 of them.
That work, which is often life-changing, has been recognised by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), who have named WithYou in Scotland as a finalist for Scottish Charity of the Year.
Across 13 community-based services, our staff and volunteers held more than 63,000 appointments last year, up 17% on the year before. Referrals rose by 21%. And our online webchat, available 364 days a year, connected with a record 1,987 people seeking support, up 28%.
Louise Stewart, our Scotland Director, said the nomination reflects the dedication of colleagues across the country.
"Over the last two decades, my colleagues have helped tens of thousands of people take steps towards a healthier life. I'm incredibly proud of them and so pleased their vital work has been recognised in this way.
"People facing challenges with drugs and alcohol must be able to access the right support, free from stigma and discrimination, when and where they need it, driven by their goals."
One of the most powerful testimonies of what this work means came from a dad in Dundee, whose words were later cited in the opening address at the National Drugs Mission Conference in Edinburgh in March.
He said:
Without WithYou and others, I wouldn't be sitting here. I would be dead. Every single person in here saved my life. My kids wouldn't have a dad if it wasn't for the support I received.
Our teams hear words like this every week and they’re the moments that remind us why our work matters, and why access to the right support, at the right time, is so important.
Many of our team members bring their own experience of recovery to their work. Ronnie Hart, an advanced practitioner at WithYou's North East Glasgow Recovery Hub, is one of them.
At WithYou, I feel valued. They support me, my recovery, my physical health, and my mental health. There hasn't been a day since I started where I've not wanted to go to my work.
In the past year, we also took steps to make sure support could reach people wherever they are. WithYou Anywhere in Highland, the UK's first fully commissioned virtual drug and alcohol service, brought recovery support to people in some of Scotland's most remote communities.
We also played a key role in developing Scotland's Charter of Rights for People Affected by Substance Use and the Standards for Young People Accessing Treatment or Support for Alcohol or Drugs.
And as synthetic opioids entered Scotland's drug supply, we expanded our drug-checking and naloxone provision to help keep people safe.
Figures published in September offered a moment of cautious optimism, with drug deaths in Scotland at their lowest level since 2017 and alcohol deaths at a five-year low.
There’s still much to do, but these are signs that the right support, delivered well, makes a difference.
Find out more
The SCVO Scottish Charity Awards take place on Thursday, 11 June in Glasgow. We're proud to be among the finalists, and proud of every person our teams have supported to take a step towards a healthier life.
Read more about the difference our teams are making across Scotland at wearewithyou.org.uk/latest/annual-reports/scotland-impact-report-2025
If you or someone you know needs support with drugs, alcohol or mental health, our services are free, confidential and non-judgemental. Find help near you at wearewithyou.org.uk/scotland.
