*This episode was originally recorded as a webinar on the 17th July 2025*

The second webinar of The Manifesto Sessions, discusses the support available for families and loved one's of people who use substances, and what else can be done to ensure better, and more effective services to those affected by other people's substance use.

In this episode, we are joined by Mike Blanche, from Gwent Drug and Alcohol Family Service (GDAFS), who has been working with concerned others for 27 years. Mike shares his own story of supporting a loved one, which started his career in this field, as well as helping establish one of the first dedicated concerned other services in Wales.

We are also joined by Kate Doyle, Andrew McCutchion and Anna Lewis, from the Family Support Team within the Cardiff and Vale Drug and Alcohol Service (CAVDAS). The team discuss the launch of "Twinkle Twinkle Arti", a bilingual storytelling project developed by CAVDAS to help children discuss parental substance use. 

The Manifesto Sessions is a series of ten webinars, with each webinar focusing on a specific “ask” with Barod's '⁠Setting the blueprint for a more equal and prosperous Wales for people who use substances⁠'. For more information about this webinar series, including future sessions, please ⁠click here⁠.