Ceredigion Council will continue to support ‘Barod’ a substance misuse centre in Aberystwyth

CEREDIGION County Council will continue to act as “local banker” for grant funding keeping a successful substance misuse centre going.

At cabinet on Tuesday (September 7) members approved the acceptance of the local banker role handling capital funding for 25 North Parade, Aberystwyth where a grant has been applied for to support Barod in securing three more years at the building.

Barod (previously know as Drug aid) has been at the North Parade multi-agency substance misuse centre since 2015, with Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service and Cyfle Cymru also located there.

Support is provided to adults with substance misuse issues, as well as their families and friends, as well as services for under 18s via Choices, a service led by Barod.

A report to cabinet adds that mutual aid groups also hold regular meetings at the town centre site and services include a needle exchange, virus testing, advice, screening, group work, and prevention work.

Cabinet member for highways and environmental services, housing and customer contact Cllr Dafydd Edwards said the site “successfully supported people” and to ensure the work continued the as it is “essential and it’s important for us socially.”

If a £183,600 application for a three year lease is approved the council will act as local banker for the unit.