Local charity Catalyst Support turns 35 this year. Previously known as the Southern Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service (SADAS), the charity was established by Mike Ward in 1989 to address what was a growing issue of alcohol addiction in Surrey. Since then, the charity has expanded to include over 20 services that support people in Surrey with a wide range of concerns.
Starting as a drug and alcohol service, the charity recognised from the start the mental health element of addiction, and established a counselling service to help clients with their recovery. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the charity has grown to support people in Surrey affected by substance misuse, offering more holistic support, including various projects for young people, criminal re-offenders, and those struggling with housing and finance.
Haydn Morris, a former psychiatric nurse, became CEO of the charity in 2009. He led the OMNI initiative with a dual diagnosis team, providing comprehensive support to individuals facing both substance misuse and mental health challenges. This initiative acted as a marker for the future of the charity, with a strong emphasis on supporting mental wellbeing. The charity’s name has been changed to SadAS and its services expanded to Hampshire with the opening of the Aldershot Safe Haven.
In 2015 the charity’s name changes to Catalyst Support with the intention to continue working on making positive changes in people’s lives and focusing more on mental wellbeing. With service range expanding, Catalyst Support developed a deep understanding of the needs of the local community, helping the national service providers reach individuals who could otherwise feel disengaged.
Sue Murphy, Catalyst Support CEO who first joined the charity back in 1999 as a counselling volunteer, says “It takes a community to support a community, and I would like to thank all our volunteers and employees, as well the array of external supporters we have. It is the collective of these people that has allowed Catalyst Support to be so successful in recognising the needs of people in Surrey and taking action to meet those needs. I am immeasurably proud to be leading Catalyst Support through its 35-year anniversary and am excited to continue growing and developing the charity.”
Now, with over 20 different services, over 150 employees and a over 100 volunteers, Catalyst Support is Surrey’s largest local charity. Catalyst Support remains committed to providing the local community with the services it needs: mental health crisis services, counselling, women’s support, wellbeing groups, financial advice and LGBTQ+ helpline are just a few examples. All services we offer are free for clients.