Cumbria Alcohol & Drugs Advisory Service – CADAS was founded in 1979 by a group of concerned individuals and professionals who wanted to provide a service for the people of Cumbria who suffered from the effects of alcohol and drugs. Over the last 40+ years they have grown to their current size with staff and volunteers operating from four centres across Cumbria.
They continue to provide a recovery service to individuals and offer help to families, communities and employers with training and information provision. They believe their major strengths are their independence, their commitment to people and communities, their inclusive approach and their accessibility.
Since lockdown they have been working with a skills based volunteer to help improve their digital profile on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and on their website.
Their digital profile has become more important than ever as during this time distributing leaflets and posters and face-to-face networking has become tricky. In order to reach as many potential clients, and as many possible supporters and funders, as possible, CADAS were looking for help with their Social Media Digital Analytics to make sure the content they were publishing was as effective as possible.
That’s where Cumbria Exchange were able to help. a request for Digital Analysis was published on the website and this was taken up by Tom.
Lois Sparling, CADAS Marketing Coordinator, said ‘It’s early days yet, but the detailed work that Tom has done to look into our social media presence is incredible. We’ve already implemented a lot of changes, with Tom’s help, and we’re confident it’s going to help us reach more of the people whom we want to support, as well as people who might be able to help fund our work in the future.’
Tom said “I’m a communications professional based in Carlisle and really happy to be supporting CADAS. I started a new job back in December and my colleague Diane told me about the Cumbria Exchange website where you can find a wide range of opportunities to volunteer locally. I spotted CADAS needed a little help and was more than happy to volunteer in my spare time, it’s great to support a local charity that does so much for people across the county. I’m looking forward to continuing to volunteer in 2021.”
Tom works as a communications professional for KBR as part of Sellafield Ltd’s Programme and Project Partners major project delivery model.