Welcome to the BADAS Website
Please note that this website is no longer of the home of BADAS. BADAS has changed its name to New Highway and they have a new website (www.newhighway.org.uk), to find out more please read on.
Bath Area Drugs Advisory Service (BADAS) is a charity and company limited by guarantee, working to relieve poverty sickness and distress among those using alcohol and drugs, their families, friends and carers. BADAS mission statement reads “Reducing Harm, Supporting Change” which in its simplicity captures the essence of BADAS approach to its work.
The Charity started in the mid 1980’s, originally part of the local Bath and West Wiltshire Mental Health Trust. Independence as a charity followed and the organisation was free to develop its harm minimisation focused services with an emphasis on drop-in, needle exchange and outreach to rural areas. BADAS operated as one generic team working from a Bath base until 2002. When the Wiltshire and B&NES areas were created, new offices were opened in Westbury and Trowbridge. Since then a second office has been opened in Bath. These office bases are enhanced by the provision of over 12 rural outreach services in various church halls and community buildings across our rural areas.
In June 2010 BADAS changed its name to New Highway in recognition of the fact that BADAS no longer accurately represented the position of organisation. For instance BADAS had grown to operate beyond the original geographical boundaries of Bath, had expanded to deliver a range of services for people with alcohol problems and had developed a new focus on providing new and varied routes to recovery.
In a statement explaining the change of name of BADAS, Kevin McAlpine, New Highway CEO stated that in the current climate and with the growing challenges it is essential that we don’t overlook the vulnerable in our communities. Kevin went on to say “we have been helping people with drug and alcohol use in our community and promoting change for over 24 years now and we need to add to this with an even greater focus on working towards recovery.” In response to this he along with The Trustees felt it was time for BADAS to refresh its vigour, restate its mission and become even more passionate about achieving community goals.
New Highway’s ethos is to enable positive change. They help people to identify their recovery goals and work with them to make changes that enable them to live healthy and fulfilling lives.