After 35 years a leading figure in Doncaster’s drug and alcohol services has decided to ‘call time’ on her career and retired on April 20, 2018.
Helen Owen, from Single Point of Access (SPOA) at Rosslyn House was the Team Leader at Aspire Drug and Alcohol Service and also the Chief Executive of local charity Doncaster Alcohol Service (DAS).
Helen first started working in the drug and alcohol field when she was appointed Director of the newly formed DAS charity in 1982. More recently she moved to work alongside Aspire Drug and Alcohol Service, delivering on a sub contract and providing the team leader function in SPOA.
Over the years she has been instrumental in supporting the setting up a first rate drug and alcohol treatment and recovery service for the people of Doncaster. She was involved in the launch of Aspire’s online Live Chat service to give local people easy access to drug and alcohol advice. She worked with partner agencies across the borough much needed, support to vulnerable homeless people. Other projects included the creation of a social hub at Rosslyn House for clients as well as raising awareness of the hepatitis screening and vaccination programme.
Helen said: “Seeing people make positive changes in their lives is very rewarding and being part of that process has been a great motivator and incredibly worthwhile. I will miss the volunteers and staff who have often gone the extra mile for their clients who have put their trust into us to help them through the changes to address their drinking.”
Helen’s last working day was April 20, 2018 and her colleagues from both Aspire and DAS held retirement celebratory events for her.
Stuart Green, Service Manager at Aspire Drug and Alcohol Service who has known Helen for over 14 years, said: It has been a pleasure to work alongside Helen. She will be a hard act to follow and I wish her every success in the future.”
Helen will be succeeded in the role of Chief Executive Officer of DAS by Callum Dixon.
