SWAPA
Barod began as SWAPA (South Wales Action to Prevent Addiction). Established in 1972 in Cardiff by Rev. Peter Keward to respond to the drug issues of the time, SWAPA was a Volunteer-led information and helpline.
By the mid 1980s, the organisation had it’s first paid Coordinator and, as it began to operate in other areas of South Wales, the name changed to Drugaid in the early 1990’s.
Drugaid
By the mid 2000s, Drugaid had a number of services in Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf, moving away from working in the capital to focus on the valleys and more rural areas.
Drugaid became one of the founding members of DACW, a consortium of charities which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals across Wales.
In 2014 / 2015, Drugaid began working more closely within consortium to deliver services across the whole of Gwent and, also started operating in West Wales, first with young people and then with adults.
In 2015, Drugaid merged with Cwsllt Contact in West Wales, and then with SANDS in Swansea in 2016, enabling us to work in another new area.
In December 2017, Drugaid took the leap and changed it’s name to Barod, following feedback from service users and staff
Barod
Today Barod has services in Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, R.C.T., Blaenau Gwent, Newport, Torfaen, Monmouthshire, Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.
Barod enjoys partnerships with a range of organisations, and is funded from a variety of sources (see the funding tab below to find out more).
Barod today is significantly different from its beginnings. There are now over 180 staff and many volunteers across our services. We have an improved management system and infrastructure making Barod robust within an increasingly competitive market and with the capacity to provide a range of effective services across a large geographical area.
On the 28th September, we celebrated our 50th birthday at Depot, Cardiff with key note speakers, including Niamh Eastwood (Director at Release) and Dawn Russell (Head of Services, Ana Liffey Drugs Project) as well as fairground games, an art exhibition and workshops, to help us celebrate.