About us
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Our aims and objectives

The DAPL project was established in 1994, as a community response to the growing drugs and alcohol issues affecting families in Levenmouth area. We have since grown to serve the entire region of Fife providing high quality counselling services within schools and communities. DAPL remain dedicated to helping people alleviate the harms of substance use and poor mental health through the delivery of high quality one-to-one counselling services.

Born in the community and remaining deeply rooted in the community.

Person receiving counselling in
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Altering harms

To alleviate the distress and suffering caused by alcohol or drugs use, addictive behaviours or psychological distress by any reasonable and legitimate means.

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Educational support

To provide and to promote educational and support services to professionals working in the fields of alcohol or drug; addictive behaviours or psychological distress.

Colleagues sharing an informal chat in the office.
Colleagues sharing a coffee and a chat in a café.
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Industry support

To work with other bodies, agencies and organisations in developing, promoting and delivering such education and support services.

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Recruit and train

To recruit, train, support and deploy volunteer workers to assist in the delivery of our aims. We have years of experience effectively  supporting placement counsellors and qualified volunteers to enhance skills and competences.

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Our history

The timeline of key events that bring is up-to-date with our journey from 1994–2025.

A graphic timeline of the DAPL journery.

Our patrons

Those helping the cause.

Eleanor Bowman MBE
Fundraiser and campaigner

Eleanor Bowman received a MBE in 2007 for her charity work. From Fife, Eleanor is well known for her tireless commitment and dedication to many causes, including supporting disabled children and cancer research. Along with her husband Sandy, Eleanor used to run the renowned Craw's Nest hotel in Anstruther.

Clive Russell
Actor and campaigner

Clive Russell was raised in Leven and attended Buckhaven High School. Russell has been working solely in film and television since 1991. He is best known for his roles as, Chief Inspector Frederick Abberline in Ripper Street, Angus O’Connor in Happiness and Brynden Tully in the HBO series Game of Thrones.

Our team

The people behind the scenes making it all work.

Board of directors

Willie Pugh
Director
Alan Brown
Director
Steve Walker
Director
Kathleen McLeary
Director

Management team

Susan Innes
Adult recovery services coordinator

Susan Innes is a skilled CBT therapist who has supported many clients make sustained change over 20 plus years with the service. Susan leads our adult services with a passion for process and service improvement.

John Kennedy
Young person’s services coordinator

John Kennedy has a background in Community Education and children's residential services prior to being one of the first school counsellors in DAPL. Since then, John has accrued over 20 years with the service and is a passionate advocate for children's rights and welfare.

Martin Denholm
Service Manager

Martin Denholm is DAPLs longest-serving employee, starting his journey as a volunteer counsellor over 25 years ago. Martin is a community activist at heart with a passion for service improvement, clients rights and service development.

Latest news

Find out what we're up to in our community.

Accreditations

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

BACP

DAPL became the first organisation in Fife to become a British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) accredited counselling service. We are the only one of four counselling services in Scotland to achieve this award.

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Steve Mulligan
BACP Policy and Engagement Lead

DAPL is an exemplary counselling service with excellent standards and I can’t praise the work the organisation does highly enough.”

Accreditation certificate
1.2MB PDF

Testimonials

Read what people are saying about DAPL.

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Sarah
Glenrothes

DAPL has been such a brilliant support to me. I have improved more than I could ever have imagined when I was in some really dark places mentally. I am pleased to say that I no longer take any drugs and this has been the case for a while now.

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Keven
Leven

Since I started using DAPL they couldn’t have been more helpful. I have never been turned away from DAPL and have always been helped by the staff there. The work they do for me and the community is above and beyond. Please continue the exceptional work you do. You make a huge difference. If you weren’t here it would leave a very big problem for so many people in so many ways. Thank you.

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Steven
Dunfermline

I didn’t think I would ever get over my problem with drugs. I kept trying loads of different things but nothing helped that much. I then got an appointment with DAPL and my counsellor was top class. My life has changed loads and I am holding down a job which is good as I hadn’t worked for a long while.

If you need help urgently, here's a list of contacts who can help.