Independence Trust can trace its history back almost 50 years and has seen great changes.

A small charity called Alcohol Counselling and Information Service (ACIS) was formed in Gloucestershire in 1963 and another, Gloucestershire Drugs Project (GDP), in the early 1970’s. They worked closely together until a formal merger in 2000 when Gloucestershire Drug and Alcohol Service (GDAS) was formed.

GDAS grew rapidly, providing a diverse range of services in people’s homes as well as Communities, Courts, Prisons, Police Stations, GP Surgeries and Hospitals.

Joining forces with Gloucestershire Association of Mental Health (GAMH) and Share Young People's Counselling Service brought expertise in mental ill health and young people’s emotional health and wellbeing.

The result is that people get better care, and together we have the potential to make it better still.

Thousands of people contact our services each year.