About Us

Turning Point -originally called the Helping Hand -was founded in 1964. It concentrated its efforts on the provision of residential rehabilitation services for people with alcohol addictions.  Throughout the 1970s and 1980s the remit expanded to include drugs, mental health and learning disabilities.  

Turning Point provided services in Scotland beginning in 1993 when it was invited to create a new form of day service for individuals with severe and enduring mental health issues in Aberdeen.

In 1994, it set up the Glasgow Drug Crisis Centre. By 1998 it had expanded in Scotland and had a turnover of £4.5m-it provided substance misuse services, mental health, learning disabilities and homelessness services.

Scotland's devolution bill was underway and the Scottish Committee set out the case for the establishment of a Scottish charity.

In April 1999, Turning Point Scotland became a separate entity from Turning Point.  It registered as a charity and a company limited by guarantee within Scotland.

Turning Point Scotland is not committed to any one model of support or treatment; instead it works in a person centred way.  It does not exclude people from services and aims to make services fit people. 

In 2003, a trading arm, Turning Point Scotland Services Ltd (TPSS Ltd) was created.  All money earned by TPSS Ltd is covenanted back to Turning Point Scotland.  The trading arm bids for services but all work is undertaken by the Charity.