THE ROOTS OF this small charity lie in a 1977 University of Birmingham research project into an intervention model for people with alcohol problems. This led to this new entry's foundation in 1989, and it has since extended its services throughout the Midlands to help people, their families and communities to overcome dependencies on drink, drugs and gambling. Practitioners, who make up the majority of the 219 employees, are guided by the understanding that people use substances to cope with problems, and with the right support are capable of making changes. With such a varied workload, teamwork is important. Employees feel their colleagues are fun to work with (84% positive, eighth among the small not-for-profits); and that they go out of their way to help each other (82%). There is a strong sense of family (79%). www.aquarius.org.uk
