Child of addicts ‘remarkable journey’ honoured by Social Security Scotland

A woman from Dundee who’s parents were drug addicts has been honoured by Social Security Scotland.

Social campaigner Chelsea Cameron, 25, has had a room named after her in the organisation’s head office, Agnes Husband House, on Dundee’s waterfront.

The honour comes after Ms Cameron wrote a blog post to her parents in 2017 where she told them how difficult it was growing up with their lifestyle but thanked them for showing her life was not “rainbows and sunshine”.

The blog led to her winning numerous awards and seven years later she has advised the Scottish Government on social issues, worked with addicts, volunteered with homeless people and has just completed a degree in community education.

The Dundee honour remains close to the campaigner’s heart who lost her father, Alexander, to a drug overdose in 2022.

“It means a lot. I’m from Dundee, my family is from here, my upbringing was here. My family was hugely impacted by the issues I talked about in the letter and all of that was in Dundee.

“I think that connection with the city is really important. If you see someone that’s from where you’re from, and know that they’ve managed to overcome a challenge, it can just help to spur people on,” she said.

Ms Cameron said the honour came with a “responsibility” to continue to raise awareness on social issues.

“I can’t quite believe It’s been seven years since I wrote that letter and shared my story. When things like having the room named after me comes up, I can’t believe people have even thought of me,” she said.

“I’m very grateful that they have but while this sort of recognition is amazing, it comes with a responsibility and I have always tried to share a message and raise awareness of social issues.

“Addiction is such a big problem, not just for those that are using substances or drugs or whatever, but the families who are affected by that and especially the children whose parents are using.”

Ms Cameron added she hoped her work would draw attention to the scale of the problem.

The meeting room named after her is one of many named after inspirational people, including award-winning Shuggie Bain author Douglas Stuart, Paralympic gold medallist Caroline Baird MBE and the late musician Michael Marra.

David Wallace, chief executive of Social Security Scotland, said: “It’s no surprise my colleagues chose to recognise Chelsea and her story by naming a room after her in our head office, Agnes Husband House, in Dundee.

“She’s an outstanding young woman who displayed great courage to tell her story while still a teenager.

“We are delighted she was able to come in and share her journey so far which exemplifies our shared values of treating people with dignity, fairness and respect, regardless of their circumstances.

“Chelsea left a strong and lasting impression on all of us which will inspire myself and my colleagues going forward. We wish her every success in the future,” he said.