Glasgow Council on Alcohol Becomes Murray’s Initiative
After 60 years of providing free, confidential counselling and support services, we are proud to announce that Glasgow Council on Alcohol (GCA) has become Murray’s Initiative.
This change marks the start of an exciting new chapter in our story, one that celebrates our founder, Sir Alistair Murray, and reflects the inclusive, forward-looking organisation we have become.
Everything you value remains the same
While our name and brand are changing, everything that matters most will stay exactly the same.
The same trusted team will continue to deliver our free, confidential and high-quality counselling and support services.
All current programmes, partnerships and community initiatives will carry on without interruption.
Our locations, phone numbers and contact details remain unchanged.
What is changing is how we present ourselves to the world - not what we do, or how we do it.
Our mission is, and always will be, to help individuals, families and communities build healthier, more fulfilling lives. That commitment is as strong today as it was when we first opened our doors six decades ago.
Why the change?
Over time, our work has evolved beyond what our original name could convey. While “Glasgow Council on Alcohol” reflected our roots, it no longer represented the full range of support we now offer.
Today, our services address mental health, wellbeing, relationships, and community resilience - supporting people from all walks of life. We wanted a name that better reflects that breadth and inclusivity.
Murray’s Initiative honours our history while embracing our future. It’s a name that celebrates our founder and the values that continue to guide us - compassion, inclusion, and a belief in healthier communities for all.
Sir Alistair Murray, who founded our organisation in 1965.
A rebrand shaped by everyone
This rebrand wasn’t imposed from the top down. It was shaped by the people who make Murray’s Initiative what it is.
We convened a dedicated Rebrand Focus Group bringing together staff, counsellors, volunteers, trustees and leadership to ensure every voice was heard. Together, we explored how our name, identity and messaging could best reflect our shared mission.
That inclusive process - supported by our creative partners at The Marketing Department - ensured that our new brand is authentic, meaningful, and rooted in the lived experience of the people who deliver and use our services every day.
A platform for the future
In an ever-changing environment for the third sector, we know that sustainability matters. This rebrand is about building a stronger foundation for our future - one that allows us to grow, diversify, and reach more people while continuing to offer our core services for free.
Our new identity gives us the clarity and confidence to do that. It helps us connect more effectively with partners, supporters and funders, ensuring we can keep doing what we do best: supporting people when they need us most.
Lesley Ross, our CEO, announces our new name and identity at our 60th Anniversary Celebration
Honouring the past, embracing the future
As we move forward as Murray’s Initiative, we remain deeply proud of our history and heritage. For sixty years, we’ve been here for individuals and communities across Glasgow and beyond. That will never change.
This rebrand is not an ending, but a continuation. It’s a reflection of our growth, a renewal of our promise and a platform for the decades ahead
We are excited to begin this new chapter - still the same team, still the same commitment and still here for you.
