The General Service Office (GSO) is the administrative arm of the Fellowship and provides services for Alcoholics Anonymous through GSO in York, the Northern Service Office (NSO) in Glasgow and the Southern Service Office (SSO) in London.

The GSO, NSO and SSO are not the authority in Alcoholics Anonymous, rather their role is to execute the objects of the charity. They act as the central point of contact for the fellowship providing links between the Regions, Intergroups and Groups across the United Kingdom and English-speaking Continental Europe, as well as GSOs throughout the world.

In addition, they house the European Information Centre, communicating regularly with other General Service Offices across Europe and organising the biennial European Service Meeting.

10 Toft Green, York, has been GSO’s home since early 2007 and is the registered office of the charity Alcoholics Anonymous (Great Britain) Limited.

They have a small team of staff, who are passionate about providing services to the fellowship as efficiently as possible, and always with care and consideration.

During a typical week GSO, NSO & SSO receive:

• 80 items of postal Mail
• 500 telephone calls
• 50 visitors
• 3500 emails

Last year the offices received nearly 22,000 telephone calls and over 165,000 emails.

The main day to day functions of the offices are the publication and distribution of literature, financial controls, updating and managing the website, managing and updating group records, the production of SHARE and Roundabout magazines, the co-ordination of AA’s national Conference, and supporting and organising the work of the General Service Board – the Board meetings, Sub-committee meetings and regional forums.

The literature distribution centre for the fellowship is based at GSO. They receive, process, pack and dispatch orders of Conference approved literature to members across the country and Europe. They send other service literature and material such as information packs for schools, and banners for PI events or conventions. For literature order enquiries please email the GSO Literature Department at [email protected]. Staff are also responsible for redesigning older literature once sold out according to the new Brand Guidelines, Family Look which can be found in the Document Library.

The accounts department look after the day-to-day administration of the Fellowship’s finances, as well as processing all orders and contributions received. They produce quarterly accounts for distribution throughout the Fellowship and work closely with the charity’s auditors to compile the charity’s annual accounts. They also actively seek best value from our suppliers

The Web Manager is responsible for updating and maintaining the website, ensuring content is in line with both fellowship policy and data protection. Associated with the website is the Image Bank which maintains and adds to the stock of copyright free images that can be used by the Fellowship for local publications as well as by General Service Board publications.

Group Records are responsible for managing the database which contains records of all groups, intergroups, regions, trustees and more. This database is used to produce the London and national Where to Find and the Confidential Directory. They rely on groups sending details of new meetings, or amendments to current groups to ensure that the meetings finder is kept up to date. Once completed updates are seen immediately on the website. Forms can be completed online here or downloaded here.

Full administration of Share and Roundabout magazines, and the fellowship calendars and diaries, is undertaken at the office. This includes typing up articles, processing subscriptions, and manually packing each issue for dispatch. More information about the Fellowship’s magazines can be found here.

Staff at GSO co-ordinate and produce minutes and reports for the annual General Service Conference, Board Meetings and the biennial European Service Meeting. They organise liaison meetings and Board sub-committee meetings, which along with the Board Meetings are all held in the offices at 10 Toft Green.

GSO also works closely with the Borthwick Institute in sending new materials for archiving and arranging for the Fellowship to access to the National Archives.

Other day to day tasks for staff include answering queries from members, professionals and the media. They also create and update literature, when requested by Conference. The prison postal service is also administered at the office, with new sponsors always welcome.

Further information about each of the staff and their individual roles can be found in the document library, or by clicking the link here.

In addition, staff at GSO adhere and seek to improve upon best practices workplace developments and training to provide even better service to the Fellowship.

The staff have a wealth of experience in which to assist the fellowship and are happy to help with any queries. You can contact them using the information below:

Alcoholics Anonymous,
PO Box 1
10 Toft Green
York
YO1 7NJ

Tel: 01904 644026 (Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm – Friday 9am to 4.30pm)
Email: [email protected]

AA Southern Service Office (SSO)
Unit B
15 Bell Yard Mews
London
SE1 3TY

Tel: 020 7407 9217 (Monday – Friday 10am to 4pm)
Email: [email protected]

AA Northern Service Office (NSO)
Room 101
Baltic Chambers,
50 Wellington Street
Glasgow
G2 6HJ

Tel: 0141 226 2214 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm)
Email: [email protected]