The new ‘throughcare’ centre, which will be known as ‘The Bungalow’, will be open to anyone who feels that they, or someone they know, may have a problem with drugs or alcohol.
Each year, almost a thousand people across South Gloucestershire receive help and support for drug or alcohol misuse. This is either at the Warmley centre, or at several outreach locations, which are based at Yate, Patchway and Thornbury.
The new centre will be officially opened at 11.30am on Monday 17 July by Cllr Mike Robbins, vice chair of Yate Town Council
David Warren, drug action team manager for Safer South Gloucestershire, said: "The need for ‘The Bungalow’ came about after it was identified that more local and structured services for people with drug and alcohol dependencies were needed in the Yate area. Support from the community has been very positive. This highlights the good links and relationships that have been established between Safer South Gloucestershire, service providers, service users and local communities."
The centre was chosen following consultation meetings with local residents and businesses, service users and councillors in the area. Service users who live in the Yate area will be able to access ‘throughcare’ services without the inconvenience of using public transport across the district.
The same services will be available at ‘The Bungalow’ as those provided at South Gloucestershire’s Warmley treatment centre. These include counselling, a structured day care programme, acupuncture, relapse prevention, ‘throughcare’ and aftercare, accommodation support, and groups and counselling for family members.
Research shows that ‘throughcare’ services, which focus on integrating service users back into the community by supporting them through training and education courses, voluntary work and returning to work, increase the likelihood of people staying drug and alcohol free. Safer South Gloucestershire’s ‘throughcare’ worker currently receives an average of 4 referrals every week.
Emily Edwards, Treatment Manager at Safer South Gloucestershire’s drug action team, added: "We would like to thank local residents, councillors and businesses for their support in this much-needed development. The service users themselves have also given us invaluable feedback and support. Those attending the Warmley Treatment Centre tell us how much they benefit from having a local treatment centre to go to for help and support, where they can meet other people experiencing similar difficulties. We are pleased to now offer similar facilities for service users in Yate."
ENDS