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Gray's Court, Belfast's first 'moving on' accommodation for people returning to independent living after treatment for alcohol and drug dependence opens this Wednesday, 18 October at 10.00am at 31 Cliftonville Avenue, Belfast. (Still pics before opening from 9.40am or afterwards at approx 10.45am)
Funded through Habinteg Housing Association and the Northern Ireland Drug Strategy, Gray's Court has seven self-contained flats and communal areas and cost £400,000. It is a development of Carlisle House, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation initiative of the Presbyterian Church's Board of Social Witness which has treated some 600 people in the last seven years.
'The opening of Gray's Court is a further development of our treatment for people with alcohol and drug dependence,' explains Helen Harrison, the director of Carlisle House. 'After undergoing an eight week residential programme at Carlisle House some people still require further short-term support to enable them to return to life within society. The 'moving on' accommodation that we can now provide at Gray's Court together with help to find work or suitable training eases people back into the community. We are still there to help but it is another step on the return to independence which is what we are working towards.'
'We identified the need for accommodation of this type quite early on in the life of Carlisle House,' says Dr Anne Watts, former director and now a consultant to Carlisle House. 'Once a person has broken their dependence, continuing to stay off alcohol or drugs demands a whole new life style. Particularly, we noticed that many people undergoing rehabilitation had been in care with one third of all residents being homeless prior to admission. These people were committed to recovery, worked hard at the eight week programme and were seen to be changing, but while still at an early and vulnerable stage were returning to environments totally unsuitable to recovery and so were relapsing.'
Amelia is one of the seven residents of Gray's Court. 'Looking back it was only once I reached my lowest point that I was prepared to let others help. I just needed someone to love me and that's what I found at Carlisle House. No one judged me, everyone just wanted me to get my life back together again. Through the eight week residential programme I have grown stronger and more confident and now, living in Gray's Court I can begin to try to get back to a more normal life. I'm doing a training course in computers and some voluntary work. You have to want your own recovery but to be surrounded by those who love you and want nothing more that your recovery is a wonderful help and encouragement.'
Carlisle House and Gray's Court are just two aspects of the Presbyterian Church's programme of alcohol and drug education. Three years ago Carlisle House in association with Making Belfast Work opened 'Insight', Belfast's first drug information shop on Upper North Street which provides a non-threatening way for people to get information about drugs. During the last two years Presbyterian Church's Board of Social Witness has trained 14 volunteer drug educators, with another 10 starting this autumn who talk to groups in schools, clubs and churches giving accurate information to allow people to make informed decisions.
Gray's Court will be opened by Presbyterian Moderator Dr Trevor Morrow. Lord Alderdice who was to officiate will be attending Donald Dewar's funeral. Gray's Court is named after Rev Henry Gray, former minister of St Enochs Presbyterian Church and chairman of the committee which established Carlisle House, who died last year.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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