A RESIDENTIAL rehabilitation centre which has saved more than 1,000 lives since it opened over three decades ago has lifted the lid on its vital work as part of the Tele’s month-long focus on recovery.
From its base in the Kilmacolm countryside, The Haven delivers a lifesaving 40-week programme which has helped to transform the lives of countless men who have struggled with addiction.
Those staying at the rehabilitation facility have access to one-to-one support, pastoral care and a myriad of other options for dealing with their issues.
William Carter, who works as a support worker at the Haven and has been through its programme himself, said the facility had a vital role to play in dealing with drug abuse locally.
He said: “At the Haven we help people deal with all the external chaos that addiction brings in the hope that we can start working on the internal stuff with them as well.
“We get to the deep-rooted issues that led to them ending up in addiction and help them overcome trauma they’ve had in the past.
“We work in a trauma-informed way here so we’re very aware that people’s past experiences have had a big impact on why they led the life they led.
“Most of the staff here have lived experience and have been through the Haven as well or a Teen Challenge centre.
“I think that’s important because it means we can relate to the guys when they’re coming in and going through their detox.
“We know what they’re feeling, and we can sit down and talk them through it and how we overcame it.
“It gives them hope as well because if we can do it then they can do it.”
The Haven has a wide range of recreational facilities for people staying there to make use of. As well as a workshop and a brand-new gym.
Work is also being done to extend its kitchen facilities and dining area, with other improvements planned for the future.
William says that while the Haven’s remote location is helpful for keeping residents away from the noise of the outside world, the facility’s staff still work to ensure that their charges can integrate back into the community afterwards.
There are also opportunities for them when they graduate the programme and the Haven currently has three recovery flats in Inverclyde that they can make use of.
William added: “The Haven is a great place. It’s a place where people can come and rebuild their lives.
“It’s a structured programme. The guys have stuff to do from the moment they get out their bed at quarter past seven in the morning.
“They get life skills and we do recovery focussed classes here as well.
“Obviously we’re a faith-based programme, and we believe God has the power to help people so it’s Biblical-based stuff we do here.
"And it helps people overcome so many different things that addiction brings with it.
“It takes the guys away from the towns and the cities. When they’re up here they can focus on themselves without thinking about anything else.
“This is a safe place for people to come to overcome their addiction, then leave to go on and live successful life. That’s the hope for everyone that comes through here.”
William believes services like the Haven have a major role to play in bringing down the number of drug deaths Inverclyde has seen in recent years.
He said: “Groups like us are crucial in helping people overcome their addiction. It’s remarkable the number of lives that have been saved.
“Most of the guys in here should be dead. I should be dead. Most of the workers should be dead for the lifestyles we lived and the situations and circumstances we found ourselves in.
“But due to the Haven and the work that’s going on, we’re still here.
“The help is here if people want it, they just need to reach out.”
The Haven’s project manager Gary Lister told the Telegraph he was proud of the impact the facility has had on the lives of its residents.
He said: “What we focus on here at the Haven is four words: finding hope, rebuilding lives.
“We’ve been doing that for 30-odd years, and the amount of people that are coming in here and finding hope when they haven’t got it is amazing.
“That’s the starting point, them reaching out to us and that’s why it’s so good we’re working with all the outreach services down in Inverclyde.
“We’re helping change people’s lives and make a difference.”
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