The Prefunded Appeal


THE CHARIS PRIMARY PROGRAMME PROBLEM: Over the last ten years there has been an increasingly strong emphasis on helping people with alcohol / drug problems through community based schemes such as day programmes and weekly counselling. As a result the residential option has been more and more sidelined as a last resort and for many local authorities as an expensive option.

Along with the preference for non-residential help comes a decrease in the funds available for residential help. In addition the criteria of eligibility for someone seeking residential help is often very tough. The net effect of these developments has been that there are now an increasing number of alcoholics / addicts who have serious problems and require residential help who are not getting that help

OUR RESPONSE TO THIS PROBLEM: For the past six years Charis has raised nearly £250,000 to pay for those people who have needed help with their dependency and associated problems but could not, for various reasons, obtain funding from their local authority for treatment. The fund has also allowed those men in treatment who have only been partially funded to continue with their therapy when this funding has run out. Or fund, known as the ‘Pre-funded’ Scheme’, has enjoyed much success over the years.


It costs approximately £10,500 to keep a man in recovery for the six month Primary Programme. In order that we do not have to turn anyone away who applies for help under this scheme we attempt to always have a fund available that will pay for at least 5 men in any given year.

CHARIS SECOND STAGE AND CHARIS TERRACE PROBLEM: One of the crucial factors in helping to establish long term stable recovery, is the provision of continuing therapeutic support for people in recovery. Charis provides therapy all the way through someone’s stay, not just for the Primary Programme. The continuity and stability of the Counsellor means that the Resident doesn’t have to ‘start all over again’ with someone else. It also means that early recovery and therapeutic work is properly consolidated. Government initiatives pay for the costs relating to helping someone stay in, and handle his accommodation properly but no funding whatsoever is available for therapeutic costs beyond the Primary Programme. Residents usually stay for up to a year in the Second Stage and 2 years in the Charis Terrace.

 

OUR RESPONSE TO THIS PROBLEM:  Charis has always paid for this therapy from its own resources but this is becoming more and more difficult to sustain. Therefore we are attempting to raise this money in a similar way as we do for the ‘Pre-funded scheme’.  The cost of providing therapeutic care for all the men in the Charis Second Stage and the Charis Terrace for a year is £10,000.

If you would be interested in helping this appeal, please contact Mr Stephen Holness at Tower Hamlets Mission.

 


Tel: 020 7790 3040

email: sholness@towerhamletsmission.org


Tower Hamlets Mission, 31 Mile End Road, LONDON, Registered Charity No. 259535