Momentum has been awarded more than £500,000 to launch two innovative community rehabilitation services in Scotland which will assist people with drug misuse problems.
The award has come from the National Lottery distributors, the New Opportunities Fund (www.nof.org.uk) under its Better Off programme, which is aimed at increasing the use of community-based rehabilitation services by people who misuse or have misused drugs.
The bulk of the funding has been awarded to develop and deliver the STAR Partnership, an innovative approach to community rehabilitation. Operating in West Glasgow, the STAR (Supported Training and Rehabilitation) Partnership will bring together all the key stakeholders in the local community in a formal delivery partnership, with service users at the heart of programme design and delivery. STAR is designed to support people all the way from a chaotic lifestyle to open employment and will be led by Momentum’s Partnership Manager Dougie Taylor.
Ian Welsh, Chief Executive of Momentum said: “The STAR Partnership is designed to assist 100 people per year in West Glasgow to rebuild their lives and move towards independence following drug misuse. STAR will provide a clear progression from treatment, through personal development and training to supported employment and ultimately full employment. A key element of the STAR Partnership will be its innovative approach to bringing together diverse and valued partners across West Glasgow to provide a joined-up, effective service for clients.”
Momentum has also been awarded three-year funding to launch a community integration programme for people living in Ayrshire and Arran who are misusing or have misused drugs. This outreach programme will be based on Momentum’s successful Energiser programme and will support people to move to a structured lifestyle and to access training and employment opportunities, through a combination of signposting, personal development and pre-vocational activities. The programme will be supported by a community facilitator and has links with outdoor challenge providers to ensure that individuals can access relevant community supports.
Ian Welsh said: “Energiser Plus will complement existing local services and fill a crucial gap in programme provision in the Ayrshire area. The collaborative nature of the programme and the emphasis on partnership will ensure that services are cohesive and that people do not ‘get lost’ in their efforts to move towards social and economic inclusion. Clients will be supported to access education, training and employment, to maintain tenancies and to engage with the community as an active citizen.”
New Opportunities Fund’s Chief Executive, Stephen Dunmore, said: “The Fund’s Better Off programme will make a huge difference to people who misuse or have misused drugs in encouraging and empowering them to take positive steps back into society. These projects will enable them to move on into mainstream education, training, accommodation and employment, offering real opportunities to re-connect with their communities.”
For further information on Momentum, log onto www.momentumscotland.org or call 0141-221-2333.
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Background Notes
Momentum (formerly Rehab Scotland) was established in 1990 and now operates in 20 locations across the country, working with a wide range of disabled and excluded groups.
Momentum’s programmes are tailored to individuals and their diverse needs, recognising that some people will need support to re-build their lives following an accident or illness, while others will be aiming to gain employment for the first time. The organisation offers people the opportunity to gain the skills, training and experience that they need to live independently and to become equal competitors in the job market.
Photo and electronic version of the Momentum logo available. For these or for further information on news release call Ashley Lennon or Lorna King on 0141-221-2333