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Zacchaeus Project
Outline:
The Zacchaeus Project provides care and support through local drop-in facilities.
In the drop-in, the project offers hot meals, care and support to young men and women who are homeless, or who are searching for the answers to life controlling problems, especailly drug and/or alcohol addictions.
The Project also provides information on and mentroing towards Christian detox and rehabilitation programmes as well as providing information on and referral towards other treatment and support agencies in the community.
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Main Activities are:
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Provide hot meals, information on, and referral towards other local service providers.
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To provide information on and mentoring toward Christian detox and rehab facilities.
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To provide continued support and contact whilst clients are in rehab.
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To provide “safe homes” for weekend breaks from rehab.
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To assist re-entry into community
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To help clients access local churches who are supportive of this client group.
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The project works in partnership with local service providers and statutory bodies and regularly receives referrals from them.
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CASE EXAMPLE
Name: Paul Age: 31
Key quote: “I owe my life to the Zacchaeus team“
Background:
Paul turned to drugs in his early teens as a result of his parents marriage break up, and subsequently drifted into crime. He became a regular in the cells at the local police station, and started serving short sentences in prison. Paul then started using heroin and lost his flat, his girl friend, and every possession he had. He became a prolific offender in burglary, auto crime and shop theft. His doctor had given him weeks to live. He was disowned by his family and living in a burnt out flat.
Type of support accessed:
Paul started attending the Zacchaeus Project drop in in Nov 2003 and enjoyed the support given by the team. He was attracted to the idea of Christian rehab and whilst waiting access was mentored by one of the team members. During his time with Teen Challenge the team regularly contacted him through letters, e-mails and visits. A safe house was provided for local home visits.
On completing rehab Paul was helped find a flat owned by local Christians and his mentoring has continued. He also has extended family support from one of the local churches.
Individual outcomes:
Paul works as a volunteer at 2 Christian drop ins, as well as with a local Prolific offender unit as a peer support worker. Paul also gives presentations to local schools and youth groups He has started doing courses that hopefully will lead him to being a drug worker.
He also hopes to set up a local peer support group with another ex user (who beat his addiction whilst living in the community with the support of his local church).
Paul has been identified by Probation as someone they would like to employ in the future, as a peer mentor and possibly this summer will be working with them in a full time paid post.
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