A drugs charity in Cardiff has been given £6,000 by the Welsh Government to be able to offer rehabilitation services on weekends.
The Living Room centre, set up by the Welsh Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs in Plasnewydd, offers support to anyone dependant on drugs or alcohol. Their therapies and activities have become very successful over the years and, following a merge with North Wales-based charity CAIS in 2013, The Living Room centre has intended on expanding its services.
Centre manager Sharon Jenkins said: “Lots of unemployed people go back to work after treatment here but maintaining recovery is very important so being open on weekends means we can provide more and more support.
“We were so happy when we got the email saying we have been given the money. We have known for a long time we need to start opening weekends as soon as possible. It is great to be able to work with the Government to meet this need.”
The donation will initially allow the recovery centre to open for five consecutive weekends from the weekend of March 8 and 9. It will continue offering its addiction therapy support it delivers on weekdays in addition to special group sessions, creative writing and art therapies on the selected weekends.
The charity will evaluate feedback on the effectiveness of the trial and intends to open on weekends indefinitely thereafter.
