Blackburn with Darwen Council-backed charity funding bid successful

A Blackburn with Darwen Council-backed bid by a local drug and alcohol charity for funding to improve its facilities in the borough has been granted.

The THOMAS charity, based on France St, Blackburn, received 90k from Public Health England’s capital fund to improve buildings used by them in Blackburn with Darwen.

THOMAS enables people to rebuild their lives and move on from addiction to drugs or alcohol and enjoy a life of recovery.

All recovery-focused adult drug and alcohol treatment and support services across England were entitled to bid for a share of the funding, distributed by Public Health England (PHE) via local authorities.

One of the main THOMAS projects that will benefit from the funding is the Witton Bank Residential Rehabilitation Project.

This project supports those people who wish to be abstinent from drugs or alcohol, but who have struggled due to a number of reasons from social isolation to chaotic lifestyles, offending behaviour and poor general and mental health.

The rest of the funding will be used to improve a housing project that delivers ‘move-on’ accommodation for people in recovery, with a particular focus on housing and employment options.

Councillor Mohammed Khan, Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: “We are delighted to see THOMAS have been successful in their bid. This funding will help them to further assist individuals at any stage of their recovery from drug or alcohol addiction. This is a good example of the Council working with partner organisations to deliver something positive.”

Rev Jim McCartney, Executive Director at THOMAS added: “We are delighted to have worked with Blackburn with Darwen Council on the bid and to have been successful.”