(Photo: Church of Scotland)
The Church of Scotland’s social care branch, CrossReach, has launched a new rehabilitation center in Inverness, enhancing support for those overcoming addiction throughout the Scottish Highlands and Islands. The facility, named Nevis House, is set to offer 22 placements annually, expanding on the established services of its neighbor, Beechwood House, a cornerstone of addiction recovery since 1991.
This initiative is part of a larger £100 million investment by the Scottish Government aimed at tackling drug-related deaths through residential rehabilitation. Over £38 million of this funding has been allocated to projects like Nevis House to boost recovery efforts across the nation.
Expanding Recovery Services
Maree Todd MSP, Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy, highlighted the importance of the expansion during the facility’s opening. She remarked, “Expanding residential rehab capacity is central to our National Mission on drugs and I’m grateful to all those who have worked hard to provide this additional service.”
Drawing from her personal history with addiction in her family, Todd addressed the stigma surrounding addiction recovery when meeting residents and shared insights from her journey before entering politics. She observed the transformative environment at Nevis House, where those in despair find love and value.
Community and Outreach
The new center aims to address the challenge of accessing treatment in remote areas by providing not only a detox and recovery environment but also ongoing community support to ensure continued connection for individuals post-residency.
Viv Dickenson, Chief Executive of CrossReach, expressed gratitude for the support received: “We are delighted that Nevis House has now opened in Inverness and are grateful to the Scottish Government for the investment and support from the Alcohol and Drug Partnerships in Highland, Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland, that has made this possible.”
She emphasized the impact of the new facility in enabling a faster response to those seeking help.
Testimonies of Transformation
Volunteers and residents shared impactful stories during the opening. One volunteer, Maggie, shared, “Miracles have happened, my life has changed unbelievably and CrossReach has given me such a great opportunity. There’s no magic wand, you have to work at it but I want to help others now.”
The former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson, previously visited Beechwood House and emphasized the Church’s role in supporting these initiatives. He noted, “They do a fantastic job here, but the message is not getting out. What they do here is being in the Church’s name, but we don’t shout about it.”
Broader Impact
Nevis House, alongside Beechwood and other facilities across Scotland run by CrossReach, offers services beyond addiction recovery, supporting families, children, individuals with dementia, and those without secure housing.
During Dr. Paterson’s visit, residents spoke candidly about the need for more rehabilitation resources, with one stating, “A lot of people are dying from the lack of help, the lack of understanding.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
