Addicts' rehabilitation centre plan for Drayton Hall 

Christian addiction charity Teen Challenge London is planning to turn Drayton Hall near Norwich into its headquarters and a rehabilitation centre for men, after it was gifted the freehold of the hall by its owner, the Lind Trust.

With its panelled staircase, large historic rooms, luxury furniture and extensive wooded grounds, Drayton Hall will become home to men battling addictions and the ravages of traumatic backgrounds.

Teen Challenge run a programme that is half monastic and half boot camp to help them find freedom, purpose and hope. The therapeutic environment will be ideal for rehabilitation, says Steve Derbyshire, who is chairman of the charity and is pastor of City Gates Church in Ilford.
 
It is also a far cry from the charity’s roots in the east end of the city, adds Teen Challenge London project leader, Javier Lesta Candal.
 
“The east end is a tough area and I could see the needs all around me from the moment I arrived there in the early Nineties,” says Steve, himself a former heroin addict.
 
Teen Challenge London, he says, started with a single decker bus which went out around Ilford and Barking for 25 years, the outreach grew and went out to other areas including, Whitechapel, Hackney, Brixton, Ealing and Waterloo weekly giving out up to 20,000 meals per year.
 
“We also went onto the Gascoyne estate, which had the highest suicide rate in east London among young men at the time. Some of the stories we heard were horrific, with terrible situations of abuse.”
 
A more permanent ministry grew as the charity acquired buildings to develop as a crisis centre. Over the years, the site expanded as it built residential facilities to house 29 men.
 
Through the Teen Challenge programme, the charity is transforming the lives of men who come to it via its street outreach programme or through local churches.
 
But while its programme helps men break free of addictions, gain an education and undertake work experience, its location in the poorest part of Redbridge was becoming an increasing problem.
 
“We had people outside our site smoking or taking drugs, fighting and screaming. Cars were coming past with music booming. The guys with us were trying to get away from all that. We needed to get them out.”
 
So the offer of the freehold of the fully-furnished Drayton Hall by Norfolk charity the Lind Trust this year has proved to be a God-send.
 
“It’s like a hotel,” says Steve of the 36-bed facility that Teen Challenge London had initially thought to use as a centre for its county lines rehabilitation programme.
 
“Everything here is top notch and it’s more conducive to the men because they won’t be tempted to go back on the streets. It’s in its own grounds and has a church, workshops, 600-year-old trees. It’s phenomenal!”
 
The quiet, stunning environment is hugely conducive to rehabilitation, adds Javier: “It’s surrounded by trees and the sun hits the back of the building all day long. It has a huge carpark which we’re going to use as a football and volleyball area and we’re close to canals and the sea, so we can do canoeing and kayaking.
 
“We’ve got a gym, a games area and a dining room too.
 
“We’ve gone from an industrial estate on the back of a very poor community to a serene facility with endless surroundings.
 
“It’s a big step of faith coming out of London but it gives us more capacity and the men will do better in this environment. They’ll be able to concentrate on becoming free of their addictions, learning and discovering faith.”
 
Steve is also excited that in addition to the new facility, Teen Challenge London is already working with churches in Norfolk, including Eternity, Proclaimers, Soul Church and Hingham Christian Fellowship, to launch outreach in the area.
 
The plan is for the centre to be up and running by December 5 and Teen Challenge. Centre Manager, Sam Mooney, who lives in Norwich, said: “We are looking for support towards the adaptation of the fabulous building which although in excellent condition needs to be adapted for use as a rehabilitation centre.”
 
The needs include: installation of showers, building of additional bedrooms and offices, double wardrobes x 20, CCTV, Tannoy system, two new vehicles, gym equipment, new beds, mattresses, pillows, duvets, covers and classroom desks.
 
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Find out more at www.draytonhall.org.uk
 
Article extracts from Elim Direction Magazine.
 
Pictured above is Drayton Hall near Norwich – the new home of Teen Challenge London.

How Teen Challenge London changes lives

Through its 17-month programme, Teen Challenge aims to free men from addiction and help them to become disciples of Jesus.

“Our goal is to help them live drug and alcohol-free lives, become effective in society, find salvation and walk in the purpose they were created for,” says Javier.

During the strict 11-month first three stages, men are supervised and supported to give up smoking, drink and drugs.

Through 14 biblically-based studies they receive help to deal with the root problems of their addictions, with many coming from abusive and broken families.

“We help them deal with their self-destructive thinking and problems from their childhoods, then disciple them to put their trust and reliance in Christ so they can live free.”

A structured programme offers classroom teaching of City & Guilds-recognised courses including English, health and social care, customer services, maths and employability. Meanwhile, Bible studies offer discipleship and the chance to tackle key issues such as forgiveness and rejection.

In the second stage of the programme, to prepare them to re-enter society, additional afternoon employment instils a work ethic in men whose addictions and backgrounds have often prevented them from holding down jobs.

“The Teen Challenge motto is ‘putting hope within reach of every addict’ and that’s what we do; give them hope that Jesus can set them free and deliver them from their addictions.”