The Ley Community therapeutic rehab programme has helped thousands shake addiction and build a future

Since the Ley Community got new buildings 30 years ago the centre has helped thousands of people overcome drug and alcohol dependencies.

People come from across the country to join the therapeutic programme, which prides itself on its high success rate.

According to chief executive Wendy Dawson, 84 per cent of residents are clean – free of addiction – a year after leaving.

Newcomers to the centre – based in Yarnton – go through two stages of recovery, but for most the strict nature of the programme comes as a surprise.

The first stage, which takes place over a six-month period, involves integrating the new member into the community.

As life at the centre is meant to mirror the real world as much as possible, there is a 9am to 5pm structure in place.

Residents are woken up at 6.30am every morning and breakfast is at 8am, with work beginning an hour later.

There are a range of jobs available including cooking, gardening and looking after the centre’s flock of chickens.

Aftercare resettlement worker Liam Moore, who looks after residents during the last few weeks of their stay, said: “The first few weeks are all about challenging behaviour and promoting a particular lifestyle.

“We work through peer groups where everyone will help each other. This is a self-help programme.”

Secondly residents go through “social reintegration”, a 13-week period where they have to find voluntary work placements in the real world.

Recent placements or residents have included working in supermarkets, coffee shops and as tree surgeons.

Mr Moore said: “This stage is important because people can go out without being labelled.

“It gets them used to going out and meeting people who are not going through treatment.

“Many of the people here have never had employment before so this allows them to learn how to work in a pressured environment.

“We also encourage them to go out socialising, stuff that other people will often take for granted. It is just about going out and experiencing life.”

Mrs Dawson added: “The people here have a huge work ethic. Employers tell us that they are actually surprised with the volunteers they get.

“We even had one resident who once cycled to Bicester for work even though it was snowing and the shop was closed – that’s how dedicated they are.”

Alongside work there are meetings every morning for residents to talk through their issues, with one-on-one sessions available with staff – many of whom are residents themselves.

But for all the help they get in the centre, when it comes to finding a job after treatment they are often thrown in at the deep end.

Staff run CV workshops and give their own aftercare in the form of long-term support, but when it comes to finding a job residents are expected to cope for themselves.

• Chief executive Wendy Dawson

For people like Raj, for whom this is the first time in rehab, the initial steps into the centre can be worrying.

He said: “At first I was worried whether there may be any racism given my ethnic background, but as time went on people were very understanding.

“Some of the staff here are the residents so they have been able to help me through some very difficult times.

“It’s great to have these people around you and it makes it such a nice place.”

Many residents have spent time in prison, and for Mark – who is in his second spell at the centre – the programme is also a way of changing outlooks on life.

He said: “I came here the first time after spending 10 years in jail.

“I was afraid that the staff might make me look stupid and I would just close off.

“But now I feel more humbled – I am just more open and honest now.”

People can support the Ley Community project, a registered charity, with donations by visiting justgiving.com/leycommunity.

Rehab took me from addiction to business

Whether it’s watching Dragon’s Den or building boxes, the story of Andrew Mangan is an inspiration for all the Ley Community residents.

After spending nine months undergoing rehabilitation, the former alcoholic is back at the centre starting work as a carpenter.

The 50-year-old, who began drinking at 15, works from one of the centre’s outbuildings while studying for a diploma in woodwork.

He said: “Most of my life I was going nowhere.

“Starting work has been more difficult than I thought it would be. I’m still learning as I go along and I’m improving my skills all the time.

“I get so much support from the centre as well, and I’m so grateful that they have given me the opportunity to work here.

“The centre saved my life, and I know I would not be here if they had not helped me.”

He often takes commissions from customers, and among the more unusual bespoke items he has been asked to make include hedgehog boxes and “fairy doors” for trees.

In an effort to improve his business skills as well, he has also been studying by watching budding entrepreneurs on television show Dragon’s Den.

Mr Mangan, originally from West Sussex, said: “This is definitely a long-term thing.

“I’m going to be going to lots of craft fairs and events to try to promote the business.”