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Last updated: 23 November 2008
12 December 2007
CAB/096-07
Cabinet Office Minister Gillian Merron today saw how an innovative Brighton service is helping parents beat drug and alcohol problems, while keeping their families together.
Phoenix Futures puts a roof over families heads at the same time as helping parents successfully tackle their substance misuse and develop their parenting skills.
The six-month rehabilitation service offers secure and stable living accommodation for up to 17 adults and children, enabling them to rebuild family relationships with the help of a dedicated family key worker.
Gillian Merron said:
“This is a great example of a programme which not only helps individuals tackle their drink or drug abuse, but also helps the family as a whole by actively ensuring they stay together.
“We all know how important it is to have the support of our families to achieve goals in life, so I can see how it would help enormously to keep families together, while mum or dad strives to turn their lives around.”
Phoenix Futures Brighton Family Service currently has five single parent families and one couple resident at the service.
The Minister met Acting Service Manager Sam Kirwan and discussed the benefits of taking a whole family approach.
She took a tour of the centre, seeing how families live on a day to day basis and the help they are given, before talking in detail to several of the residents.
Acting Service Manager Sam Kirwan said:
“We believe in keeping families together. It is much better for children to be able to stay with their parents if possible, rather than going into care.
“We provide a stable and supportive environment where parents can tackle their substance misuse and parenting issues, whilst caring for their children. It gives us a chance to support the family as a whole and help them develop strengths and bonds for the future.”
Phoenix Futures has 37 years experience of providing care and rehabilitation services for people with drug and alcohol problems in the UK.
During this time it has developed a diverse portfolio of services across community, prison and residential settings, including specialist Family Services in Brighton and Sheffield.
As part of her role as Cabinet Minister with responsibility for social exclusion, Gillian Merron has visited many projects across the country to see the challenges people face in building better lives.
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