The Spitalfields Crypt Trust
• Introduction
• The Crypt
• Our Clients
Ongoing projects and Initiatives
• Drop-In Centre
• Acorn House
• Downham Lodge
• Bridge House
Fundraising
• Charity Shops
• How You Can Help
• Volunteering
Future Plans
• Training and Education Centre
Links
• Hanbury Community Project
Acorn House is a relatively new Project, which opened in 2002, with 16 individual bedrooms, located in Shoreditch, next door to St. Leonard's Church.
Here is an artist's impression of the new Rehabilitation Centre, Acorn House. Immediately next door is St. Leonards Church, Shoreditch.
Admission is exclusively for those who are Rough Sleepers with a history of alcohol abuse, motivated to do something positive and constructive to deal with their problems. We are determined, in the words of the Rough Sleepers Unit, "to get people off the streets, into accommodation, with the right sort of help for those who need it most, especially the most challenging individuals who have found it very difficult to get help?
How long can someone stay?
A resident can stay for as long as he needs to, providing that he is still reaping the benefits to be gained by participating in the rehabilitation programme. Some people no doubt, will only stay for a short period; others will stay for 6 months or more.
HRH Princess Alexandra, who opened the new project is being shown one of the rooms by a resident.
Services available:
The Home Detox Unit
We are able, with the co-operation of the local GP Surgery to offer a limited detox service, for those who will require support whilst withdrawing from alcohol. Residents are taken to the local Doctors surgery, sometimes every day,where a specialist nurse or Doctor provides the medical supervision, with additional support provided by our own staff.
The Rehabilitation Programme
Our aim is to help each resident find purpose and direction in their life again, to help him to regain his self-respect, to learn practical and social skills and to help equip him to re-enter mainstream society again. We will achieve this by working very closely with each resident, finding out what his hopes and aspirations are, and helping him to achieve them. A prominent feature of the rehabilitation programme will be an exploration of the first 3 steps of AA.
Together with our Therapy Programme, we will be employing staff to deliver a programme of Life and Social Skills Training, covering a wide range of activities, from basic Literacy to using a Computer, Arts and Crafts, Cooking, Budgeting etc. In addition, we will be setting up a Furniture Restoration and Crafts Project. We are confident that amongst the wide range of therapeutic, educational, occupational and recreational activities that form our programme, there will be many things to both interest and occupy residents.
Expectations
Acorn House is a Rehabilitation Centre, so residents must not use alcohol at all during their stay, or indeed any other drug, unless it is approved of by our Doctor and administered through the Office.
In conjunction with each client, staff will develop an individual rehabilitation programme. Consequently, each client is expected to co-operate and apply himself as best he can to that programme.
Move On
We currently have 2 move on houses, but these are difficult to access, due to the already high occupancy. So at this time we cannot guarantee access to move on accommodation, responsibility for this will very largely remain with residents themselves, although we help all that we can.