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Blackburn centre offers free massages and manicures to drug addicts
8:30am Thursday 16th October 2008
Comments (39)
DRUG addicts are being offered free massages and beauty treatments at Blackburn’s new rehab centre.
Bosses at the new Evolve centre in the former Lewis Textile Museum said perks were needed to encourage alcoholics and drug-users to come inside and receive treatment.
But some critics said it was wrong taxpayers money was being spent on such ‘luxuries’ that would cost ordinary people upwards of £20.
As many as 40 new people a month will visit the publicly-funded centre each month.
They will have the options of manicures, massages and hairdressing in a fully-equipped beauty suite.
Staff have been specially-trained and Yoga and Tai Chi classes are available upstairs in a bid to teach visitors “life skills”.
The publicly-funded Evolve centre, which does not provide medical treatment such as methadone, was opened earlier this week.
It costs £400,000 a year to run and has about 13 members of staff.
It is paid for by the government through contributions from the Department for Work and Pensions, and the local drug and alcohol reduction team.
Jerry Sutton, chief executive of voluntary agency Inward House, which is running Evolve, said: “Getting people through that front door is a huge part of what we need to do.
“If nobody comes through the door it’s a waste of money.
"And part of the reason they do is because there is something attractive about this service.
“Of our 12 locations in the North West we’ve never had a bad relationship with the community.
“What’s incontestable is that these activities are helpful not just to the people using them, but for the community as a whole.
“It’s about helping people get things for themselves.”
Mr Sutton said similar techniques had been successful where they were offered elsewhere in the country.
Nigel Womak, who runs nearby Nigel’s Cutting Shop in King William Street, said: “I think it’s a great idea.
"Whatever incentive you need to help them get off drugs is a good idea.”
But Fleming Square-based hairdresser Jeff Stone, said it sent out the wrong message.
He said: “This does not encourage people to invest in Blackburn town centre.
"We are saying people can have their nails done for free as long as they are a drug addict.”
Mark Wallace, of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “It is totally wrong that while taxpayers are cutting back their own luxuries, their money is being spent on massages for drug addicts.”
Labour leader Kate Hollern said: “My understanding was that they were trying to help people get off drugs but I’m not sure whether offering them massages is the answer.”
The decision by the previous Labour administration to close the textile museum in 2006 in a move to save £23,000 a year was widely condemned.
Evolve is using the council-owned building on a three-year lease.
Your Say YourBlackburn Citizen
Confucius, Darwen says...
9:44am Thu 16 Oct 08
Akki, Accy says...
9:47am Thu 16 Oct 08
Mind you they shouldnt call it a rehab centre as it will probably encourage more people to start up.
dt1807, Tyldesley says...
12:19pm Thu 16 Oct 08
"Whatever incentive you need to help them get off drugs is a good idea.”
Are you mad? Surely this will make them want to carry on taking drugs.
You IDIOT!!!!!!
Nigel, If I start taking Crack or the like how long will I have to wait for a holiday to barbados!!!
amir, Blackburn says...
12:23pm Thu 16 Oct 08
Us hard working taxpayers get nothing in return thats why so many people dont work.
Grizzly, Darwen says...
12:30pm Thu 16 Oct 08
Confucius wrote:why dont you confucius off you ignorant swine. If you have nothing better to do with your time than deplore every effort to improve local society then perhaps you could volunteer some of your time to a good cause and see the efforts made first hand before you pass such a prejudiced view.
This is great. They'll still be addicts, but they'll look and feel much better about themselves.
Why not try and bring some good to the world than condemn everything with such a distinct lack of knowledge of what you are talking about.
Leston, accrington says...
12:45pm Thu 16 Oct 08
spyderleg, blackburn says...
12:55pm Thu 16 Oct 08
loo82, The Burn says...
1:10pm Thu 16 Oct 08
Jimmy Paterson, Shadow of Pendle says...
1:30pm Thu 16 Oct 08
A hearty well done to those who thought this one up........
Geoff909, darwen says...
1:34pm Thu 16 Oct 08
retired one, Blackburn says...
4:17pm Thu 16 Oct 08
I worked all my life, and have to make ends meet on my pension. Workers are penalised and shirkers rewarded.
Frank Jr, says...
5:06pm Thu 16 Oct 08
mobile fly, Blackburn says...
5:37pm Thu 16 Oct 08
Nad, Rojales says...
5:46pm Thu 16 Oct 08
Jimmy Paterson wrote:Well said Jimmy, but you had me going for a minute. LMAO.
Excellent use of public money - I am so glad I pay my taxes for initiatives such as this -- I can't really think of any other more deserving cases in East Lancashire. A hearty well done to those who thought this one up........
Me in blackburn, says...
5:48pm Thu 16 Oct 08
I will not be shopping in the town centre again as this project is the final blow, why should I work 16 hours plus a day, not have time for hair cuts, massages - but have the joys of paying 40% tax to fund such ridiculous projects as this.
I should give up, steal, take drugs and let the free house, free eveything come flooding in!
Once more thankyou blackburn... I won't even be taking my children to the museum next door... instead this Christmas my presents will be coming from Bolton and Manchester.
Mind you there is a great back alley behind for the drug users to have a little pick me up before their treat or to mug a few people... if they do that 10 times in a month they should get a free car (that was sarcastic comment - please note - as who ever came up with this scheme will probably think this is a great idea too!!!!).
Frank Jr, says...
6:01pm Thu 16 Oct 08
FRJ, Blackburn says...
9:57pm Thu 16 Oct 08
Ilovemylife, Rishton says...
10:03pm Thu 16 Oct 08
stef196699, clitheroe says...
12:46am Fri 17 Oct 08
Grizzly, Darwen says...
10:39am Fri 17 Oct 08
stef196699 wrote:No seriously you all have very good ethical points. I stand corrected. Lets leave all the drug addicts wandering aimlessly around the streets, stealing to fund their habits, robbing your friends and family in the street, burgling your houses whilst you sleep.
grizzly nasty remarks about confucius comments, go a head do- gooders help all the junkies you want, god bless you. just do it with you own money not 400,000 of ours , have you any idea how many sick children that could help .
All because of a bunch of narrow minded bigots who are so self righteous that they expect that the taxes they pay should all go directly back to them and only the causes they believe in.
do you not class drug users as sick? addiction is an illness and theres are someones children so they fall within your category.
james2008, blackburn says...
11:21am Fri 17 Oct 08
To all the people who have posted negative comments about this story I hope you or anyone in your family doesn't need drug treatment in the future.
RAyzer, BURNLEY says...
12:03pm Sat 18 Oct 08
s free...they cost us a fortune...giro/housi
ng benefit/no poll tax..methadone,first in cue at docs..welcome to 2008 england...the land were workers are punished and made to pay,for low life junkies...remember you voted this shower in,itl only get worse.
RAyzer, BURNLEY says...
12:06pm Sat 18 Oct 08
Grizzly wrote:obvoiusly a smack head..or some 1 who doesnt work you clown!!!!narrow minded biggots???GET A JOB...!!!
stef196699 wrote: grizzly nasty remarks about confucius comments, go a head do- gooders help all the junkies you want, god bless you. just do it with you own money not 400,000 of ours , have you any idea how many sick children that could help .No seriously you all have very good ethical points. I stand corrected. Lets leave all the drug addicts wandering aimlessly around the streets, stealing to fund their habits, robbing your friends and family in the street, burgling your houses whilst you sleep. All because of a bunch of narrow minded bigots who are so self righteous that they expect that the taxes they pay should all go directly back to them and only the causes they believe in. do you not class drug users as sick? addiction is an illness and theres are someones children so they fall within your category.
RAyzer, BURNLEY says...
12:10pm Sat 18 Oct 08
Grizzly, Darwen says...
2:26pm Sat 18 Oct 08
RAyzer wrote:Listen d1ckhead, you've already posted how much you pay in tax on a previous article so i already know i earn a hell of a lot more than you do you f(_)cking inbred clown. Now go back to f(_)cking your underage sister you tramp
Grizzly wrote:obvoiusly a smack head..or some 1 who doesnt work you clown!!!!narrow minded biggots???GET A JOB...!!!
stef196699 wrote: grizzly nasty remarks about confucius comments, go a head do- gooders help all the junkies you want, god bless you. just do it with you own money not 400,000 of ours , have you any idea how many sick children that could help .No seriously you all have very good ethical points. I stand corrected. Lets leave all the drug addicts wandering aimlessly around the streets, stealing to fund their habits, robbing your friends and family in the street, burgling your houses whilst you sleep. All because of a bunch of narrow minded bigots who are so self righteous that they expect that the taxes they pay should all go directly back to them and only the causes they believe in. do you not class drug users as sick? addiction is an illness and theres are someones children so they fall within your category.
Slimplynth, Blackburn says...
3:39pm Sat 18 Oct 08
I imagine that a lot of people who become addicts have and have had a crap life, I don't mind any of my taxes being spent on this...
if it helps just one person to stop and then they dont go on to commit a life time of petty crimes and potentially more serious ones.. this scheme will have paid for it's self easily.
Be grateful that you can pay taxes, one day society might have to look after you and it will be you depending on tax payers hard earned dollar.
RAyzer, BURNLEY says...
6:08pm Sat 18 Oct 08
Grizzly wrote:you are a loser..darwens full of scag heads like you..and now youve proved your a junkie in your previous thread...get the syringe out junkie..and get off your neighbours computer
RAyzer wrote:Listen d1ckhead, you've already posted how much you pay in tax on a previous article so i already know i earn a hell of a lot more than you do you f(_)cking inbred clown. Now go back to f(_)cking your underage sister you trampGrizzly wrote:obvoiusly a smack head..or some 1 who doesnt work you clown!!!!narrow minded biggots???GET A JOB...!!!stef196699 wrote: grizzly nasty remarks about confucius comments, go a head do- gooders help all the junkies you want, god bless you. just do it with you own money not 400,000 of ours , have you any idea how many sick children that could help .No seriously you all have very good ethical points. I stand corrected. Lets leave all the drug addicts wandering aimlessly around the streets, stealing to fund their habits, robbing your friends and family in the street, burgling your houses whilst you sleep. All because of a bunch of narrow minded bigots who are so self righteous that they expect that the taxes they pay should all go directly back to them and only the causes they believe in. do you not class drug users as sick? addiction is an illness and theres are someones children so they fall within your category.
RAyzer, BURNLEY says...
6:10pm Sat 18 Oct 08
Frank Jr, says...
11:22pm Sat 18 Oct 08
easymonies, Disneyland says...
4:46am Sun 19 Oct 08
a: caught stealing again.
b: mugging people
c: come off drugs (and methadone)
d: terrorising people in town
then let us see if this was a success. IMHO I think not, but lets give it 12 months. And when it has failed close it down and put the money to a more worthy cause.
RAyzer, BURNLEY says...
10:05am Sun 19 Oct 08
Frank Jr wrote:typical!!!slum of east lancs..its a fact!!!frank JOBSEEKER RIGHT!!??J-R
Shabba ! you dingles
Frank Jr, says...
12:32pm Sun 19 Oct 08
RAyzer wrote:The dirty dingle of dingle town inbreeding dirty dirty dirty your mums your dad ... your dad your mum RAyer is dingle interbreeding scum
Frank Jr wrote: Shabba ! you dinglestypical!!!slum of east lancs..its a fact!!!frank JOBSEEKER RIGHT!!??J-R
retired one, Blackburn says...
4:13pm Sun 19 Oct 08
RAyzer, BURNLEY says...
5:42pm Sun 19 Oct 08
daveworsley, says...
11:51am Tue 21 Oct 08
Nad, Rojales says...
2:32pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Apply a bit of lateral thinking to my comment and the crime rate will fall,(burglary & theft, robbery etc.) as well as the huge bill the Local Taxpayer has to foot pampering to these worthless lowlifes.(methadone, benefits, etc.)
Another advantage would be the decline of pimps, pushers and prostitutes and the violence associated them. Perhaps then this country would again become a decent place to live instead of a joke. We would also regain our culture that's being eroded by these wrongdoers and their paymasters. Resources could then be directed to other more urgent needs outlind by other contributors to this thread.
Maybe then, places like the Lewis Textile Museum that are being closed throughout the country will be re-opened. (I can dream can't I?)
bangbangdone, Clitheroe says...
4:52pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Berry85, Preston says...
8:36pm Mon 8 Dec 08
Firstly i must say that this type of treatmnet for recovering drug addicts is a wonderful idea. The benefits of massage to a person who is suffering from an addiction are incredible. Not only does it help to relieve withdrawl symptoms it builds self confidence and gives poeple a sense of worth.
I am utterly amazed at the pig headedness of most of the people who have commented on this article. I assume you think that if a person is addicted to drugs they are therefore worthless? You are the type of people who encourage an addict to take their next hit.
As for the above post...do you think that people would prefer to stay on drugs to recieve free massages than be clean and able to carry on with their lives. OF COURSE NOT. You should be happy you are not an addict and are able to go out and buy yourself one!!!
What drug addicts need is help and therapy - whatever it may be. You certainly wouldn't be complaining if it were a member of your family receiving help - you would be encouraging it.
I could continue but I won't. Maybe people should really consider what they are saying!
RELAXING: Community support worker Leanne McAllister, right, demonstrates the facilities in the alternative therapy and beauty room
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The Lancs, Blackburn says...
9:20am Thu 16 Oct 08