£100,000 needed to help more recovering addicts at new hostel near Melton

Fundraising has started to raise £100,000 to double the number of rooms for men recovering from addictions at a new charity hostel.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Jul 2017, 16:14 GMT
Updated 11th Sep 2017, 12:43 GMT
Eileen Bagguley outside the Carpenters Arms, at Six Hills, which provides residential rehabillitation for men suffering from addictions EMN-170721-133008001Eileen Bagguley outside the Carpenters Arms, at Six Hills, which provides residential rehabillitation for men suffering from addictions EMN-170721-133008001
Eileen Bagguley outside the Carpenters Arms, at Six Hills, which provides residential rehabillitation for men suffering from addictions EMN-170721-133008001

The Carpenter’s Arms opened at Easter in the former Six Hills Hotel which before that was known as the Durham Ox.

It is currently housing 30 drug and alcohol addicts to aid their rehabilitation.

The aim is to refurbish the rest of the building, off the Fosseway, to provide rooms for another 30.

Some of the residents at the Carpenter's Arms, a residential rehab hostel for men recovering from addictions, at Six Hills EMN-170721-133904001Some of the residents at the Carpenter's Arms, a residential rehab hostel for men recovering from addictions, at Six Hills EMN-170721-133904001
Some of the residents at the Carpenter's Arms, a residential rehab hostel for men recovering from addictions, at Six Hills EMN-170721-133904001
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Eileen Bagguley, who is co-ordinating the project, said: “The building is in a bad state of repair.

“We are leasing it now but to be able to purchase it with a mortgage we need to be able to bring it up to standard within the next six months.

“When the work is finished we will have an extra 60 beds for men to call their home whilst they are in recovery.

“Those beds will be filled immediately because of the massive waiting list for people who don’t have the money to pay for this sort of care.

Some of the residents at the Carpenter's Arms, a residential rehab hostel for men recovering from addictions, at Six Hills EMN-170721-133904001Some of the residents at the Carpenter's Arms, a residential rehab hostel for men recovering from addictions, at Six Hills EMN-170721-133904001
Some of the residents at the Carpenter's Arms, a residential rehab hostel for men recovering from addictions, at Six Hills EMN-170721-133904001

“This property is going to cost £100,000 to refurbish and we’re fundraising to raise the money for this.”

The first fundraiser is a car boot sale at the hostel site on Sunday, from 8am until 12 noon.

Cars cost £7 and vans £10 for those who want to have a stand, which can be booked by calling 07860 221827.

Further car boots will be held there on August 13 and 20, September 10 and 17, plus October 1.

A recent skydive event raised £3,000 for the cause and a host of other fundraisers are scheduled, such as coffee morning, quiz and chips, good as new clothes sales and street collections.

The residents are initially referred to the Carpenter’s Arms charity by social services and GP surgeries and spend time in accommodation in Loughborough in the early stages of their addiction.

Phase two or their rehabilitation takes place at the new Six Hills facility and typically lasts six to nine months, with support throughout their staff.

They then graduate to more independent living in residential properties to prepare them to live again in normal society.

Eileen said: “They are aged from 18 to 65 and we have quite a few in their 20s and 30s and some have been in their 60s.

“Some of them are from professional backgrounds, owning their own business and holding responsible positions such as a bank manager.

“It’s a fairly unique centre that we run at Six Hills and there is a real demand for it.”

Anyone who would like to organise a fundraising event for the venue is invited to call Eileen on 07860 221827.