Alcohol centre faces closure because of funding crisis

NEGOTIATIONS to secure £200,000 of funding for Beechwood House — Inverness’s only 24-hour emergency centre for alcoholics — have failed, sparking fresh fears that the facility may be forced to close.

Attempts by Highland Council to persuade the police and health board to make up the cash shortfall have been unsuccessful and now staff have been informed that the money will be withdrawn next March.

Unless CrossReach, the voluntary organisation which runs the complex on Old Perth Road, can source alternative finance the unit providing emergency beds for people as an alternative to custody is set to close with the loss of eight to 10 full and part time jobs.

Recovered alcoholic Kenny MacDonald, of Birch Brae Drive, Kirkhill, owes his life to staff at Beechwood and says it will be a “disaster” if it cannot be saved.

The 50-year-old took himself to Beechwood House three years after his drinking spiralled out of control.

Now he admits: “If I had not stopped I would be dead.

“At Beechwood they put me on a 16-week programme and helped turned my life around. I’m not the only one, they have helped a number of people.”

He said allowing it to close would put pressure on hospital beds, police cells and mental health services.

“It will be a disaster for the police, for Raigmore Hospital, everyone. The drug and alcohol problem is getting worse in the city and this is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Staff at Beechwood, are planning to fight for the centre’s future by launching a campaign to raise awareness of its work. As well as operating as a designated place — just one of two in Scotland — the centre also provides rehabilitation services for people with long-term drug and alcohol addictions. This part of its work is not under threat.

The council is currently facing a £3.4 million overspend in its social work budget and is tasked with making £80 million of cuts over the next three years. It agreed in February to slash funding from Beechwood, hoping that Northern Constabulary and NHS Highland would agree to contribute.

But instead of coming up with a solution to bridge the funding gap it appears they are now looking at tackling drug and alcohol addiction through existing community misuse teams.

A local authority spokeswoman insisted the result would be an improved and more focused residential and out-reach service.

Calum Murray, director of adult care at CrossReach, said all options for funding were being explored and closure of the designated place would be a last resort.

He warned, however, that the organisation would not be able to continue funding the facility itself.

“We will do our best to try to arrange some funds but £200,000 is not something that can be found over night.”