Drug Rehab Unit Gets Major Grant

A residential drug rehabilitation centre is to more than double the number of people it helps after a £550,000 European grant. The Rhoserchan Project, based near Aberystwyth, has used some of the Objective 1 money to buy new premises.

The charity will be able to treat 24 people and provide aftercare treatment to a further eight at its new base. In 2004, the charity had faced closure because its treatment rooms failed to comply with care standards.

The Rhoserchan Project runs a 12-week course for people who are unable to be treated in the community. The project is based in the village of Capel Seion, but hopes to complete its switch to its new home in nearby Penrhyncoch in January.

Charity co-ordinator Graham Menzies said the money from Europe, which the charity has match-funded, would help secure its long-term future.

“It’s great news for the charity. We did face closure a few years ago when we failed to meet the care standards’ inspectorate’s standards,” said Mr Menzies.

He added: “This new premises will be fantastic.

“Not only does it allow us to double the number of clients that we currently care for up to 24, but it also allows us to start a programme of secondary treatment to help clients back into mainstream society using a separate set of farmhouse buildings on the same site.”

The charity had been looking to relocate for some years.

Ceredigion Council said £3m worth of Objective 1 grants had funded projects in the private, public and voluntary sectors, creating and safeguarding hundreds of jobs in the county.