Residents

What We Are and What We Do

What is a Lighthouse Project? At the Newquay Lighthouse Project we provide ‘Supported Housing’ for adult men who want to share in helping each other recover from drug and/or alcohol dependency within a mutual aid community, and through engaging in the recovery programs of local mutual aid networks (Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous etc).

We are a supported housing project, not a rehab. This means we will do everything we can to support you in your motivation and willingness to take responsibility for your recovery. You will need to proactively engage in meeting your own personal development needs whilst you are with us. If you do, when you move on, you will have established the internal and external resources you need to be truly ready and able to sustain your recovery and enjoy a healthy and happy independent life over the long term. Please think carefully if this is what you are looking for. We will be passionate about supporting you, but you will need to be equally passionate about helping yourself. As stated above we are not a rehab. We can only support you in your efforts to recover.

Your Own Program of Recovery

If you want to recover using the 12 step program of recovery, and would like a safe and supported environment to share with others who are doing the same, then we could be the right place for you.

We don’t provide drug treatment or personal care. We support you as you work your own programme of recovery and access support within the local mutual aid networks. All residents are required to attend at least 3 external mutual aid groups per week as well as the daily in-house support meetings.

We operate much like a healthy family where everyone shares in the cooking, cleaning and upkeep of the house. Residents eat their evening meals together and enjoy shared hobbies and leisure time.

If you want to turn your life around and believe we might be able to help you do this, why not give us a call?

Referral

You will need to find a professional capable of assessing your needs to refer you in (GP, counsellor, drugs worker, probation officer or similar). If you are unsure about this, please give us a call and we’ll help you organise your referral (see ‘Professionals’ page on this site for the referral pack).

Assessment

Your assessments will either be in person or on Zoom when this is not possible. If you’re being assessed at the house, we’ll show you around and introduce you to staff and residents. You’ll get a chance to ask questions and explore anything you need to decide if we are the right place for you. We’ll also ask you some questions to see if you meet our eligibility criteria. We will make sure you understand what we do and how we do it so you are able to make an informed choice. We aim to give you the result of your assessment within 48 hours, but it will always be within 7 days.

Admission

When you arrive we’ll give you a copy of the ‘House Rules and Expectations’, and a copy of the ‘House Timetable’. We’ll run through these with you and answer any questions you may have. You’ll be shown your bedroom and given the key. For your first two weeks you will be ‘on buddy’ which means you’ll have an allocated experienced resident who will help you find your feet and accompany you when you leave the building. After two weeks you’ll be given your own electronic key fob so you can enter and leave the building as you wish.

General medical needs

If you are not already registered with a local GP, we’ll help you to do this.

Substance misuse screening

You’ll be required to supply either a saliva or urine sample for drug and alcohol screening when you arrive. You’ll need to pass this to be admitted. Further samples will be requested randomly during your stay. A positive result or refusal to supply a sample will lead to immediate eviction.

Your support worker and support plan

“It’s not your job to trust us. It’s our job to be worthy of your trust”

You’ll be allocated a support worker who will help you create your support plan. This is the primary focus of our work with you. Your licence agreement requires that you engage with all elements of your support plan as this is what we’re funded to be helping you with. If you consistently don’t do the things that are in your support plan we will let you know. If this continues you may receive warnings or be evicted.

We will help you develop your support plan within your first two weeks with us. You will have your own copy of this. This plan is reviewed every three months and will list the issues you and your support worker have identified as needing addressing. It will name your goals and the actions you need to take to achieve them.

Your support plan will include things like:

• Any medical interventions
• Help accessing any welfare benefits you are entitled to
• An in-depth review of your previous life experiences and their connection with your recent drug and alcohol problems
• The ‘Recovery Process’ and where you are in it
• Identification of your needs and signposting to professional, voluntary and mutual aid resources
• Practical issues which need addressing such as debts, relationship with family members, education, preparation for employment etc.

Your Home With Us

We want you to feel relaxed, safe, respected and at home. We are a community of people sharing the process of recovering together and enjoying a life free from addiction to drugs and alcohol.

We are committed to providing you with a home where you feel welcomed, calm, valued and recognised for who you are.

Our building has 11 individual bedrooms, many en-suite. There is a large lounge with Sky TV, a large kitchen/diner and a back garden with beautiful sea views. Smoking is allowed outside in the patio area but nowhere else in the building.

Access to the building is controlled by a key fob entry system with video. Guests are only allowed in after this has been agreed in writing by staff.

All bedrooms are furnished to a high standard, including a desk and notice board, many have sea views.

There is an onsite office where the staff are available throughout the day, and an on-call overnight service.

What is ‘Mutual Aid’?

‘Mutual aid’ just means ‘people helping each other’. In the world of recovery from drug and alcohol addiction it’s often used to describe what happens in organisations like Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous.

Mutual aid works! There is something particularly special about ‘one addict helping another’. Being helped by someone who’s actually been there seems to make a difference. It seems that it’s easier for to follow the guidance of someone who’s already walked the path we need to walk.

In a Lighthouse Project, mutual aid is at the heart of everything we do. A community of people who want to recover together.