The Drop In is at the heart of our work in Blackburn and is our longest established service.

The Drop In opens every day Monday-Friday and is the first port of call for those who are homeless, struggling to make ends meet, have difficulties with substance misuse and need intensive support.

At the Drop In, we provide a cooked hot meal, emergency support and guidance to help our service users access other services.

Every day about 70 people visit our Drop In. some of them have families. Many are facing real hardship and deprivation.

THOMAS engages people we have previously helped to volunteer at the Drop In and provide mentoring support.

Often having the help of someone who has had serious problems themself provides the motivation and encouragement that is needed.

For the people who visit the Drop In and have substance misuse problems, THOMAS helps them engage with services to address their addiction.

For further information please contact Beverley Suddick, Drop In Coordinator on 01254 660 861 or email beverley.suddick@thomasonline.org.uk

Witton Bank is a well-established, spacious building, set in pleasant gardens, close to the town centre, and can accommodate 21 males in single and shared bedrooms.

Our most recent CQC inspection was graded Good in all areas. (Care Quality Commission 2022)

Witton provides a challenging but caring environment for men to effectively address their drug & alcohol problems. It offers service users the opportunity to rebuild their lives by finding a solution to addiction and providing the tools and life skills to enjoy a life through recovery.

We appreciate that those who have had a life in active addiction will need a high degree of support to recover; we address this through an intense group dynamic programme where the process of repairing self-esteem, dignity & relationships begins. The programme of rehabilitation, support intervention and advice is designed to transform lives. The normal duration of the primary programme is 26 weeks followed by the option of a further support in semi-independent accommodation.

Witton Bank is a community in which residents play an essential, leading part by actively contributing to the day to day running of the house, including cleaning & cooking, as part of the therapeutic programme. Residents participate in decision making and the support of fellow residents through regular house meetings and peer evaluation sessions. The community reflects personal and social responsibility. Peer influence is central to this process as it holds the group dynamic together where people learn to live within social norms and develop more effective social skills.

Leisure activities are organized and supervised. These include walks, gym visits, shopping (at specified times), football, swimming, cycling, table tennis. Learning and practical training opportunities are organised in partnership with ACCROSS and other local providers.

The THOMAS programme is a powerful combination of interventions combining the 12 Steps with group work, cognitive and psychotherapy techniques and coping & living skills.

Our group therapists will use a diverse array of approaches and techniques. These can range from cognitive behaviour therapy, family interventions, brief therapies including solution focused, motivational interviewing, imagery, music and art therapies.

All service users are provided with counselling on a one to one basis by a qualified therapist. This affords the opportunity to explore issues and gain insight into them in order to further deal with complex issues in their lives.

Each resident is assigned a qualified key worker who works regularly with them on their development and progress through the programme. Specifically the Key Worker provides the service user with a care-support plan which is reviewed weekly in 1 to 1 sessions.

Residents have access to mentoring support from former THOMAS service users.

Where appropriate, family interaction sessions take place after 4 months on the programme. These are facilitated sessions between the service user and their families designed to help in the re-establishment of relationships.

For further information please contact Rachel Walker, Residential Care Manager on 01254 59240 or email rachel.walker@thomasonline.org.uk

Our move on accommodation provides semi-independent abstinent living for up to 12 males aged 18+, who have come from residential rehabilitation. Clients can stay at the flats between 6 and 12 months, where they learn to live independently, continuing and strengthening their recovery, in a drug and alcohol free environment.

Service users agree to remain abstinent and follow the strict rules which are enforced. This in recognition of their vulnerability and to protect other residents.

THOMAS relies on the generous support of many volunteers and mentors.

We encourage people who have successfully completed our programmes to volunteer as a way of sustaining their recovery and making a positive contribution to the local community.

We provide training, support and supervision for our mentors and volunteers. Some of our former mentors have gone onto find paid employment with THOMAS or other local services.

We also welcome volunteers from the wider community, particularly  in Blackburn and Salford. Whether you are retired, seeking work or interested in finding out more about our work, there are opportunities for volunteers to make a difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people.

We have a social enterprise project, supported by the Big Lottery Reaching Communities fund to provide practical work experience, accredited learning and training and progress towards employment. This project specialises in furniture and bicycle restoration and refurbishment.

Volunteer with Us (click here for more details)

THOMAS’ work does not stop when someone completes a programme or leaves a project we deliver.

We actively support the recovery community, participating and organising recovery activities and social events, encouraging informal networking and mutual support and providing a safety net for former service users who are struggling with their recovery.

We encourage members of the recovery community to continue to make a positive contribution to their local communities by volunteering with ourselves or local community groups.

THOMAS provides separate residential rehabilitation for men and women in Lower Broughton, Salford.

Both houses are well-established, pleasant building, set in peaceful gardens.

THOMAS House was found to be fully compliant at its first Care Quality Council inspection in early 2013. (CQC no longer awards grades at inspection.)

THOMAS residential units provide a challenging but caring environment for individuals to effectively address their drug & alcohol problems. We  offer service users the opportunity to rebuild their lives by finding a solution to addiction and providing the tools and life skills to enjoy a life through recovery.

We appreciate that those who have had a life in active addiction will need a high degree of support to recover; we address this through an intense group dynamic programme where the process of repairing self-esteem, dignity & relationships begins. The programme of rehabilitation, support intervention and advice is designed to transform lives. The   primary programme is typically 13 weeks, but may last longer depending on individual need. This is then followed by the option of a further support in semi-independent accommodation.

THOMAS provides a community in which residents play an essential, leading part by actively contributing to the day to day running of the house, including cleaning & cooking, as part of the therapeutic programme. Residents participate in decision making and the support of fellow residents through regular house meetings and peer evaluation sessions. The community reflects personal and social responsibility. Peer influence is central to this process as it holds the group dynamic together where people learn to live within social norms and develop more effective social skills.

Leisure activities are organized and supervised. These include walks, gym visits, shopping (at specified times), football, swimming, cycling, table tennis. Education and practical learning activities are organised.

We have a social enterprise project, supported by the Big Lottery Reaching Communities fund to provide practical work experience, accredited learning and training and progress towards employment.

The THOMAS programme is a powerful combination of interventions combining the 12 Steps with group work, cognitive techniques and coping & living skills.

Each resident is assigned a qualified key worker who works regularly with them on their development and progress through the programme. Specifically the Key Worker provides the service user with a care-support plan which is reviewed weekly in 1 to 1 sessions.

Residents have access to mentoring support from former THOMAS service users.

For further information please contact Tracy West, Salford Manager on 0161 792 5982 or email: tracy.west@thomasonline.org.uk

Our move on accommodation provides semi-independent abstinent living for inidviduals who have come from residential rehabilitation at THOMAS House. Clients can stay in shared houses, where they learn to live independently, continuing and strengthening their recovery, in a drug and alcohol free environment. As well as the semi-independent housing, clients benefit from all of our recovery support services.

We have a social enterprise project, supported by the Big Lottery Reaching Communities fund to provide practical work experience, accredited learning and training and progress towards employment. Service users gain important experience in furniture and bicycle restoration and refurbishment.

Service users agree to remain abstinent and follow the strict rules which are enforced. This in recognition of their vulnerability and to protect other residents.

For further information please contact Tracy West, Salford Manager on 0161 792 5982 or email:  tracy.west@thomasonline.org.uk

THOMAS’ work does not stop when someone completes a programme or leaves a project we deliver.

We actively support the recovery community, participating and organising recovery activities and social events, encouraging informal networking and mutual support and providing a safety net for former service users who are struggling with their recovery.

We encourage people who have successfully completed our programmes to volunteer as a way of sustaining their recovery and making a positive contribution to the local community.

We encourage members of the recovery community to continue to make a positive contribution to their local communities by volunteering with ourselves or local community groups.

We provide training, support and supervision for our mentors and volunteers. Some of our former mentors have gone onto find paid employment with THOMAS or other local services.

THOMAS relies on the generous support of many volunteers and mentors. We also welcome volunteers from the wider Salford community. Whether someone is retired, seeking work or interested in finding out more about our work, there are opportunities for volunteers to make a difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in Salford.

For further information please contact Tracy West, Salford Manager on 0161 792 5982 or email tracy.west@thomasonline.org.uk