THOMAS delivers holistic recovery-focused services, which take people through residential rehabilitation.

We also offer drop-in facilities, assertive outreach, recovery programmes incorporating cognitive, social and interpersonal approaches, and support with broader issues associated with addiction.

We provide residential provision, support for those living in their homes and community-based programmes.

We operate in Blackburn, Salford and Bolton and take referrals from across the UK at our Blackburn Rehab Unit.

THOMAS’ Mission

  • THOMAS strives to provide a multidimensional approach to recovery that encompasses our core values.
  • Our programmes of rehabilitation, support intervention and advice intend to transform lives.
  • We are driven by compassion for others and our communities give hope to each individual.
    THOMAS’ Vision
  • We aim to be a leader in therapeutic recovery.

THOMAS’ Values

  • THOMAS provides timely, reliable and targeted recovery services that are judged by their quality, their cost effectiveness and relevance to peoples’ needs.
  • We fulfil our obligation of building strong and durable recovery communities, protecting sustainable recovery and meeting our commitments to our partnership working.
  • We attract, develop and retain the interest of our service users by making recovery an enjoyable journey of discovery.
  • We value diversity and the unique contributions of each person, fostering a trusting, open and inclusive environment.
  • We value the passion people have for transformation and we empower our service users to believe in change.
  • We strive for success by pulling together.
  • We treat each other and our differences with a high degree of respect, sharing ideas, failures and successes.
  • We work in innovative ways, network in unexpected ways and make connections across disciplines.
THOMAS was founded by Father James McCartney in Blackburn, Lancashire, in1994. He wanted to provide long-term help in direct response to the people trying to overcome addiction who came to him for relief and support.

Susan came to him for help in 1994; she was addicted to heroin and sniffing glue, homeless and a prostitute.

Susan wanted to change her life and after meeting her Father Jim, was inspired to try to help many other people like Susan.

So THOMAS was formed, relying at first on volunteers. THOMAS grew and formalised our approach to rehabilitation and recovery. We became a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. We began to deliver residential as well as community based rehabilitation and recovery services to help people move from substance misuse, prolific offending and homelessness, towards a new life of opportunity and hope.

We deliver our services within national and local frameworks to meet recognised quality standards. THOMAS now employs qualified and experienced staff, many of whom previously successfully completed recovery programmes with THOMAS.

We continue to receive generous support from volunteers who kindly offer their time.

THOMAS has developed a number of strong partnerships.

Some of our work is funded in Blackburn with Darwen is through  contract with CGL (Change, Grow, Live.) Some of our work in Salford is through a contract with GMMH (Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.)

These larger organisations have contracts with the local authorities and we work as a subcontractor. This enables us to put our mission into practice. We have developed excellent relationships with other agencies working in the recovery field, as well as those providing complementary services such as housing, mental health, employment and education.

However some of our work does not receive statutory funding. This is particularly true of our work with the most vulnerable. We rely on charitable support for this work and are very grateful to our individual donors and the groups who fundraise for us.

Some of our projects are funded by charitable trusts and foundations, particularly when they are in the early stage of development and have not yet been recognised as a priority for local authority contracts.

Through our partnerships with the private sector, we enable businesses to meet their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitments and make a difference to local communities whilst also contributing to national priorities.

Drug addiction is a complex but treatable condition

Those affected use drugs compulsively, damaging themselves and those around them

Drug addiction goes hand in hand with poor health, homelessness, family breakdown and offending

70% people in drug treatment and 86% people in alcohol treatment have mental health problems

Drug misuse causes disease (including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV) and premature death

A typical heroin user spends around £1,400 per month on drugs: 2.5 times the average mortgage

Heroin, cocaine or crack users commit up to half of all acquisitive crimes

The average cost of crime for a dependent drug user is £26,074 a year

160,000 people dependent on alcohol are on benefits and face significant barriers to employment (DWP Problem drug users’ experiences of employment and the benefit system)

(Source: National Treatment Agency)