A LONG-ESTABLISHED community addiction service is closing after 30 years following changes to the way drug and alcohol therapy is commissioned in North Yorkshire.

But trustees of Hambleton and Richmondshire Community Addictions Service – Harcas – are continuing to help vulnerable members of the community after merging with charity Lifeline Project by setting up a social enterprise.

Lifeline Project is a national charity with experience in drug and alcohol recovery – but in merging with Harcas it aims to help people who may be isolated because of mental health, age or where they live.

Treatment and therapy services formerly delivered by Harcas will now come from North Yorkshire Horizons.

Horizons offers specialist services including structured counselling, day programmes and access to detox services, and can be contacted on 01723-330730 from 9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Both HARCAS and Lifeline Project have long recognised that one of the problems for people recovering from drug and alcohol problems is a lack of employment, particularly in the North Yorkshire area.

Kim Michelle, area manager for Lifeline, said she was excited to start work on the social enterprise, serving the whole of North Yorkshire.

“We are in the very early days of establishing what we want the social enterprise to do, but we hope to give vulnerable people, such as mental health sufferers, the chance to gain skills and career opportunities.

“This may include people with drug and alcohol problems but more about aiming services at people who may fall through the gaps.

“It’s about reaching people who are vulnerable and making their lives easier.”

She added: “Harcas kept its work very local, and we now want to develop that culture and its values.

“We are bringing our knowledge of what works nationally to the area – but we are currently looking at what will be the most effective way for us to serve vulnerable or isolated people in North Yorkshire.”

Paul Townsley, Lifeline Projects Northern Director said “This new initiative will build on the good work done by Harcas in the past.

“We plan to develop social enterprises to meet some of our client group’s needs within North Yorkshire.

“It will provide training and work placements for people who have been out of the labour market for some time. “

For information about Lifeline Project call 01609- 780486.