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WALTHAM FOREST: IDS visits 1NE
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| Iain Duncan Smith MP discusses the changes to the Beulah Road centre with users |
A LOCAL MP, "furious" about the decision to reward a contract for a drugs and alcohol centre to a national charity, visited users to hear their concerns.
Chingford MP Iain Duncan Smith went to the 1NE in Beulah Road, Walthamstow, after learning that the council and Waltham Forest Primary Care Trust had given a £250,000 contract to Turning Point instead of three local charities, including 1NE which has been running the centre for 21 years.
He has been a supporter of 1NE since visiting in 2006, when he recommended it for a Social Justice Award, which the centre won.Mr Duncan Smith said: "I am furious with this decision. The tendering process gave completely unrealistic targets.
"1NE deliver, and they are doing a great job. You can see it on the faces of the people who are treated there.
"Turning Point, which this contract has been awarded to, is almost entirely funded by Government money. Unlike 1NE, they do not believe in abstinence-based treatment.
"This is not a good decision and I will be asking an independent group to look at the whole tendering process."
1NE business director Fiona Dunwoodie said that users of the centre were encouraged by Mr Duncan-Smith's visit.
She said: "He was very sympathetic and wants us to fight the decision.
"He really gave users a boost because since we informed them they have been asking a lot of questions and we were very keen for someone to answer them because we could not.
"He changed the whole atmosphere. The clients were thrilled to bits and got a lot from the visit as it has given them hope."
Turning Point was due to visit the Beulah Road centre on Tuesday to meet with users and discuss their new programme of treatment.
5:33pm Wednesday 14th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Mr Khalid, walthamstows on 11:39pm Wed 14 May 08
IS IDOT this mp duncen smith the ids and now he cals ine? i no no undstand this rubish names why? why concil also give the drugdrink parson the 2500000000$ for self and no give the ladys and the old mens monys for heat and lectrics and food and taxi meybe? the govment go crzy when do thinks for the drugdrink parson?
IS IDOT this mp duncen smith the ids and now he cals ine? i no no undstand this rubish names why? why concil also give the drugdrink parson the 2500000000$ for self and no give the ladys and the old mens monys for heat and lectrics and food and taxi meybe? the govment go crzy when do thinks for the drugdrink parson?
Posted by: Mr Khalid, walthamstows on 10:28am Thu 15 May 08
2500000000$ is gud for ids he earneded the mony to do councl parsons workin for drugdrik pepals and help taxi local drive businis
2500000000$ is gud for ids he earneded the mony to do councl parsons workin for drugdrik pepals and help taxi local drive businis
Posted by: Andrew Hatton on 5:01pm Fri 16 May 08
I think a local charity's abstinence based scheme is better than a large national charity who do not have a high priority on abstinence. They make the self help group that I attend there very welcome and I am thankful for the facilities.
Well done IDS, I hope Neil Gerrard and the other local MPs and councillors and GLA members get behind the campaign as well.
I think a local charity's abstinence based scheme is better than a large national charity who do not have a high priority on abstinence. They make the self help group that I attend there very welcome and I am thankful for the facilities.
Well done IDS, I hope Neil Gerrard and the other local MPs and councillors and GLA members get behind the campaign as well.
Posted by: Gary, Walthamstow on 2:25pm Sat 17 May 08
Would that be the (formerly?) Thatcherite hardliner IDS? Policies coming home to roost in more ways than one.
Would that be the (formerly?) Thatcherite hardliner IDS? Policies coming home to roost in more ways than one.
Posted by: eileen, kent on 10:07am Sun 25 May 08
I consider the change good news-- when we lived in Walthamstow a friend of mine's husband was trying to beat alcohilism; his doctor referred him to Beulah Road for counselling and their programme. Quite frankly, it was rubbish and very amateur in its approach. My friend and her husband moved to the South Coast; he attended a centre there, is now a recovering alcoholic and has trained to help people with the same problem. He tells me he won't forget the lack of care and bad advice he received from the "Local Charity" and its workers. So, good riddance, let's hope the new guys can do better.
Eileen
Kent
I consider the change good news-- when we lived in Walthamstow a friend of mine's husband was trying to beat alcohilism; his doctor referred him to Beulah Road for counselling and their programme. Quite frankly, it was rubbish and very amateur in its approach. My friend and her husband moved to the South Coast; he attended a centre there, is now a recovering alcoholic and has trained to help people with the same problem. He tells me he won't forget the lack of care and bad advice he received from the "Local Charity" and its workers. So, good riddance, let's hope the new guys can do better.
Eileen
Kent
Posted by: Wendy on 3:50pm Tue 27 May 08
Well let me tell you Eileen of Kent, without the 1NE centre at Beulah Road my brother would not be here today, they done a fantastic job and myself and family cannot thank them enough.. Good luck to your friend's husband, I glad he found the help he needed. There was no need for you to rubbish something you obviously got second-hand information about. How about going to see for yourself the good they do before passing comments.
Well let me tell you Eileen of Kent, without the 1NE centre at Beulah Road my brother would not be here today, they done a fantastic job and myself and family cannot thank them enough.. Good luck to your friend's husband, I glad he found the help he needed. There was no need for you to rubbish something you obviously got second-hand information about. How about going to see for yourself the good they do before passing comments.
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