Touchstones12 is a registered charity. The Touchstones12 project provides a drug and alcohol rehabilitation programme based on 12-Step rehabilitation, working with individuals that are in the main unintentionally homeless. Touchstones12 believe that abstinence is the best road to recovery from active addiction. As such, the project aims to deliver a constructive recovery programme.

Norfolk House - Residential Accommodation

MISSION STATEMENT

Touchstones12 exists in order to

Meet the needs of anyone who is suffering

From an alcohol and/or drug dependency problem,

Principally through offering cost-effective services

Providing residential rehabilitation, including

Supported accommodation, and a structured

Primary and Secondary recovery programme.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Touchstones12 aims to be as professional as it can in its approach to its work. We seek to provide a secure and positive environment in which a resident may:

• Become aware of and deal with the fundamental issue of alcohol and drug addiction, and the range of problems that derive from and contribute to it, looking at these problems not as negative, destructive destiny, but as areas of growth and development.

• find a purpose in life that goes beyond crisis and failure, and results in a life of hope, self-discipline, security and personal development.

• seek as much as possible, healing of broken relationships and painful past experiences, which will result in a fresh beginning and growth for all concerned.

• discover and affirm the positive values of his/her life and character and to build on them within a new framework.

• develop this framework through group-work, counselling, training, work, recreation and overall community life provided by the projects.

In our daily work we strive to go further, as we believe that a majority of our clients have entered into our particular programme for the following two reasons: 

• (A) Stop drinking and/or using drugs

• (B) To concentrate on finding new ways of living.

The project has two residential phases: (1) Primary phase (2) Secondary phase – both residential phases coincide with respective programmes. Touchstones12 strongly believe that total abstinence predicts recovery. The main aims of our particular project include the following: 

• (1) Provide in depth help with the main problems surrounding drug and/or alcohol addiction.

• (2) Give individuals’ time and space to explore some of the underlying emotional issues that are associated with chemically dependency.

“I’ve been to the lowest depths of existence. So much so, I believed it would be better for everybody in my life that I was dead. I tried that, and failed. Then something happened, amidst all this insanity. This organisation saved my life.”

The words, of a former client of Touchstones12, say it all.

Touchstones12 is an abstinence based project that serves homeless individuals who are presented with a substance misuse issue.

January 2006 proved to be a major step in the history of Touchstones12, when Danie Strydom (Project Director), and his team formally took responsibility for the Norfolk House Hotel, a substantial property that meets the criteria for accommodating clients’ residential needs.

Occupancy of Norfolk House Hotel raised the profile of the organisation considerably, and consequently provided a professional platform for future work.

Touchstones is now offering a range of affordably accessible facilities, open to access for both residents and members of the general public. Without doubt, Touchstones12 is leading the way in many fields by initiating a number of innovative ideas that are certainly contributing to the regeneration of Colwyn Bay.

Touchstones12 is engaging service users in a range of worthwhile activities, and making a significant difference to the lives of many individuals in our local communities, and beyond. During the early part of 2006, Touchstones12 employed the services of Quality Training Solutions (QTS), who now provide on-site accredited training courses for staff members, fellow professionals and residents living in the local community.

Touchstones12 day centre programme was re-established in February 2006. The day centre programme currently provides a range of life skills and information technology training, professional counselling opportunities, and alternative based workshops.

On a further positive note, the organisation is soon to become established as an accredited Open College Network (OCN) provider. During the next financial year, Touchstones12 will be seeking funds resourcefully, to make its latest aims and objectives a reality.

Rob Smith, Project Manager, said: “Considering we are running on a shoestring, what we are doing here is rocket science. If past achievements are anything to go by, the charity – possibly the smallest in its field – is streets ahead in terms of success and activity, than its better funded cousins.”

There can be no doubt that Touchstones12 is currently the hot potato in the field of homelessness and substance misuse. The organisation is not only breaking down barriers, but also leading the way forward.