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This year Blenheim, one of the UK's leading substance
misuse charities, celebrates 50 years of delivering drug
and alcohol treatment services across London. Blenheim is
the successful merger of three organisations – The
Blenheim Project, established in 1964, CDP (Community
Drug Project) established in 1968 and CASA (Camden
Alcoholics’ Support Association), established in 1977.
Much has changed since the early sixties when The Blenheim Project was first
working with young ‘drifters’, drawn to west London for empathy and shelter. Back
then, local volunteers were encouraged to provide overnight accommodation in their
own homes for those young clients who had nowhere to go. Eighty per cent of
clients were under the age of 30 and most of the young people who attended The
Blenheim Project were uncertain in what they wanted, half-convinced that they would
remain drifters, simply seeking a hot cup of tea and the clothing and luggage store.
It was a challenging time for the professionals too.
‘I am not sure that we really knew what we were doing when we set up the
Community Drug Project,’ says Gerry Stimson, now director of Knowledge Action
Change. ‘What we did know for certain was that there was an increasing number
of people in the area who were injecting drugs, and problems connected with
drug injecting in and around Camberwell Green.’
Individually the three organisations were known for their ‘caring,
compassionate and tolerant’ approach by the local communities and the
professionals who supported and funded their work. Across the decades they
have also been recognised for their innovation and responsiveness to local need
– CDP was the only agency still running an injecting room in the ’70s, CASA
delivered the first specialist services for the older drinker in the ’80s and The
Blenheim Project opened the UK's first crack day programme in the ’90s.
Blenheim is now one of the fastest growing charities in the UK, supporting over
9,000 people a year across London. Its staff are not only recognised for their
professionalism in delivering recovery treatment services but also for their
commitment to campaigning and influencing policy, as highlighted last week by
Baroness Hayter in the first of their 50th celebratory events, at the House of Lords.
‘For 50 years Blenheim, CDP and CASA have been proactive social change
organisations, rooted in the day to day challenges facing those with alcohol and
drug problems, their families and local communities,’ she said. ‘As Blenheim
enters their 50th year of social action they are committed to continuing to be a
loud advocate for those with the most complex needs in society today.
Campaigning and advising the main decision makers is indeed a key and
significant part of Blenheim’s work.’
The celebratory event was attended by renowned professionals in the field,
As London treatment service
Blenheim celebrates a milestone
anniversary,
Jo Palmieri
looks back
at 50 years of social action affecting
the drug and alcohol field
8 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| February 2014
Cover story |
50 years of Blenheim
www.drinkanddrugsnews.com
L ondon c
‘
For 50 years Blenheim,
CDP and CASA have been
proactive social change
organisations, rooted in the
day to day challenges facing
those with alcohol and drug
problems, their families and
local communities
.’
BARONESS DIANNE HAYTER