Heather Bellamy caught up with Ian Samuel, the founder of Gilead Foundations rehab in Devon, England.

Mark receiving a certificate

Heather: Can you tell us a couple of your success stories? How their lives have been changed?

Ian: We have many success stories we could talk of. Recently, in the past 18 months, we have seen 3 of our male ex-students leave, start employed work, and marry. All 3 of these men came to GF with heroin addictions, as they went through the programme at Gilead, they were set free from their addictions and learnt responsibility in the work place. It has been such a blessing to see people able to move on from their addictions and start a new life and be in a position to involve someone else in their life also.

Creche

Heather: What sort of people can come to Gilead for help and how do they go about getting a place there?

Ian: Gilead helps people who have "life controlling problems" which can mean anyone from a drug and alcohol addict to someone with depression. We take people from the age of 16 years and there is not really an upper age limit, although the programme we offer is work therapy based, so the person would need to be mobile enough to get involved. We take both males and females, and also children of the students once they have completed the initial phase 1 course. The procedure to come to Gilead starts with the prospective student phoning our administration office and completing an application over the phone. From there the application is assessed and if the applicant meets the criteria to come to Gilead, the application is processed, paperwork is sent out to the applicant for them to fill in and we also request certain reports from them such as a doctor's report, criminal report and psychiatric report (if applicable). Once all the paperwork is received, the care manager assesses the application and a decision is made as to whether we can offer a place to the applicant. The main categories of people we would not be able to offer a place to are: schedule one offenders; those with physical disabilities which would prevent them from taking part in the work therapy; those with severe mental health issues (we do take people who have dual diagnoses).

Sarah

Heather: What would you say to an addict, now, who might be reading this, to encourage them to come off whatever they're hooked on?

Ian: The power of an addiction is overwhelming and has many people locked up in an invisible prison which they cannot escape. Gilead can offer people the keys to unlock their prison and finally be free from their addiction. The process each person needs to go through to reach this freedom can be painful and hard work, but it is worth the effort to be free.

Heather: Finally, I know you're always looking for people to come to live on the farm with you, to work with the students. If someone would like to find out more information about this, how can they do that?

Ian: We always have plenty of work for people to do, both practically in the various work sections and also caring for the students who come here. Those interested in working with Gilead should call us on 01837 851240 or email admin@gilead.org.uk our website address is www.gilead.org.uk.

Gilead Foundations farm was the site for Cross Rhythms festival in Devon for many years. Students were a part of the site team helping the smooth running of the event. Currently Cross Rhythms and Gilead Foundations work together under the name 'The Word In Action'.