Michelle* arrived at Bridge Haven, a women’s rehabilitation centre in Preston, in 2023 desperate for help.

“I felt I was a slave to the drugs. I couldn’t even consider doing anything without being on drugs. I was unable to function,” Michelle said.

But there were no beds available. During the agonising and dangerous wait, without any indication of when a bed would free up, Michelle’s drug addiction got worse.

After four months she was finally admitted into the Salvation Army-run centre and was able to get clean. Now two years on from completing the rehabilitation program, the student is months away from completing her studies in social work.

Without the support, Michelle would have been incapable of turning her life around. “Rehab was my only option because I needed 24-hour a day suppo

See Full Page