A charity that helps people turn their lives around has secured nearly £250,000 for a new alcohol treatment centre in Bath.
The Public Health England funding will allow Developing Health and Independence to create a more targeted approach to “supporting and motivating high impact dependent drinkers” and increase its number of alcohol clients by 40 per cent.
A DHI spokesman said: “We’re really pleased to have been awarded this grant from Public Health England in our 20th anniversary year.
“The funding will help us refurbish an empty building and bring it into use as a treatment facility, in particular for those who struggle with alcohol problems.
“This will enable more people to make the changes they need in order to lead a better life, and will ultimately save the NHS and taxpayer money.
“The building will also serve as our new charity head office.”
DHI plans to use the funding to secure and refurbish a listed building in St James Parade.
The charity is based out of the Beehive in Walcot Street and The Hub in Midsomer Norton.
The former will be reconfigured into an “active change/maintaining recovery venue”.
The £248,500 grant came via Bath and North East Somerset Council.
Officers said the new centre will provide a major resource within the new integrated drug and alcohol treatment system for Bath and North East Somerset.
Stephen Sumner, Local Democracy Reporter