Change Happens Together at Herbie’s Drop-in Centre
Posted on | July 7, 2010 | No Comments
Great Yarmouth agencies combine forces for a new programme named after local street drinker
NORCAS is now part of a multi agency partnership project in Great Yarmouth, which
integrated the existing Salvation Army Drop-in centre and a supported network of other
organisations.
The facility offers food parcels, advice, support, washing facilities, showers, board games,
entertainment and a cup of tea to all those in need and particularly those who are currently
without a place to stay.
NORCAS provides drug and alcohol advice at the ‘Herbie’s’ drop-in centre on Tolhouse
Street, which currently sees up to 20 people each day. During the two hour sessions the
NORCAS worker will sit down and talk with any visitor seeking support in dealing with
addictive behaviours and offer harm reduction advice. The NORCAS team also support
those who are affected by someone else’s alcohol or drug misuse. Those engaging at
the drop-in are encouraged to take up the more structured and longer term support that is
available a short walk away at the team’s base on North Quay.
Richard Bergson, team leader at NORCAS in Great Yarmouth says: “NORCAS has
predominantly been a service based provider and by joining with the other organisations
at the drop-in centre, we have the opportunity to extend these services to people in the
community who may not have known about the charity or what we have to offer.”
Herbie’s is named after a well know street drinker who died on the streets of Great Yarmouth
during the Christmas period of 2009. His name was used to signify a commitment by all the
agencies involved with the scheme to prevent future cases like Herbie’s.
The extended ‘community drop in’, previously the Salvation Army Church, is hosted
and supported by a number of organisations including NORCAS, Norfolk Constabulary,
Voluntary Norfolk, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, GYROS, DIAL, MIND, Great Yarmouth
Community Trust (ageless opportunities), P&S Personnel, Citizens advice bureau, Job
centre plus, Comeunity, ASA, Stonham and the Salvation Army.
Without official funding attached to the project, the centre relies on the partnership approach
and is currently looking for retailers who are willing to donate gifts or food to Herbie’s to
benefit the service users.
Herbie’s Drop in Centre is open Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays between 9.30 am and
11.30 pm (12pm till 2pm on Thursdays). For more information please call Comeunity on
01493 845922 or visit the drop in centre which is located at the Salvation Army Church on
Tolhouse Street in Great Yarmouth.
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