Club members please log in for more information.
Captain Martyn Watson, on the left of the picture, is the former chaplain at the Salvation Army’s Gloucester House Rehabilitation Centre in Highworth. With him was the Centre’s current chaplain, Alan Baldwin.
Martyn said: “With heart to God and hand to man the Centre aims to inspire its clients to embrace on-going change and to build a new life free from addiction.”
To have a Rehab Centre in the middle of town is unusual but that’s where Gloucester House is, on Highworth’s High Street. Initially, said Martyn, Highworth residents were somewhat apprehensive of this new addition to their town but over the years they have come to embrace it. Not only embrace it but many of them make regular donations or raise money for it by means of various fund-raising schemes.
The Centre has capacity for up to 13, men who have become addicted, whether it is to drugs, alcohol or anything else that has brought them to a rock-bottom life. The 12-week rehab course costs the Centre £700 per week per person. It involves a lot of hard thinking, a lot of activities and other things such as a weekly jam session (music not confectionary). One man was heard to say “I’ve never sung before, at least not when I was sober.”
After the course, some men move on towards employment, a few remain in the House as volunteers and some even become staff members. Those wanting to return to work are advised to do voluntary work for a time rather than go straight into paid employment. The Chaplain keeps in contact with them after they leave, but doesn’t do so if they don’t want him to.
On behalf of the members present JVP Kathy Hobson thanked Martyn and Alan for their interesting and thought-provoking presentation.
'What We Do' Main Pages:
The world stands on the brink of the complete eradication of Polio. With your help we can end this dreadful disease for ever. Together we can make history
moreA Partner Club is a Rotary club that supports ShelterBox's work in disaster relief by donating over £2,000 in a Rotary year
moreFrom Rotary Club local heats to national finals, Rotary Youth Competitions in a range of creative areas let young people’s skills flourish.
moreBrighter Futures launched their Radiotherapy Appeal in 2015. Today, 7 years later, a ribbon cutting ceremony has taken place at the Great Western Hospital
more£1286 has been sent from our Emergency Disaster Fund to the Disasters Emergency Committee UKRAINE HUMANITARIAN APPEAL
moreRotary’s second major donation, of £208,000, was handed over on 7th July 2021 when local Rotarians visited the Great Western Hospital to view the build progress of the nearly completed radiotherapy unit.
moreWe went to the races in March. It was a meeting with 10 races, 8 riders in each. It wasn’t at Epsom, or Haydock Park, or just up the M4 at Newbury. It was, of all places, in Wanborough Village Hall.
more"In musical entertainment Swindon punches way above its weight. Some of the youngsters we've heard tonight will go on to make a name for themselves"
moreThe Rotary Club of North Wiltshire (the name was changed to the Rotary Club of Swindon North in 2008) received its charter from Rotary International on 28th September 1966
moreRotarian Terry Williams' remarkable and unique fund raising effort, living in a ShelterBox emergency tent for a week in the Market Place, Highworth
more