The Last Hope runs every Wednesday 12pm - 2pm from the Recar Literary Instiute. It provides vulnerable people in the Redcar area with a hot meal, a comfy place to rest, human connection, and sleeping bags or tents- which the founder Jade jokingly calls "alternative accommodation."
The Last Hope started as a group to help the unhoused population, and those battling addiction within Recar, but has grown into so much more. The founder, Jade, started the organisation after recovering from addiction herself, a battle she feels she overcame through the development of faith. Jade spoke to CVFM host Lucy, openly and in depth about her struggles with addiction, and the process of conquering her reliance on substances. Her story is one that many people who have overcame, or are actively battling addiction, will find similarities in.
Jade described suffering abuse across her lifetime, and how she began to seek comfort in substances. Jade described this as a slippery slope, finding herself becoming involved in a culture that encouraged use of harder and more harmful drugs. Making this harder was the stigma around addiction, and how this can often make it more difficult to access help, or to find temporary accommodation. Studies indicate that those with PTSD are up to 14 times more likely to have a Substance Use Disorder[1]. In addition, homelessness increases the likelihood of substance use, particularly opiates, with over 70% starting to use substances only after they had became homeless[2].
Jade discovered the 12 step programme, which helped her to understand the cycle of addiction, reflect on her choices, and take accountability for her actions. Through this process, she developed a spiritual relationship with God, she credits her trust that a power was working within and through her, to her recovery from addiction. It also encouraged her to take stock of her life, recognise her mistakes, and make amends, a gift she now wants to pass on to help other's.
She created The Last Hope to give unhoused, and vulnerable people in the community a place to find shelter, a hot meal, and to be in a space that offers acceptance and guidance. The Last Hope welcomes anyone in need. Visitors are offered food, equipment for rough sleeping, and even a go on the karaoke. Families have spoken of how visiting The Last Hope has helped them to feel seen, safer, and given them a community who understand their struggles, and offer non-judgemental advice and support. Jade and the team lend a sympathetic ear, as well as signposting to local services.
The North East is one of the most deprived areas in the UK, with 20% of the population living in the most deprived areas in the country. Poverty and deprivation are some of the biggest risk factors for developing mental health issues[3], and factors such as being unhoused, or lacking job opportunities impact substance use[4]. Mental health care and services are in crisis across the UK, with less funding given to local governments than ever before[5], we now rely more and more on small charity or volunteer-led organisations to pick up the slack in wellbeing care. These groups rely on being accepted for one-off grants, funding donations, or in the case of Jade and The Last Hope, using their own savings to provide help for their local community.
The Last Hope is currently relying on donations of sleeping bags, tents, blankets, food and flasks. If you would like to donate, items can be taken to the The Redcar Literary Institute, 1-15 Lord St, Redcar TS10 3ER. Jade and the volunteers are at the Institute every Wednesday between 12pm and 2pm, offering a helping hand, a warm place to rest and a filling lunch. Tune in to CVFM friday 6pm-8pm to hear host Lucy chat with Jade about issues surrounding addiction, living with addiction and starting The Last Hope.
1- Chilcoat H, Menard C. Epidemiological investigations: Co-morbidity of posttraumatic stress disorder and substance use disorder. In: Ouimette P, Brown P, editors. Trauma and substance use. Washington, D.C: American Psychological Association; 2003. pp. 9–28
