Restoration scheme gives addicts hope

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-15217399

If it works with buses, could it work with railways?

Richard

 

Extra volunteers + Good will in the local community = Win/win situation.

I think this is an idea worth considering rolling out more widely. Once links are forged between the addict support groups and the preservation societies it will be self-sustaining. Obviously suitable vetting practises would need to be implemented, but with a spot of good will on both sides that wouldn't be a problem. These people need help, they shouldn't be left to fall through the cracks - they are not beyond help.

 

bet the Christmas party will be a blast!

 

A real snorter..
More seriously this could be a good and a bad thing. Any attempt to bring back these people in to 'normal' society is a good thing but you have to identify the ones that want to change and then keep following through. Just putting somone on a re-hab course to make up the numbers and create publicity when underneath they are not ready for it will just not work. Indeed, showing off your crown jewels to someone who slips back in to the old ways will teach them where the valuable stuff is and next time they need a fix will think nothing about selling valuable items for almost nothing.

Unfortunately I speak from a family experience.

 

A very salient point ilvaporista. Proper vetting processes involving the individual, the addict group and the preservation group would need to be implemented. But that can be done.

 

There is always that risk. It's a two sided process which requires great courage on both sides. You can learn almost as much about yourself as the other person. So far so good but you can never tell what is around the corner.

 

You certainly can't - but you can probably tell the ones who have really made "that" decision - that they need to turn away from self destruction to self preservation.

Its a rocky road and not one without turns and potholes - but as you bring someone back from the depths - it can have its rewards - as well as its heart stopping moments too!

Mine nearly came home from hospital today after shoulder re-construction - now she'll have to wait until self and Mrs come home from Scotland on Monday, but I wouldn't have been anwhere else but helping, no matter where it leads - lets hope its to family re-unification in this case.

So Maunsell Man - sorry - not funny - at all

 

Although it would be a good way for people to return to society, it would only take one incident to cause problems. The individuals would have to be assessed thoroughly first to help avoid any incidents. One concern that comes to mind is the amounts of valuable metals found on preserved railways, which could be stolen for "drug-money".

 

There seems to be an assumption amongst some here that the recovering ex-addicts in question will maliciously use the position they might find themselves in to case the joint and nick all the valuable metal lying around (because naturally they all know dodgy scrapmen and have a transit at their disposal...). A recovering ex-addict is just that, an EX-addict. I appreciate that these things can go awry, and I agree that vetting would have to be stringent, but seriously TBirdFrank has the right of it - once they're over the hill from self-destruction to self-improvement, it takes a lot to turn them round.

 

I didn't mean to say that all ex-addicts will do malicious things. I purely meant to say that if one "rotten apple" were to fall through the gaps, all sorts of things could happen. So any scheme of this sort would have to involve some very strict control measures and evaluations.

 

I misconstrued you, and fully agree with what you say.