Residents of Harrow can now access a range of services to tackle problem drug and alcohol use from a single centre in the heart of the borough. Compass Harrow, which is located in the 21 Building on Pinner Road, provides help and support to the borough’s residents, irrespective of the severity of their needs. Services range from information and advice through to medical treatment, counselling, and support from former service users who have overcome their dependency.

Compass has delivered drug and alcohol services in the borough since January 2010. The new base has been made possible thanks to a refurbishment grant provided by NHS Harrow and secured from the Department of Health.

Jess Thompson, Compass Service Manager, believes that the new centre will further increase the growing number of Harrow residents leaving treatment free from their addictions. “We’ve had great success working from partner sites but have always lacked a central location to bring together all the things we offer. The new centre will allow us to meet all the needs of clients under one roof, to celebrate their achievements and to demonstrate to others that recovery is possible.”

The centre includes a friendly drop in area for people seeking advice and information, individual counselling rooms, clinical rooms and two large group rooms which are accessed by partners and peer support groups. The centre is also the administrative base for a team of workers who provide dedicated support to young people with substance misuse problems and their parents from sites across the borough. The team includes staff members who work exclusively with clients with both substance misuse and mental health problems.

The Worshipful the Mayor of Harrow attended the launch and formally opened the centre. “Harrow is a diverse community and people do need advice and counselling on drug and alcohol related problems … We welcome Compass to Harrow, so that residents can make use of these facilities and make Harrow a safer place to live.”

Compass Chief Executive, Steve Hamer OBE, said “our Harrow team are doing an excellent job for local residents, with almost half of clients successfully completing treatment free from drugs or alcohol. Now, with a base designed specifically with local needs in mind, we can offer more and better help clients to sustain their achievements for the long term.”