We Care Community Services & The WE Centre for Addictions Recovery & Education

Charity Registration Number:      01888IPC Reference Number:             CFG060012ROC Registration Number:         200506089NRegistered Address:      620 Tiong Bahru Road                         Tel: 64715346
                                     Alexandra Day Centre                          Fax: 64715344 
                                     Singapore 158789                                www.wecare.org.sg

Board of Directors (as at 31 December 2006):

 1) Mr Desmond Lum            Chairman
 2) Ms Frances Cheang         Hon Treasurer
 3) Mr Harry Elias                 Member
 4) Mr Ong Chooi Seng         Member
 5) Dr Lim Yun Chin              Member
 6) A/Prof Muni Winslow      Member

Honorary Secretary:             Mr S Surenthiraraj

Executive Team: 
Mr Manjit Singh                   Centre Manager
Mr  Vairam Gopalakrishnan  Operations and Projects

Banker:                              DBS Bank Ltd
Auditor:                              C C Koh & Co

WE CARE Centre celebrated it’s secondary anniversary on December 15^th, following yet another exciting and successful year. In an effort to accommodate our growing range of participants, the Centre saw the introduction of a new program - F.R.E.E. (Facilitated Recovery Enabling Education) Plus program and recovery groups - All addictions women support group and Co-Dependants Anonymous. The Centre has become a safe haven for recovering persons to drop-in and engage in social activities like music, yoga, badminton, workshops and art therapy while interacting with other long term recovering persons.We began with 1,627 program participants at the beginning of 2006 and by the end of 2007 we had 2,688 participants and the number is steadily increasing. Our recovery support groups increased from 14 at the beginning of the year to 23 by year’s end. We plan to expand our outreach to families, youth and ex-offenders in the community, in the prisons and rehabilitation centres as well as halfway houses so that more may benefit from participating in our programs.The recovering addict is not the only one who suffers. Family members, friends, employers and our society at large bear the cost and the associated problems.We are particularly grateful to the Institute of Mental Health (“IMH”) and its professional staff for their support of the Centre. Our thanks also to the National Council Of Social Services (NCSS) and Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (“SCORE”) for giving us funding in support of our F.R.E.E. program. We are looking forward to bring in more partners in support of our cause for the recovering persons.Thank you for coming alongside us as we continue to offer recovering persons and their families a second chance to lead meaningful lives.

Staffing

The Centre has two full time Managers running the programs with the support of other part time professionals and volunteers, some of whom are paid honorariums.  An administrative officer will be employed, by the end of the first quarter 2008, offering administrative support to the Centre.2.  ProgrammesWE Centre for Addictions Recovery and Education (“WE C.A.R.E.”) was officially opened on 15 December 2005. The aim of the Centre is to get recovering patients to help themselves through self-help groups, self-learning and mentorship of persons in various stages of recovery. In addition it is an entry point for the treatment of chemical and behavioral addicts and their families. It provided persons with addictions and their families access to professional help from addiction specialists. During 2007 WE C.A.R.E. operated the following programs:Recovery Support Groups Recovery persons who may or may not be ex-offenders attend groups. These are open to all persons in the recovery community. The Centre continues to host anonumous 12 step Groups for Alcoholics, Gamblers, Drug addicts, Overeaters and Sex & Love Addicts. In addition regular general recovery support meetings were held where all addicts are welcome. The centre also hosted a number of Family Support Group meetings. The year started with 14 groups and by the end of the year the Centre had 23 Twelve Step and recovery support groups meeting at various times over 6 days of the week.F.R.E.E. (Facilitated Recovery Enabling Education) Plus In 2007, WE C.A.R.E. ran four F.R.E.E. programs – Facilitated Recovery Enabling Education program. The duration of each class was one month, with an average of 12 to 15 participants. The program objectives are to educate pre-release Halfway House (HWH) residents and persons with behavioral and chemical additions in early recovery who are referred by hospitals e.g. Institute of Mental Health / Community Addiction Management Program (CAMP), doctors and community agencies. The Centre facilitates maintenance of sobriety through intensive, structured group-based activities, which enable the participants to develop coping skills, interpersonal and life skills. Participants actively engage with long-term clean recovering people and learn that there is a safe place for them to go and are introduced to Twelve Step & other Support Groups and activities. This program is funded by Yellow Ribbon and NCSS.“Windows on Addictions” CourseWE CARE successfully ran a 10-module course entitled “Windows on Addictions” aimed at working professionals. This began in August 2007 with 20 participants from various agencies. The course covered the fundamentals of addiction treatment and counseling. It equipped participants with basic knowledge and skills to provide professional services to substance abusers. The Centre’s professionals will continue to share their expertise and experience with others providing services to persons with addictions. Due to the good response, WE CARE aims to run this program two times in the next year
Volunteer Programs

The Centre has encouraged the development of volunteers in recovery through the formation of an alumnaeassociation, comprising persons of all addictions to pass the message on to others in recovery - that change ispossible.The Centre, also, opened its doors on major holidays such as New Year and Christmas to provide a safe refuge forrecovering persons who struggle with emotions and loneliness during the holidays. During this festive period,recovery support groups were conducted during the day and throughout the night and early morning hours. The Centre and volunteers provided food and beverage and entertainment. This event was attended mainly by persons in recoveryand their family members. The Alumnae held outings, mainly on Saturdays, during the course of 2007. Some of these outings were a nature walk,a hike up Bukit Timah Hill and a picnic at Pasir Ris. Many of these activities attracted over 30 individuals andfamilies.The Alumnae, together with the staff of WE CARE Centre also organized a barbeque, which was held at the Centre’sparking premises. This barbeque event was highly successful, because it brought together members of different fellowships. Approximately 80 individuals and their families attended.Other activitiesDuring the course of 2007, WE CARE Centre organized various therapeutic activities for it’s drop-in members. Yoga, for instance, was conducted every Sunday by Umesh Prabhu, who is affiliated with The Art of Living Foundation. Yoga taught participants an alternative mode to cope with stress. Badminton was another activity that was organized by the Centre in 2007. WE CARE Centre booked badminton courts, at the Delta Sport Complex, every Wednesday between 4pm to 6pm for it’s membersCommunity PartnershipsDuring the year 2007, the Centre participated in numerous community awareness activities. Educational talks as well as ‘mock’ support group meetings were conducted for the benefit of a general audience at several public and religious organisations.Talks were also conducted at SANA on the dangers of alcohol abuse. The audience for this discussion was mainly SANA counselors.  More collaboration is expected with SANA and MCYS in 2008 on youth addiction educationSingapore Pools listed WE C.A.R.E. Centre helpline number in gambling handout literature at its various outlets and Asia Pacific Breweries listed us in their responsible drinking campaign and website.Resource and Information CentreOur resource and information Centre provides books, pamphlets and workbooks on recovery along with literature and tools for daily living. WE C.A.R.E. through WE Foundation was appointed distributor of Hazelden books for Singapore and other East Asian countries, an internationally recognized publisher of recovering literature. These publications are offered during participation in partnership events such as Yellow Ribbon Fund carnival, Asia Pacific Institute of Addictions (“APIA”) conferences and open house programs at the Centre.