WELCOME

Gilead Foundations operates as a Christian Rehabilitation Therapeutic Community, offering a range of support services for people with life-controlling addictions, elating mainly to drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness, gambling, eating disorders, self harm, dual diagnosis, and other addictive behaviours.

The main work of Gilead Foundations is undertaken at its headquarters at Risdon Farm, near Jacobstowe, Okehampton. 

BACKGROUND

The work of Gilead Foundations began in 1988 when the owners of Risdon Farm, Ian and Bronwen Samuel, felt led to establish a centre to provide Christian life training skills for people in need. A registered charity, Gilead Foundations Charity Limited, was established in 1991 to provide a vehicle under which the Centre could operate.

In the ensuing years Mr. and Mrs. Samuel were joined by like-minded individuals and couples, all who work & live together at the farm as community members. The average number of students training at Gilead has ranged from a handful in the early days, up to approximately 30 more recently.

The acute shortage of rehabilitation centres in the UK, and particularly in the South West, has ensured that there is always a steady demand for places at Risdon Farm. Students may come and go as they please but they are encouraged to commit to completing the full Christian rehabilitation programme. All the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the students are met by the staff/community members at Gilead Foundations during their stay. The organic farm consists of 320 acres of grazing land, and supports a dairy milking herd of approximately 120 cows, as well as 50 sheep, 100 pigs , 2 shire horses, 6 sheep dogs & 400 poultry birds at any one time.

TRAINING PROGRAMME

Gilead Foundations operates a three-phase rehabilitation, therapeutic, skills training programme for clients who are called students. Phase 1 primary care course is for 10 weeks including detox. Phase 2 secondary care is for 20 weeks & is predominantly based on relapse prevention. Phase 3 is Life restructure for 30 weeks including 10 weeks resettlement back into society. These courses enable the students to deal with the effects of drug or alcohol abuse& related problems and to begin to take responsibility for their own actions, choices, behaviour, attitudes,personal health & hygiene & daily responsibilities.

The 3 training courses also require students to be involved in work therapy & skills training in various areas such as the farm and its associated activities, milk processing and packing, catering, child care, administration & IT, building & maintenance, gardening & horticulture & basic skills such as Numeracy, Literacy, IT, communication, First Aid, Food hygiene & Health & safety etc. GF is registered with City & Guilds & other training bodies, so students can apply themselves to basic & skills training programmes to achieve national certifications such as NVQs etc.

ACCOMMODATION

During its years of development and expansion, Gilead has coped with the rising number of students by providing temporary mobile homes on the site, as well as using the farm house & 2 bungalows. Following discussions with the local authority it was agreed that more permanent accommodation should be provided and planning permission was secured for a major development of the Risdon Farm site in 2003. (See projects page).
All student live in extended family groups with a couple as house parents & approx 2 support workers.

FUNDING

Until late in 2002, Gilead Foundations received limited financial support from the authorities for the specialist care that it provides. This meant that the Charity had to rely heavily on gifts, bequests, grants and gifts-in-kind to meet its financial commitments. In 2003 GF achieved registration with CSCI ( Commission for Social Care Inspections) this enabled GF to then start working with referral funding agencies. 

In the mid-1990's, a milk processing and retailing operation was established to provide additional income, as well as providing valuable work therapy & skills training experience and training for students, and in 2002 the Foundation was successful in achieving organic status for the farm under the auspices of the Soil Association.
This has provided an opportunity to generate increased levels of income, although the real benefits of organically produced milk may not be fully appreciated for a few years.
Although the farm & student fees supply a certain amount of funding the charity, still relies on donations, sponsorship & gifts in kind etc.

MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE

Gilead Foundations is a Registered Charity, number 1002909, and limited by guarantee. As such, it is accountable to the Charity Commissioners for its activities and financial position. The Charity has a Board of Trustees who are responsible for ensuring that Gilead Foundations operates within the objectives stated in its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Trustees meet, on average, three or four times a year and receive regular financial information on a monthly basis.

The day to day management of the Charity is undertaken by the General Manager, Ian Samuel and a management team consisting of an Assistant General Manager, Practical Skills Manager, Care Manager, Programme Manager & Community Manager.