The Beach House in Ballymena, run by Living Rivers Church, has just recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. It was opened in 2004 to offer supported and independent living facilities for people committed to living free from a lifestyle of alcohol and drug dependency.
You’ve probably noticed the recently re-decorated Beach House if you’ve driven along Linenhall Street in Ballymena. It provides abstinence based supported living for anywhere between 6 months to 2 years for adults aged between 18 and 65 years old. They aim to help the clients find and live out a quality life as God intended, overcoming addictions and habits which are harmful and help to provide means for them to find a purpose, meaning and a sense of belonging in life.
For many, The Beach House offers a new start, fresh ideas, a change of environment and new relationships. They are encouraged to learn new life skills, get back to education, volunteer in the community, persue employment, set personal goals and much more. They will also be helped to recover from past hurts and learn to believe in themselves again.
The building on Linenhall St Ballymena is made up of one 4 bedroom flat with shared communal areas and secure bedrooms, a 2 bedroom flat, again with shared communal areas and secure bedrooms and 5 independent ‘move-on’ flats. Admission is through a referral process. This will usually be filled out by a doctor or referring agent or in some cases by a family member or significant other. Clients will then attend an interview with The Beach House team and then there will be an agreed period of abstinence. Clients do not have to be Christians to be accepted by The Beach House however they are asked to attend support sessions which include Christian principles. They will also be encouraged and have the opportunity to attend services at Living Rivers Church in Ballymena where they will hear relevant teaching from the Bible on living life as God intended.
If you would like to find out more about what The Beach House can offer those who want to kick old habits and addictions and live a full life and get contact details, click here. We would encourage you to pray for the team who run The Beach House Ballymena, for all the people for whom it has been crucial in getting them on the right road again and for all those who live in it today that God would work in their lives to help them leave their substance misuse behind them and move on with their lives as God intended, in peace and true freedom.