This text is replaced by the Flash movie.
Yeldall Manor > Programmes Home > Residential Rehabilitation > What to Expect
What to Expect
Over the past 30 years, Yeldall Manor has helped hundreds of men to overcome their drug and alcohol substance misuse issues and return to society to live new lives free from drugs, alcohol and crime.
Yeldall Manor was originally a community of staff and residents who lived together in the Manor House and other buildings on site. Although staff no longer ‘live in’, there continues to be a great feeling of community, encouraged by the close interaction between staff and residents as they eat, work and relax together. Set in 38 acres of land in the Berkshire village of Hare Hatch, the peaceful surroundings enable residents to focus on their recovery without distractions.
Yeldall Manor is a Christian organisation and our programme operates on Christian principles and has some Christian content. All staff and volunteers are Christian; however, men do not have to be Christian to join the programme, nor is such a commitment insisted upon.
The programme is not easy - it is not a soft alternative to continued substance misuse or to prison. It requires a genuine decision to want to change and a willingness to work with staff to identify and begin to address the issues underlying the resident’s substance misuse. It is inspiring to witness the change in men as they work through each stage of the programme, battling with issues long denied and becoming free from drugs and alcohol.
Our approach is to combine love and structured discipline. Love and acceptance for each resident as an individual provides hope and dignity for the future. Structure and discipline enable feelings and attitudes to be challenged as well as new ones tried and tested in a safe environment. By providing a clearly defined framework, men learn to change the way they have behaved, thought and felt over many years. This requires openness, honesty, co-operation, caring challenge and mutual support.
Building positive relationships within the community and rebuilding relationships with family and friends is a vital part of recovery. Living with somebody with substance misuse issues is hard and adjusting to the changes they make in rehabilitation can be daunting for families. Finding family support is a useful way to help with this challenge.
The Manor programme (1st stage) has a timetable which is closely followed, and which reflects a working week. Men work for approximately 16 hours each week participating in the smooth running and upkeep of the house and grounds. They also have the opportunity to learn new skills in areas like housekeeping, kitchen, house maintenance, estate maintenance, and project work. Residents will meet regularly with their appointed counsellor for one to one sessions. Therapy groups provide the opportunity to examine behaviour, attitudes and values in the context of community and work. A significant number of the staff team at Yeldall Manor have participated in a residential rehabilitation programme themselves and experienced first hand the value of talking openly about past experiences, feelings and fears. They appreciate the necessity for residents to understand themselves better, to take more responsibility and to begin to trust others.
During evenings and weekends, men have the opportunity to use facilities on site such as the gym, football pitch, TV lounges, pool table and swimming pool (summer). There are also organised mid-week and weekend trips to local shopping centres and leisure centres, as well as opportunities for visits with family members.
Once men have successfully completed the Manor programme, they can apply for a place on The Lodge programme (2nd stage). This also requires funding and is usually provided for by the original referring agency. Having completed the Yeldall Programmes, rather than return to old haunts, many residents stay in the local area where they can benefit from our Aftercare support. For more information on resettlement and Aftercare, click here.
