Inviting people in, helping people out…
Eden Gate was founded by Stuart & Caroline Johnson in November 2013.
Historically, Teen Challenge Newport, under the leadership and pioneering work of the Johnson’s, had been reaching out to the homeless, vulnerable and those struggling with drug dependency in Newport. Through this work it was identified that Newport needed it’s own charity committed to address local problems. This was the birth of Eden Gate. who were central to establishing the charity in Newport.
Eden Gate continues to carry out and expand the work established by Teen Challenge Newport with dedication to address local needs.
The key to our programme is engaging those who can cope, to help those who can’t. We are well placed to do that, because of our special relationship with Newport churches of all denominations. Volunteers from these churches work alongside our full-time staff, to engage with those who need help and support.
We are here to reach out to those people whose lives are held hostage by drugs and alcohol, and those who are homeless or not securely housed, for whatever reason. We partner with churches of all denominations to deliver our services as well as local front line services to reach those who are vulnerable and marginalised in society.
Recent statistics on drug deaths in England and Wales highlight the reality of the UK drug epidemic:
- There were 4,561 drug poisoning deaths involving both legal and illegal drugs registered in England and Wales in 2020, the highest since comparable records began in 1993 and 3.8% higher than in 2019
- Of these, 2,996 were drug misuse deaths
- Males were almost 3 times more likely to die from drug misuse than females (76.3 and 28.7 deaths per million population for males and females respectively).
- Approximately half of all drug poisoning deaths registered in 2020 involved an opiate – 49.6%; 2263 deaths
Source: Office for National Statistics September 2020
Drug or alcohol misuse is not always the cause of homelessness, but it is frequently a factor making it more difficult to escape homelessness. Recognising that no two individuals are the same, we do everything we can to support those who come to us seeking help, without judgement or generalisation.
We have experienced staff and volunteers, some of whom have experienced and overcome dependency issues. Guests can contact us to arrange an informal discussion around their needs and staff support guests every step of the way on their journey in breaking free from dependency. We signpost to Christian rehabilitation programmes and offer ongoing support for guests who choose to take this option.
