A project which supports young men with alcohol or drug dependencies to turn their lives around has been given a £¼ million funding boost by Inverclyde Council.

The local authority’s policy and resources committee has approved £260,000 to continue the Inverclyde Routes into Supported Employment (IRISE) initiative.

It started in 2021 to help men aged 20-40 in Greenock and Port Glasgow town centres with a range of complex issues, including being in recovery, offending or homelessness.

To date, a total of 38 people have been supported with 22 men currently involved with the project. 

At a meeting on Tuesday 21 November 2023, councillors unanimously approved additional funding from the council’s anti-poverty fund to continue the initiative for another year until December 2024.

Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council and convener of policy and resources, said: “It is no secret that we have high rates of deprivation, alcohol and drug dependency in parts of Inverclyde and we are working hard with our partners to tackle that.

“While much work still needs to be done, it is encouraging that so many men have engaged and continue to engage with this initiative and that it is delivering positive results.

“Improving life chances is crucial to breaking the cycle of poverty and drug and alcohol dependency.

“I am pleased that we have been able to continue to fund IRISE for another year and hopefully we will see more positive results.”

The IRISE initiative started in 2021 following a £1m investment by the council and Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP).

As part of the project, participants receive help from an occupational therapist and support workers to improve their skills and reduce the barriers to employment, education or training.

A report to the committee highlighted that while the project had faced challenges in getting up and running and securing employment, most service users have made positive progress towards achieving household stability, healthier lifestyles, emotional wellbeing and increased income.

It was recommended that the project be extended but with a more focused, intensive approach involving fewer clients.

The project team also plans to continue to work with colleagues in the HSCP to develop a future, more sustainable model of delivery beyond December 2024.