An innovative project in Vancouver, Canada, has come up with a novel way to help street drinkers refrain from drinking harmful products like mouthwash and hand sanitiser – they teach clients how to brew their own beer and wine.

Launched last year, the alcohol cooperative scheme supplies members with five liters of home-brewed beer or wine each month. To qualify, members must pay a $10 monthly fee, mix and bottle the batches themselves, and be members of the centre’s ‘Drinker’s Lounge’, a support group for about 90 street drinkers.

Mark Townsend, director of the Drug Users Resource Centre, a publicly funded agency that runs the co-op, says the idea is to keep Vancouver’s homeless alcoholics from turning to “rubbish” sources of alcohol like hand sanitiser or mouthwash. “We do know that it’s better that people don’t drink rubbing alcohol,” he said.

Kevin, a new member of the group, said: “To get five bottles for $10, that attracted me to it.” He also praised its “health aspect,” arguing that drinking homemade beer is better than “drinking rub [rubbing alcohol] or some bottle I found in a bin somewhere.”

Kevin and two other members of the cooperative, Tim and Rob, help to bottle up jugs of fermented beer, one containing Dutch lager, the other honey lager. Previous sessions have also brewed wine, and a batch of chardonnay is expected to be ready to distribute soon.

“It’s more economically viable than buying it at a liquor store. You get more bang for your buck,” said Rob, a local man who has been with the project since it started last summer. Although Rob never drank mouthwash or other industrial alcohols, he did say the project has stopped him from stealing. The five litres, he says, lasts him for about a week.

Venus is delighted to announce the start of their 6-week volunteer training course. Clare, who ran the first week’s training, gave us the low down on what happened on the first week and how you can get involved if you’re interested.

“This week myself and Kati delivered the first session of the Volunteer Training. The training is for those that would like to volunteer at Venus or the Care Leavers Centre. The course involves 6 weeks of training that provides you with the basic skills and knowledge you may need when volunteering at Venus.

It also gives you an insight into the work we do from supporting individuals and families in their homes, attending appointments with clients, to being a listening ear within the drop in sessions.”

Many of the trainee volunteers on the course at the moment have had support from Venus and are looking to give something back.  Tracey said “Venus did so much for me when I was going through a difficult time and now I would like to be able to help someone who maybe in need”.

Some of the opportunities available once participants have completed the 6-week training are listed below:

• Admin/Reception support – typing up information, copying, faxing, laminating, and answering the phone, etc.
• Driving – taking clients to appointments, bringing them to the centre, and driving the minibus on days out, etc.
• Drop in support – making tea and coffee, providing a listening ear, helping people make a phone call, etc.
• Intensive cleaning support – helping de-clutter, teaching cleaning skills, helping set up routines, etc.
• Children and Young Persons Groups – helping with activities, being a listening ear, offering advice, etc.
• Outreach Support – in clients’ homes, attending meetings and appointments, working more intensely.

So, if you would like to give it a try please contact the centre for an application form on 0151 474 4744.