Five years since Amy Winehouse’s tragic death from alcohol poisoning aged just 27, the foundation set up in her name will open a women-only recovery centre.
The facility, named Amy’s Place, will cater for women overcoming drug and alcohol addiction. It is set to open later this month.
Set up in partnership with Centra Care and Support, the house will pioneer a new programme aimed specifically at the needs of female addicts, which are often “more complex than their male counterparts”.
At any one time, Amy’s Place will be able to house up to 16 women aged between 18 and 30. These women will have already completed a rehabilitation programme and will be helped, through mentoring and workshops, to rebuild their lives.
Jane Winehouse, Amy’s step-mother who set up The Amy Winehouse Foundation, said in a statement: “This project will make such a profound difference to so many young women, enabling them to have a safe environment in which to re-build their lives and put into practice all the learning they have acquired through their treatment journey.
“Fresh starts are difficult to make; full of challenges, but at Amy’s Place we will give young women the tools and support to help them make this a reality.
“There is a huge lack of support to meet the needs of women in this area and we hope ‘Amy’s Place’ will show just how much more effective we can be.”
Michelle Davies, regional business manager for Centra Care and Support, said: “This innovative new recovery model will provide high quality support to help young women with a range of needs live independently after leaving residential facilities for drug and alcohol treatment. We want to empower young women to remain in control of their recovery by providing safe and secure homes, personalised services and a vibrant community that will build on their strengths, experiences and preferences.
“We are incredibly proud to be working alongside the Amy Winehouse Foundation to develop this important new service. It is one of a number of community-based services run by Centra Care and Support which supports vulnerable people to gain independence and establish a new and permanent home.”
Amy’s Place will open on Monday 22 August.