CH1
"Red Guard"(NLYL)
Was handed a Teen Challenge leaflet on Wednesday evening crossing Windrush Square. Chinese woman explained they had an outreach bus (parked over by the AGE UK centre on Saltoun Road side). I rushed on a bit - was going somewhere - said I would check them out on the internet.
Teen Challenge UK seems to be mainly operating in the Midlands and Wales - I checked the Charity Commission website. They declare property worth £6 million, income of £2.5 million and have a residential treatment centre for drug addiction in Leicestershire.
Teen Challenge London has its headquarters in Ilford and the trustee runs a fundamentalist church there with his wife.
In USA and Canada there are loads of allegations that this is a cult. People they are treating for drug addiction are forced to work "on the phones" selling times shares. Required to be very persistent to get credit card numbers.
Did not see anything like that for the UK, but their London accounts make for curious reading.
For example: " Due to many complaints by neighbours and a lack of care by residents at Audrey House it was decided to end the tenancies to the existing residents. Also it was decided to refurbish and rent the property during the London Olympics"
"Over 19,000 hot meals were cooked at Wilkerson House, transported and distributed to the needy on the streets through the outreach events in 2011/12"
"From the outreach work 3 men were admitted into Teen Challenge Wilkerson House"
The following were not suitable for various reasons to be accepted into Teen Challenge and were therefore
sent to other Christian ministries as follows:
1 person was referred to Victory Outreach Rehabilitation Centre.
8 people were referred to REMA Rehabilitation Centre."
I presume the lady thought I was a likely donor rather than client - given the fact I am 40 years out of my teens.
Stated income sources for the Teen Challenge London are:
2012 2011
Donations £424,260 £357,068
Students' housing benefits £185,185 £200,022
Students' DSS benefits £55,153 £25,444
Tuck shop sales £3,455 £3,028
http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends77/0001069777_AC_20120331_E_C.pdf
I'm not sure these people have got the right area here - they major on heroin addiction and youth.
I feel they could be trying to prey on vulnerable people.
I know this is a controversial area - seems that some people thrive on a born-again dogmatic approach - it solves their life problems apparently. On the other hand you also hear stories of people driven to despair by religious nutters.
Teen Challenge UK seems to be mainly operating in the Midlands and Wales - I checked the Charity Commission website. They declare property worth £6 million, income of £2.5 million and have a residential treatment centre for drug addiction in Leicestershire.
Teen Challenge London has its headquarters in Ilford and the trustee runs a fundamentalist church there with his wife.
In USA and Canada there are loads of allegations that this is a cult. People they are treating for drug addiction are forced to work "on the phones" selling times shares. Required to be very persistent to get credit card numbers.
Did not see anything like that for the UK, but their London accounts make for curious reading.
For example: " Due to many complaints by neighbours and a lack of care by residents at Audrey House it was decided to end the tenancies to the existing residents. Also it was decided to refurbish and rent the property during the London Olympics"
"Over 19,000 hot meals were cooked at Wilkerson House, transported and distributed to the needy on the streets through the outreach events in 2011/12"
"From the outreach work 3 men were admitted into Teen Challenge Wilkerson House"
The following were not suitable for various reasons to be accepted into Teen Challenge and were therefore
sent to other Christian ministries as follows:
1 person was referred to Victory Outreach Rehabilitation Centre.
8 people were referred to REMA Rehabilitation Centre."
I presume the lady thought I was a likely donor rather than client - given the fact I am 40 years out of my teens.
Stated income sources for the Teen Challenge London are:
2012 2011
Donations £424,260 £357,068
Students' housing benefits £185,185 £200,022
Students' DSS benefits £55,153 £25,444
Tuck shop sales £3,455 £3,028
http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends77/0001069777_AC_20120331_E_C.pdf
I'm not sure these people have got the right area here - they major on heroin addiction and youth.
I feel they could be trying to prey on vulnerable people.
I know this is a controversial area - seems that some people thrive on a born-again dogmatic approach - it solves their life problems apparently. On the other hand you also hear stories of people driven to despair by religious nutters.
