RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT
IN RESIDENCE
With residential treatment increasingly seen as a luxury, Kate Prosser makes the case for its central role in an effective treatment system
W hen Bosence Farm Community first opened its doors in 1995 it was little more than a converted farmhouse on the outskirts of Penzance, staffed by a handful of volunteers and driven by the determination of local people who recognised a gap in Cornwall’ s provision for those struggling with alcohol and drug dependence. Thirty years on, Bosence is supporting thousands of people from across the UK to begin their recovery journey.
Now the team is not only celebrating three decades of life-changing work, but also looking ahead to the next stage of our development – updating and expanding our therapeutic approach to ensure services are more inclusive, evidence-based, and able to meet the diverse needs of today’ s clients.
CHANGING LANDSCAPE The UK’ s residential treatment landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. With pressures on funding and commissioning, the number of services offering both medically managed detoxification and structured residential rehabilitation on a single site has become vanishingly small. Bosence is now one of only a handful of such centres left in the country.
Having both units together is incredibly important. It means someone can come to us at crisis point for detox, but we can also offer the structured rehab and therapeutic programme that gives them the best chance of sustaining recovery. People don’ t have to move to another service just as they’ re beginning to stabilise, and that continuity of care makes a real difference.
Our story is rooted in local determination. The service grew from grassroots efforts in the 1990s, when Cornwall faced high levels of alcohol and drug-related harm but had little in the way of dedicated provision. Volunteers and local organisations rallied to convert old farm buildings into a treatment facility, offering a lifeline to people who had nowhere else to turn. Since then, Bosence has grown steadily. We now operate two distinct units – one providing medically managed detox and stabilisation, and the other offering a structured residential rehabilitation programme. Over the years, the charity has welcomed clients from across the UK, building a reputation for quality, compassion and a willingness to innovate.
EVOLVING APPROACH That spirit of innovation remains at the heart of Bosence as it enters its fourth decade. We’ re currently working with a counselling psychologist to refresh and expand the therapeutic programme, making it more inclusive and reflective of the latest research and best practice.
While 12-step approaches have traditionally formed the backbone of residential rehab in the UK, Bosence is committed to broadening its offer. The new model will embed trauma-informed principles, draw on NICE-recommended interventions, and make greater use of recovery in nature and wellness activities – all designed
to ensure that more people can find an approach that resonates with them.
What works brilliantly for one person might not work at all for another, so our aim is to create a therapeutic environment that is flexible, inclusive, and rooted in evidence. That way, everyone who comes to Bosence feels there’ s a pathway that speaks to their needs and experiences.
The balance between clinical rigour and human compassion has always been a hallmark of Bosence’ s approach. Alongside medical and psychological expertise, the service integrates
Kate Prosser with Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Colonel Edward Bolitho, president of Bosence, and trustee Amanda Back at the 30th anniversary open day
peer support and lived experience into daily practice. Staff and volunteers include people who’ ve been through recovery themselves, offering role models and practical wisdom that complement the clinical team.
The centre’ s rural setting also plays a role. Nestled among fields and woodland, Bosence
18 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • NOVEMBER 2025 WWW. DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS. COM