A CHARITY-run £1million rehabilitation unit for drink and drug abusers has opened its doors - and is already looking at more ways to help its residents.

Organisers of THOMAS - Those on the Margins of Society - are hoping to set up an academy that would allow drug addicts and alcoholics to gain quali-fications and increase their chances of finding work.

It would run alongside the work being done at the newly opened rehabilitation unit in Spring Lane, Mill Hill, Blackburn.

The unit has 21 beds, allowing the charity to now help a total of 40 people at any one time.

It provides 24/7 support for those looking to overcome their alcohol and drug addictions through a range of group and individual therapy and counselling sessions. Residents can then go on to live in self-contained flats before moving back into society - a process which takes around a year.

Plans for the unit caused controversy amongst resid-ents when they were put forward in 2006.

Founder and chief executive of THOMAS, Father Jim McCartney said: "People had been concerned that the unit would be like a hostel and that that would create problems.

"But this is a complete abstinence community.

He added: "The unit is aimed at people who want to turn their lives around. People spend their days reflecting on their past mistakes and looking at how they can draw strength from a new way of living.

"They realise that if they don't do something then they will end up dead or in and out of jail."

The unit, based in the former Windsmoor House School, cost around £1million to set up.

The funding came from social services and a loan from the government-backed scheme Futurebuilders, which helps successful voluntary groups.

The charity was set up 15 years ago and has helped hundreds of people get back on their feet from its base in Blackburn town centre. Father McCartney is now looking to take the charity's work even further.

He said: "We are in the process of setting up an academy which we hope would link to colleges and businesses to help our graduates dev-elop as people.

"The concept is that someone coming through THOMAS is no different to someone being trained by a company."