History of the Association

Podskalní mlýn

History of Sdružení Podané ruce, o.s. from its establishing in 1991 till present. There are informations about the beginning of self-helping group of people rised in 1984.

1984-1990

  • Coming into existence as a "secret", spontaneous and informal group operating on the principle of self-help. Some of the group members had their own history of drug abuse. This mutual help initially took place in a house in Brno but the group had to organise meetings at a number of different flats, as they were being watched and interrogated by STB secret police. The group's first activities were mainly supported by the Catholic Church.

1991

  • Establishment of the foundation Nadace Podané ruce
  • Beginning of negotiations with Katholieke Nooden (Association of Dutch Catholic foundations) to support the growth of activities.

1992

  • Opening of the first rehabilitation centre for long-term addicts in Moravia. This was made possible thanks to the free loan of a house from the order of Scholarly Nuns of St. Francis (a former secret convent from the Communism period).
  • Launching of the first outreach activities in Moravia (work in flats of drug users).
  • Collaboration with the Psychiatric Medical Institution Brno-Černovice. The hospital organised a free training course for SPR staff about therapeutic work in the community - mainly thanks to the personal effort of the then lady Director MUDr. Jana Novotná and time spent by the staff, particularly by Mgr. Ivana Bartošíková.
  • Opening of the Drop-In Centre in Olomouc.

1993

  • Thanks to the donation of premises by the Brothers of Mercy, the first drop-in centre opened in Brno. Beginning of the production and sale of icons (Eikón - Production and Sale of Icons since 2000), traffic signs and other craftwork for the building industry.
  • Grant from Katholieke Nooden, which during the following years made possible a vital turn to professional work and organisation development including management.
  • The first "official" funding by the Municipal Council of the City of Brno was received for the drop-in centre thanks to the assistance of the Diocese Charity Brno represented by Ing. Oldřich Haičman and supported by Ing. Novotný as Head of Department at the Municipal Council.

1994

  • Official registration of Association Sdružení Podané ruce, that took over all activities of the Foundation.
  • Implementation of a one-year training course for non-professional therapists.
  • Opening of a Prevention Centre in Brno in collaboration with the School Authority Brno (today a free standing facility of the Pedagogic and Psychological Clinic in Brno, Sládkova street).

1995

  • Launching of an intensive cooperation programme with the Diocese Charity Brno - Agreement of collaboration at developing and establishing drug management services by Diocese Charity Brno.
  • Development, methodological management and supervision of projects established by charities in Třebíč, Žďár and Sázavou, Břeclav, Blansko, Hodonín, Jihlava and District Charity Kyjov. A similar collaboration scheme with the Municipal Council and the District Council of Zlín helped us to prepare projects for a Drop-In and Prevention centre in Zlín.

1996

  • Opening of the Therapeutic Community "Podcestný Mlýn" in Kostelní Vydří.

1997

  • Continuation of support at establishing drug management services in Moravia in cooperation with other non-profit organisations, towns, district councils, school authorities and other institutions.

1998

  • Launching of the program of Daily Psychotherapeutic Sanatorium Elysium in Brno (short-stay hospital) and Drug Services in Prison (Care of Law-Conflicting Clients service) for the region of Brno.

1999

  • Opening of the After-Care Centre "Jamtana" in Brno.
  • Launching of I.E.S. - Institute of Education and Research on Drug-Addiction (IES)

2000

  • Separation of Outreach programmes from the Brno Drop-In Drug Azyl and start of their activities as an independent centre.
  • Separation of the Methadone Programme from the Daily Psychotherapeutic Sanatorium "Elysium", and its functioning as an independent centre.
  • Opening of the Drop-In Centre "Charáč" in Uherské Hradiště.

2001

  • Launching of the programme for Prevention on Synthetic Drugs Abuse (PSDA) within the framework of Outreach programmes in Brno and introduction of Internet websites at www.extc.cz with an on-line clinic on drugs and drugs abuse.
  • Opening of the Drop-In Centres in Znojmo (Netopeer) and Prostějov (Želva).
  • Opening of the low-threshold club Skleník (Glasshouse) at the Drop-In Drug Azyl in Brno.

2002

  • Launching of activities at the psychiatric outpatient department as a non-state medical facility.
  • Opening of the programme Drug Services in Prison in Olomouc.

2003

  • Launching of activities of the Outreach programmes in Olomouc as a freestanding centre.
  • Establishment of a charity in the United Kingdom, Podane Ruce UK, with the aim of developing and supporting partnerships between organisations from West/East-European countries: transfer of know-how information, cooperation in the development of "pan-European strategy".
  • Opening of the programme Prevention for the Region of Jindřichův Hradec as a free-standing centre (up to this time under the Centre of Prevention in Brno).

2004

  • Completion of service network optimisation. Development of educational programs in the centre IES. Centres promptly react to the demands of the different regions and adapt their services accordingly. Intensification of interdisciplinary cooperation in the regions.

2005

  • This was the first year of the international project "Breaking the Circle" in Kabul.
  • Projects supported by the Structural Funds of the European Union were developed.

2006

  • Incorporation of Blansko Center in the SPR service network.
  • New service provided in Vyškov.