Survey reveals British life in new Millennium

People in Britain will be more prosperous in the next Millennium but will be considerably less happy with their lives as workplace stress takes its toll with more and more people turning to drugs, according to a new report published trecently by The Salvation Army.
The Paradox of Prosperity was commissioned by The Salvation Army from the Henley Centre to analyse current social trends in Britain, and predict changes over the next ten years.
It paints a bleak picture of a society in the grip of social upheaval and rife with family breakdown, workplace stress and an ageing population. Due to these factors, substance abuse will have risen dramatically by 2010 as people from every social strata struggle with this new reality.
As people become more isolated and caught up in a myriad of life-management issues, they will become more isolated. As a consequence, counselling services will be more in demand and other,

more destructive outlets for stress such as alcohol and drugs, will also be on the rise. There is the likelihood that, by 2010, many will come to depend on these substances as props, leading to habitual use and then addiction.
Even today the figures are alarming, with some 4.7 per cent of adults dependent on alcohol and 2.2 per cent dependent on drugs. There is a growing dependency on sleeping pills, Valium, Prozac and cocaine amongst the ranks of average working people living middle-class, suburban lifestyles. And the report estimates that one in 28 men and one in 12 women are now on anti-depressants, including many elderly people.
Dr Adrian Bonner, The Salvation Army's addiction services consultant, said: "The Paradox of Prosperity clearly shows that as people try to come to terms with the extra pressures of daily life such as job insecurity, longer working hours and private provision, it is likely that the number of people affected by stress will rise along with drug and alcohol dependency."

People - Former soldier battles back from injury to help others

Faith of Mark beats disability

Mark Birch.

Former soldier March Birch spends ten hours a day on an oxygen machine and only walks with the aid of sticks, but it doesn't stop him from doing more in a year than many people achieve in a lifetime.
Mark, who lives in North Walsham, became disabled in 1976 while on active service in Northern Ireland. He was chasing a suspected IRA member when he sustained a foot injury which led to the amputation of three toes.
He later developed a lung problem during an operation and has to walk with the aid of sticks and use an oxygen machine every day.
Things got even worse for Mark later when he lost his job and his car. But, inspired by wife Marion, friends from Broadland Community Church and with a new-found Christian faith, he has battled back. A few weeks ago Mark was re-elected as chairman of the Norfolk Association for the Disabled (NAD) for a second year.
Mark is also a town and district councillor in North Norfolk, vice-chairman of the North Norfolk Access Group and chairman of the British Lung Foundation for Norwich.
He also finds time to chair the Norfolk Christian Football League and is manager of a church-based team, SC Broadland, who are currently in a mid-table position in the league.
"Many people who become disabled feel that their shelf life has expired," said Mark. "Some even feel that they are second-rate citizens. However, we have as much right as anyone else to live a full life, and all we ask is to be treated fairly. That's why I'm pleased to be able to play a part in promoting the interests of disabled people."

"I was helped to find my Christian faith through my friends including Mark Godden, pastor at Broadland Community Church," said Mark. "And even though I am disabled, it's my faith, family and friends that keep me going forward. It is a gift from God."
And Mark gives up much of his time to help other disabled people through NAD: "The association aims to help disabled people in many different ways; through outings, holidays, grants, and electric wheelchair loans," he said.
"Members can join at their own request, or they can be referred by social services, occupational therapists and doctors. Locally, we organise social outings to get disabled people out of their homes and give them a break for the day.

"Other activities are organised from our central office, often through liaison with other agencies. Grants are available to help disabled people with home adaptations for example, and holidays can be arranged for those who would otherwise not be able to enjoy a break. A few years ago, we introduced an electric wheelchair loan scheme, whereby a disabled person can borrow a chair for six months or so, to find out whether it suits their needs, or to tide them over while they save for their own. These chairs are very much in demand.
"We rely on our own fund-raising efforts for much of our work, but the cash for loans comes from the generous donations of the companies we approach for help. All donations, however big or small, are welcome."
Contact the Norfolk Association for the Disabled on 01603 486669.

John's vision of heaven

Brundall singer-songwriter John Heavens has just released his first album of songs, the words of which came to him when he was asleep.
Back to the Vision is the title of the CD which was released earlier this month by John, a director of the Wilsher Group, a management training consultancy.
"The ideas for the songs came after a friend prayed for me," said John, worship leader at the Lakenham-based Norwich Christian Fellowship. "The prayer was that the Lord would wake me in the night with songs. Over two years or so I had a number of nights of broken sleep as these lyrics and tunes came into my mind."
At the age of 26, John, a successful businessman, was challenged about the real meaning of life and he decided to become a Christian. A lot of the songs on the album are based on his own experiences:
"In our personal lives we all have stuff that happens to us, but if we learn from it we can grow," he said. "In my experience it has often helped me to get back on track."
All the songs aim to offer hope and inpiration and reflect John's deep belief that there is a definite purpose to every person's life if they look for it.
The album is available from CLC and SPCK shops in Norwich or by post from John Heavens, PO Box 223, Brundall, Norwich, NR13 5SA priced at £10.99.

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