Councillor commits to naloxone training after visit to The Salvation Army

published on 5 Aug 2026

Councillor Paul Rielly visited The Salvation Army’s Devonport Lifehouse in Plymouth on Friday where he praised the organisation’s work in supporting people experiencing homelessness. Residents are offered not just shelter, but compassionate care that looks at the person first and helps individuals regain stability, dignity and hope.

In partnership with Plymouth City Council, the Lifehouse provides a home for 62 people with medium-to-high support needs often linked to addiction, mental health or financial hardship. During the visit, the councillor discussed and viewed the range of accommodation, activities and support services available, met residents and learned how support is helping people rebuild their lives.

Cllr Rielly flanked by Specialist Support Worker, Andy Perree (left) and Service Manager Ian Miller.

Naloxone is a life-saving medication used to reverse opioid overdoses and as a result of the visit Cllr Rielly has committed to taking part in Naloxone training at the Lifehouse in the coming weeks. Across homelessness services operated by The Salvation Army staff administered the medication in almost ninety percent of all unresponsive overdoses in 2024/25. This quick action was critical in reducing drug-related deaths among people using services by eighteen percent that year and by almost sixty percent overall since 2019, despite more people using services.

I was deeply impressed by the dedication and compassion shown by the team at Devonport Lifehouse. The Salvation Army is doing truly remarkable work in our community, supporting some of the most vulnerable people with dignity and respect. I’m committed to working closely with them to tackle homelessness and addiction in Devonport.
said Cllr Rielly, Vice-Chair of Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Panel on Plymouth City Council.

Ian Miller, Service Manager at The Salvation Army’s Devonport Lifehouse, said:

“We were pleased to welcome Cllr Rielly to Devonport Lifehouse to meet staff and residents over lunch and learn more about the support we provide, from health and wellbeing services to addiction recovery. It was encouraging to hear his enthusiasm for working alongside us tackle the issues facing our residents and the community. We appreciate Cllr Rielly’s genuine interest in our work and his time.”   

Devonport Lifehouse focuses on addressing the root causes of homelessness and helping residents move towards independent living. To learn more about the work of The Salvation Army in south west England visit https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/SWD. For more information on Devonport Lifehouse visit: https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/devonport-lifehouse.