A former court building has been transformed into a new home for drug and alcohol addiction treatment service Enable Enfield, a partnership between the NHS and Enfield Council

Dudu Sher-Arami, Director of Public Health at Enfield Council, Cllr Alev Cazimoglu, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care at Enfield Council, Andrew Wright, Chief of Staff at North London NHS Foundation Trust and Lyndsey Morris, Director of Services for London at Waythrough. — Director of public health Dudu Sher-Arami, Cllr Alev Cazimoglu, North London NHS Foundation Trust boss Andrew Wright and Lyndsey Morris from Waythrough at the launch of the new Enable Enfield building

Local NHS and council bosses have celebrated the relocation of a substance misuse service to a newly-refurbished building in Enfield Town.

Enable Enfield, the borough’s drug and alcohol addiction treatment provider, officially moved into its new home at The Old Court House building in Windmill Hill at the start of this month.

The long-closed former magistrates court site has been repurposed into a “modern, welcoming space” where residents can access specialist support to improve their health and wellbeing.

Enable is run by mental health specialists at North London NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with Enfield Council, and provides specialist treatment and guidance by appointment to anyone aged over 18 living in Enfield who is worried about their alcohol or drug use.

The launch event, held alongside charitable organisation Waythrough, showcased how the once under-used building has been “sensitively redesigned to serve a new, positive purpose”.

Enable was previously based at Claverings Industrial Estate in Edmonton, but this site has been sold to property developers Danescroft and Fiera Real Estate, with a major redevelopment now set to take place there.

The two-storey court building in Enfield Town, which is locally listed, was used as a court house from 1900 until the 1960s, from when it was used as offices. It was vacated completely in 2023 after being used as a probation office. The full refurbishment and fit-out of the building was said to have cost £1.8million.

The new site offers a “bright, comfortable, and purpose-built environment” designed to support recovery and promote long-term wellbeing.

A ribbon-cutting event last week was led by Alev Cazimoglu, the council’s cabinet member for health and social care. She was joined by chief executive Perry Scott, director of public health Dudu Sher-Arami and Andrew Wright, chief of staff at North London NHS Foundation Trust.

Cllr Cazimoglu said: “We are committed to improving the lives of our residents. The bright and spacious setting is welcoming to those who are in need of help and support with addiction.

“The health and wellbeing of Enfield’s residents is a council priority, so I am delighted this essential service now has a fit for purpose building which is within easy reach of public transport.”

The council and NHS work “closely together” to reduce the personal and social impact that substance misuse, addiction and associated behaviours can have on individuals, families and the wider community.

Andrew praised the collaboration between the NHS trust, the council and Waythrough in transforming the building. He said: “We believe this new location will transform how the service is perceived and help tackle the stigma around substance misuse.

“Enable Enfield has built an excellent reputation for achieving some of the best outcomes in London, and we can all be proud of its achievements.”

For more information on the Enable service in Enfield:
Email [email protected]
Visit drugandalcohol.northlondonmentalhealth.nhs.uk/enfield

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