Chris Milton, Founder of The Way Website

After formal education and a brief period in sales, Chris moved to London and studied for a Higher National Diploma in Building. The career in the building trade did not last very long as the industry hit the slump in the early nineties and Chris was a victim of two consecutive redundancies.
Disillusioned with the UK he then left to work and explore America. The USA made a big impact on him and he had a spiritual re-awakening at the Grand Canyon, making a recommitment to Jesus Christ.

On returning Chris once again found a position in sales, despite numerous attempts to return to the building industry. Finally after several years a position opened within the Worthing Churches Homeless Project (WCHP). A little over a year later he was managing the Resettlement Department, offering choices and supporting homeless people in the WCHP hostels, building contacts with the local agencies, the Council and landlords, including setting up the 'local landlords forum' in Worthing.

Chris and his colleagues became aware that many resettled people required ongoing support, and that many people could not even access accommodation because of other issues in their life. It was clear that a venue was needed where all these people could be supported.
Chris's passion and work with the homeless and vulnerable has been rooted in the verses from the Bible, in Proverbs 31 verses 8-9 (NIV):
" Speak up for those that cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and the needy."

Chris developed and managed the Day Centre and Outreach Team in Worthing, for around three years. When they were forced to close the daytime use of the hall, and the outreach team was established, he identified a property as a location for a permanent day centre. Over a number of years he fought to gain recognition for this property as the ideal venue for a day centre. At last this is now happening and the property is currently under offer from the local Council.

During all this time Chris developed a specialism in addiction, particularly substance misuse. He completed a range of courses including Christian counselling and various other Christian and secular courses. He also organised and ran monthly training sessions for WCHP staff and volunteers, in addition to a variety of other speaking engagements in schools and churches in the Worthing locality on behalf of WCHP.
Outside of WCHP, Chris is an Accredited Associate Worker with a national charity, Hope UK, offering training around substance misuse to children and young people. Chris is a member of the Evangelical Coalition on Drugs, the branch of the Evangelical Alliance, and also of ISAAC, the International Substance Abuse and Addiction Coalition. Chris is available to use not only his experience of addiction, but also of homelessness and of creating, developing, and managing a team to help and support those addicted.