Know the Score Newry Drugs and Alcohol Project

Background of Project Project set up in May 2004 Funded by Southern Investing for Health Partnership Intially set up as six month pilot scheme Received further 3 year funding until August 2007 (£90,000) Based at St John Bosco Youth Centre Remit is 14 – 25 year olds in Newry City Area

Awareness Raising Workshops This is an ongoing service which we offer One off or more detailed programmes These are carried out in: - Different communities within Newry area - Various schools and colleges - Various training agencies - Parent Groups

Newry Outreach Health Project New iniatitive for area which involved staff & volunteers working in a pub/club environment to promote young peoples health Set up in partnership with HIYA Sexual Health Project; Southern Area Health Promotion Dept; SELB Youth Service, Rainbow Gay Men’s Project & Community Volunteers

Work of Project Recruitment of Volunteers Training of Volunteers Training of Bar / Door Staff Risk Assessment of venue Friday Nights from 10.00pm – 1.00am Handing out of spika stoppas & sexual health information packs Evaluation of Project Future of Project

Drink Spiking Awareness Project Follow on from research carried out during work within pubs / clubs which showed that: 52% of those surveyed felt that either themselves or their friends have had their drink spiked in the past. Even more worrying was that of those who thought they had been spiked only 3% had reported the incident to the appropriate authorities.

This lead to the development of this project were information posters & beer mats were displayed in local venues Spika Stoppa were also made available behind the bars for patrons to avail of A short awareness raising film was also produced and displayed through the Community Television Network To date we have ran two public information campaigns on drink spiking: Christmas 2005 (SDACT Funding) Christmas 2006 (Community Safety Partnership)

Peer Education Project 12 Week programme which we deliver each year to young people from throughout the Newry area The aim of the project is: “to help young people develop the skills needed for making informed choices on drugs and alcohol”

Content of Programme Effects of Drugs & Alcohol Attitudes towards Drugs & Alcohol Consequences of Drugs and Alcohol abuse Drugs and the law Dangers of mixing drugs Impact on self esteem & mental health Presentation skills

Study Visits during Project Ballymena Family & Addict Support Group Chuain Mhuire Alcohol Treatment Centre Alcoholics Anonymous Mountjoy Prison Visit “Prison Me No Way” Workshops Fire Brigade Ambulance Service Residential Weekends

“Get Home Safe” Project Follow on from Peer Education Project Group of young people developed a board game on getting home safe They then took pictures to be used in board game from the internet and digital camera Various meetings with graphic designer to finalise design and colour Young people involved throughout development

Work of Project Deliver 8 week programme to young people around the issues covered in board game Use game as an interactive educational resource (Board Game / CD ROM Version) Develop a “Train the Trainer” Course for other professionals and community workers who are in contact with young people This will ensure more young people receive this information Funded by SDACT & Community Safety Partnership

“Kick it into Touch” Project This is a 10 week project delivered to young people throughout the Newry area During the Project the young people learnt about the dangers of drugs / alcohol by researching information on famous footballers whose lives had been affected Project finished up with young people participating in the Galway World Cup Fun Weekend

Fund Raising Aspect of Project The young people also helped contribute towards the cost of the weekend by bag packing and developing a sweepstake for the recent world cup In the past young people involved in this Project have also raised £700 for MacMillan Cancer Relief & £400 for GOAL (Kenya Street Children’s Project)

NCFE Drug Awareness Project 12 Week Pilot Project in St Paul’s High School Funded by Community Safety Partnership This Project will be incorporated into the School’s C.O.P.E. (Certificate of Personal Effectiveness) Programme which is delivered to marginalised young people at 15 to 16 years of age. As part of the project those young people involved will complete a National College of Further Education (NCFE) Level 1 Certificate in Drug Awareness

Newry Midnight Soccer Project This is a new initiative for the Newry area which will provide a much needed alternative for young people at times when they are more prone to use drugs / alcohol; communities are also more vulnerable to anti social and criminal behaviour at this time. This Project was initiated by the SELB Youth Service, Know the Score Drug & Alcohol Project and a number of community volunteers. Run over a 4 week period Funded by Community Safety Partnership

In an effort to keep this project fun and enjoyable we specifically targeted young people (14 -17) who were not attached to any formal football club. Apart from the young people being involved in playing football throughout the 4 weeks, they will also have opportunities to participate in a number of off the pitch activities:

Know the Score Research Project High Prevalence of drug and alcohol use amongst young people Carry out: “A needs assessment of drug & alcohol services for young people between the age of 16 – 25 in the Newry City area” The research will focus on: - Drug & Alcohol Behaviour - Attitudes towards drugs & alcohol - Current & future service provision

Conclusion Drug & alcohol problems will always be an issue within our society Funding from I.F.H has helped develop numerous good models of practice in relation to helping young people being aware of such problems A lot of time and effort has been put into developing such projects and the feedback from the young people has been very positive It is therefore essential that we continue to make such projects available to these young people However there is still a lot of work needs to be done in regard to both education & treatment By providing additional funding you can help curb this problem within our society

Thank you for your attention Any Questions?