1. Know the Score Newry Drugs and Alcohol Project

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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)

8. 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”

9. 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

10. 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

11. “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

12. 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

13. “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

14. 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)

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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:

18. 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

19. 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

20. Thank you for your attention Any Questions?