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Search for press releasesTacking Drugs Changing Lives Awards Launched In Brighton
30 June 2008
Those who go that extra mile to tackle drug use to change lives and transform communities should be nominated for an award, Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker urged today.
An expert panel will choose ten finalists from different regions of England and Wales, before selecting two overall winners. Two awards are available: one for an individual and another for a team. Winners will each receive £10,000 to spend on continuing, expanding or improving their work in the drugs field at a ceremony which will celebrate their success later this year.
The Home Office wants to recognise, reward and celebrate the people who make a real difference everyday on the front line. There are many possibilities, examples include those who work for organisations that provide diversionary sports training, work with drug misusing offenders or professionals who counsel and treat drug users, families and friends.
Launching the awards in Brighton, Vernon Coaker said:
“I know that drug workers and drug teams across the country are working tirelessly everyday to tackle drugs and change lives. In fact, I have met many people and teams who deserve to be nominated for these awards.
“In recent years we have introduced tough legislation to tackle drug supply and remain committed to informing young people of drug dangers through information campaigns like FRANK.
“I want to do more, but I know we cannot achieve our goals without professionals and volunteers going that extra mile. These awards recognise their inspirational examples, which will help us to realise our ambition of fewer people starting to use drugs and for our society to be free from the problems caused by illegal substances.”
Those who took part in the recent National Tackling Drugs Week, over 19-23 May 2008, are the kind of professionals and volunteers who could be nominated for the £10,000 prize.
Among the events that took place:
- East Riding hosted a series of awareness roadshows where residents had the opportunity to learn about what is being done to tackle drug use in their area;
- Cumbria Drugs and Alcohol Services staged open days throughout the north-west;
- Bolton hosted plays for young people with anti-drugs messages;
- in Lincolnshire police visited schools to talk to young people about the dangers of drugs and promote the rat on a rat campaign; and
- Dorset police held open days in drop in centres across the county.
As well as raising awareness of what is being done to tackle drug use across the country, National Tackling Drugs Week also bore down on drug dealers. Police around England and Wales:
- seized over £1 million of criminals’ cash and Class A drugs;
- arrested 1,567 people;
- took 52 firearms and imitation firearms, and 89 other weapons including crossbows off the street; and
- destroyed 89 cannabis farms and closed 19 crack houses.
Tony Melville, Deputy Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police and ACPO lead for National Tackling Drugs Week, said:
“Working with local communities is essential for gathering accurate information and ensuring effective local action to tackle drugs problems. Forces across the country demonstrated some of the significant work they are undertaking everyday regarding drug enforcement during National Tackling Drugs Week earlier this year.
“Police forces and individual officers work tirelessly to tackle drug use in their communities. This is an excellent opportunity for those who go the extra mile to be recognised for the work that they do every day. This is an excellent initiative and one that ACPO welcomes.”
Notes to Editors:
1. Anyone can make a nomination to the Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Awards. To make an application go to http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/awards2008 (new window).
2. Mr Coaker launched the awards during a visit to Brighton where he attended an exhibition of paintings by former drug users.
3. For more on the Government’s Drug Strategy, “Drugs: protecting families and communities” go to http://www.drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/.
4. The new Drug Strategy will:
i. Protect communities through robust enforcement to tackle drug supply, drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour;
ii. Prevent harm to children, young people and families affected by drug misuse;
iii. Delivering new approaches to drug treatment and social re-integration; and
iv. Deliver public information campaigns, communications and community engagement.
5. There are 149 local Drug Action Teams/Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships responsible for delivering the Drug Strategy. Their work aims to tackle supply, target young people to prevent them becoming tomorrow’s drug users, get more people into treatment and reduce the fear of crime that drug misuse can cause.
6. The new set of Home Office Public Service Agreements started in April. PSA 25 aims to produce a long-term and sustainable reduction in the harms associated with alcohol and drugs, where:
- fewer people develop drug problems, those that do receive the necessary effective treatment and support, communities are relieved of drug-related crime and associated nuisance, whilst organised criminal enterprises are disrupted and the availability of all drugs, but particularly Class A drugs, is reduced; and
- we have a safe, sensible and social drinking culture where violent and anti-social behaviour is not tolerated; where those who drink alcohol are aware of the risks involved and those that are drinking too much receive the advice and support they need.
7. Last year’s Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Award individual winner was outreach drug worker Vicky Ward, who works with the Turning Point Adult Treatment Service in Sheffield. Vicky was described as working tirelessly to get homeless people into treatment by visiting squats and streets to locate her clients. She ensures that they can access the treatment and healthcare they need. Her nominator described how Vicky is driven to overcome obstacles: 'She works with her clients and will keep on trying until she finds a solution.'
8. The team award was won by Essex Young People's Drug and Alcohol Service Team from Chelmsford. The Children's Society project, offers support to young people affected by substance misuse. It also works with parents on drug and alcohol awareness, offering parenting classes. The service not only offers advice and information from its base, as well as a helpline, it also has outreach programmes operating in foster homes, prisons and hospitals and serves hard-to-reach rural areas.
9. Anyone can nominate a team or individual for an award: colleagues, family, community leaders, ex-service users – all are welcome to make a nomination. Nominees can work within any sector of the drugs field – prevention, education, treatment or enforcement. Practitioners from both the public and voluntary sectors are eligible. All nominees must work for a recognised organisation.
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