East Cambridgeshire

Community Support Worker
The Community Support Worker has been funded jointly with Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire. The post aims to support the development of the Community Safety Partnerships in developing the Communities Against Drugs fund and most importantly supporting local community groups and associations that are looking to deliver actions that impact on the use or supply of drugs.

The Community Support Worker is currently funded until March 2004. After this, the post will be funded by the DAAT.

Training for Youth Workers, Drug Action Team
Following a recent countywide training needs analysis commissioned by the Drug Action Team, it is envisaged that youth workers will receive training aimed at improving their knowledge and increasing their skill base. The training will focus specifically on youth workers that come into contact with young people at risk of substance misuse.

The training will be carried out during 2002/03 and is a joint initiative with East Cambridgeshire.

Drugs Training for Pub/Club Staff, East Cambridgeshire District Council
This initiative will include two training sessions aimed at raising the awareness about drug issues and the appropriate action to take if users and/or dealers are identified; and sponsoring up to 50 pub and club staff to complete the British Institute of Inn Keeping 'Bar Persons National Certificate'. It is hoped that the project will highlight the importance of information and intelligence sharing to reduce the supply and demand of drugs in East Cambridgeshire.

The drugs training is due to be carried out by the end of March 2003 and will cover premises throughout the district.

'Time to Talk' Mobile Youth Provision, Community Education
The 'Time to Talk' mobile youth provision (known as the Fen Tiger bus) was provided with funding to refurbish and expand the coverage of the existing bus project in 2001/02. Following the success of the initiative additional funding was awarded for 2002/03.

This initiative has made it possible for the Fen Tiger to visit Littleport and Soham and provides a place for young people to socialise and youth workers to engage with them. The bus is frequented by young people who would normally 'hang around' the streets and who are often involved in drug use.

'The Total Package', The Total Package Management Group
The 'Total Package' is a community education drugs package that includes drama projects, a local parent support line, peer mentoring and community awareness. It also links with Community Education work in schools, the sports centre and 'The Deck' bus project for example. It is based in Burwell.

The funding provided for this initiative in 2002/03 aims to build on the work funded by Communities Against Drugs in 2001/02.

Targeted Policing, Police
The funding awarded to targeted policing is being used to make more police officer time available for tackling drug-related offences. The time is being spent disrupting the local drug markets and increasing police data on drug-related offending. An increase in arrests for drug dealing/supply and a reduction in drug-related offences is aimed for.

The additional targeted policing began in early 2002 and will continue until at least March 2003. After this, the post will be funded by the DAAT.