Huntingdonshire

Below is the list of the drugs and alcohol related projects funded by Huntingdonshire Safer Stronger Communities in 2008-09:

Part fund a Young Peoples Drug Misuse Worker for 12 months with Dial Drug Link

- 238 targeted drug interventions sessions delivered to young people as an agency, we were targeted for 10 by HCSP and 80 by the DAAT

- 5 referrals received for family intervention through this project, over the year we received 22 further intensive family interventions from families who self referred.

- Yaxley and Sawtry have been very successful, 24 young people were engaged in the initial sessions, and since then many more have engaged with our youth worker who has been attending both sites weekly since January. A typical week would be activities with 6 or more young people in each youth club and outreach sessions in Yaxley where up to 10 young people might be encountered for a brief intervention on risk taking, drugs and alcohol. One ‘hard to reach’ young person has completed a graffiti style project on drug safety.

- The summer detached scheme in St Neots achieved contact with approximately 100 young people of whom 30 were identified as potentially engaged in risk taking around drugs and received brief interventions

- The Darker Side of Drugs campaign ran at the same time as the National Frank campaign and involved all secondary schools in Huntingdonshire.

- 46 young people received keeping safe messages through summer holiday sessions.

- A 6th Form debate on drug’s and society with 184 16 to 18 year olds was very successful at Ramsey Abbey school

- A 6th Form assembly At St Neots Community College gave out a message about the effects of Cannabis on educational attainment, this was followed up by a drop in session for 1-1 questions.

- All our schemes in Huntingdon, St Ives, Ramsey, and Sawtry & Yaxley encountered more that 100 young people who were able to receive ‘keeping safe’ messages and Frank information and literature

Contribution to DrinkSense to work with identified young people

- Sessional Worker recruited

- Yaxley, Ramsey, Bluntisham, Sawtry and St Neots identified as hotspot areas and sessions delivered.

St Neots: 32 Young People have been engaged with in St Neots through Street Outreach

Yaxley: Street Outreach took place in Yaxley. 14 evaluations were completed with Young People, looking at their views on antisocial behaviour in Yaxley, causes and what would make a difference 

St Neots: - The meeting and subsequent session at Paines Mill Hostel confirmed carepathways for staff and young people, facilitating referrals.

Hinchingbrooke LARM: - The Drinksense Young People Education, Prevention and Engagement worker attends the LARM, as well as the Intensive Support Worker Attendance at LARM for young people at risk including anti social behaviour.

Referrals have been received as a result of Drinksense presence.

Huntingdon NACRO: - A meeting with NACRO led to the establishment of a fortnightly drop-in session, which provide brief 1:1 support, as well as referral into structured support.

GAP: A planning meeting was held with the responsible Police Officer. Pilot to include Drinksense information to Young People and Parents to be placed in all letters following alcohol related incidents.

Ramsey and Somersham Youth Clubs: – Creative projects developed with young people aged 11-19. The work was aimed at promoting awareness of units and strengths of alcohol, the risks related, including antisocial behaviour and preventative measures. The project involved young people making their own images that represented the dangers of alcohol and by thinking of their own safety messages. These pictures and messages have since been developed into postcards and posters and are now displayed in youth clubs across area.

 Establishment of a Night Time Economy Project

 - Part time Co-ordinator appointed to manage the ‘Nightwatch’ Scheme

- 14 licensed premises signed up as members (brings in a weekly income)

- Successful bid to the Home Office for additional funding to run a project alongside ‘Nightwatch’ to address issues associated with the night time economy

- Operation Hartwell – Results show a 12% reduction in total crime,

33% reduction in violent crime and 8% reduction in antisocial behaviour for project period

Dial Drug Link Drug Boxes and Drink Drive Goggles

- Purchase of ‘dummy’ drug boxes to be used as part of education programme with young people

- Used as part of Junior PCSO Scheme and very well received.

- Will be used as part of ASB Streetwise Days in secondary schools

 

ASB Headcams

- Provision of cameras that can be worn by Police Officers and PCSOs on patrol to film ASB

- Used in hotspot areas where young people have been congregating and drinking alcohol

- Images can be used as evidence when speaking to parents about their young persons behaviour

                                                                              Updated Jul 2009