2010 saw Mentor UK's third biennial awards for the best and most promising alcohol misuse prevention projects. Each of the winners received £10,000 which is followed up with support to help projects evaluate their impact and to develop their sustainability.
“UK youth have among the highest levels of alcohol consumption and binge drinking in the EU and experience drunkenness at an earlier age.” – Home Office (2011)
From the many inspirational and outstanding entries, the panels of young judges selected the following winners:
Young People’s Involvement: Just for a Laugh, County Durham
Young people create thought provoking and insightful short dramas about the dangers of alcohol and other risky situations and film them. The films are used by other young people and groups at community events, so that adults see alcohol prevention from a young person’s perspective. The judges particularly liked the fact that young people were involved at all stages of the process from researching alcohol to writing the scripts and acting in the films.
Communities: Sub 21, Wallsend, North Tyneside
305 young people are currently signed up as members of this exciting project, which has helped reduce underage street drinking around Wallsend substantially. This includes a 30% decrease in youth disorder figures and a 49% decrease in alcohol related incidents. Sub 21 attacks alcohol misuse on two fronts: it provides structured out of school activities which young people help develop – for example, graffiti, street dance, hair and makeup, cookery and keep fit and it supports retailers in refusing underage and proxy alcohol sales.
Schools: ‘Bottle It’ Peer Alcohol Education project, Derby City
Year 10 pupils, including those identified as vulnerable and at risk, are recruited to develop and teach four lessons to Year 8 pupils. The interactive sessions challenge young people’s attitudes and behaviour towards alcohol. They cover the short and long term risks associated with alcohol, how to minimise harms, emergency first aid and personal safety. The pupils learn assertiveness and decision making, how to manage peer pressure, and about the links between alcohol, sexual health and antisocial behaviour.
> Read more at the CHAMP awards website...
