DEDICATED NORTH WEST WORKERS SOUGHT FOR TACKLING DRUGS CHANGING LIVES AWARDS

Fri 12th Jun 2009

The fourth annual national Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Awards, designed to recognise, reward and celebrate the work being done by drug teams and workers across the country, have been launched today (Friday, 12 June) by Home Office Minister Alan Campbell.

Nominations are being sought in the North West for people who have made an outstanding contribution to tackling drugs and who through the course of their actions have changed lives and communities for the better.

Examples could include those who help with diversionary sports training, drug enforcement activity or professionals who counsel and treat drug users.

Launching the awards, Home Office Minister Alan Campbell, said:

“Every day people working in the drugs field are changing lives for the better. Their work with individual drug users, families and across whole communities transforms lives and improves the places where people live.

“These unsung heroes deserve recognition for their efforts in going the extra mile to tackle drugs in our communities and I look forward to hearing many examples of the good work going on as nominations come in over the next few months.”

This year there are six award categories. In addition to Drug Team of the Year and Drug Worker of the Year there are four new themed categories looking for people who work with young people, within the criminal justice system, community engagement and the work involved in National Tackling Drugs Week.

There will be five finalists in each of the categories and from these, two overall National Tackling Drugs Changing Lives winners will each receive £10,000 for their organisation to spend on developing their work.

Anyone can nominate a drug worker or drug team whether they are a friend, family member, a colleague or a service user. More information along with nomination forms can be found on line at www.drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk\awards2009

The closing date for nominations is Monday, 31st August 2009.

Last year’s winners included:

• A retired police officer, who now, as a drugs worker for a homeless charity, plays a vital role in helping to pick up individuals who slip through the net or drop out of treatment.
• A young people’s worker who provides intensive one to one support and group work for young men who display challenging behaviour and who use a variety of substances.
• A specialist service for members of the BME community recovering from substance misuse problems.
• A family-focused crisis intervention service working with families where there are serious child protection concerns directly relating to parental substance misuse.

In the North West, last year’s individual winner was Stockport-based volunteer Liz Wallace, who overcame 20 years of drug use to become clean and then work at helping others down the same path. The top project was the Spider Project, which provides an after-care service for former drug-users in Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral.