E-bulletin for July 2008
Headlines
- From Policy to Project
- New additions to the Hub
- Updates from Alcohol Concern and Department of Health
Articles
From Policy to Project
Swindon Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy and linked projects
Swindon’s first dedicated Alcohol Harm Reduction strategy was launched in May 2008. It was developed by the Swindon Community Safety Partnership and clearly lays out aims and objectives to tackle alcohol-related harm in the Borough.
The project directly linked to this strategy and developed from the strategy includes:
- Swindon Last Orders Alcohol Education Project
In early 2008 the Healthy Schools team at Swindon Borough Council piloted their ‘Last Orders’ Alcohol Education Project in three local schools. The initiative was developed in response to an identified need for improved alcohol specific education to be delivered in schools.
Targeted at Year Nine pupils, the project was centred around the Solomon Theatre Company’s ‘Last Orders’ production which proved successful in Dorset. It consists of a play examining the consequences of binge drinking and follow-up workshop. Link
The Swindon Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy demonstrates a commitment to improving alcohol care pathways in the borough and prioritises effective enforcement measures. It is clear about working in partnership with the licensed trade to tackle alcohol related crime and disorder and promote sensible drinking.
Alcohol Concern awarded its first ever ‘Kitemark’ to the Swindon Community Safety Partnership for the quality of this alcohol strategy. The Kitemarking initiative aims to support local authorities to achieve the highest standards by certifying, and celebrating good practice, focusing not just on alcohol-related crime reduction, but also health promotion, interventions, service user involvement and treatment.
New additions to the Hub
Stockton on Tees
The Safer Stockton Partnership’s launched the Think B4 U Drink Campaign in 2005. It successfully engages with local industry and key stakeholders to promote sensible drinking messages.
The campaign uses a mixture of hard-hitting posters illustrating the dangers of getting home safely alongside the infamous ‘We know you’ve had too much when you think the Bouncers look fit’ posters and t-shirts. The campaign has won a number of awards both regionally and nationally.
Torbay Primary Care Alcohol Service
A new primary care alcohol service was set up by Torbay Care Trust in October 2007. The service aims to reduce the level of hazardous, harmful and dependent drinkers within Torbay
Before the service was established a stakeholder event took place to review and develop the best care-pathways for alcohol service users in the area. Finding from this indicated a clear need to develop a Tier 2/3 alcohol service in Torbay. The Care Trust designed the Primary Care Alcohol Service to meet this need, consisting of 3 Primary Care Alcohol Workers. The stakeholder event also identified the need for all Tier 1 health and social care staff to be equipped to screen patients using the AUDIT tool, this will commence soon.
South East Regional A&E Data Collection and Sharing
By the end of 2007, 30 of the existing 33 Accident and Emergency Departments in the South East Government Region had agreed to collect assault data and share it with their local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships.
Data sharing takes place between public health professionals, community safety partnerships, emergency medicine and police. It includes collecting incident and crime records as well as A&E statistics. The initiative is underpinned by a five step process for the strategic use of sharing anonymous assault data.
Updates from Alcohol Concern and Department of Health
Changes to the HubCAPP team
The HubCAPP team are very sad to announce the departure of Andy McNicoll as our Research Assistant. Andy has worked tirelessly to get projects listed on HubCAPP and has been in touch with almost everyone working in the alcohol field or who have made enquiries about HubCAPP. We wish him the best luck for his future endeavours.
We would also like to welcome Elissa Wood to HubCAPP as the new Research Assistant, replacing Andy. From 2nd July Elissa will be working part time and joins Sarah Ward to complete the HubCAPP Team. Elissa is another Australian (as is Sarah) and comes to us from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre in Sydney, Australia. Please continue to email info@hubcapp.org.uk these will now be answered by Elissa.
Kitemarking of Local Alcohol Strategies
Swindon’s Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy was the first local strategy to receive a kitemark from Alcohol Concern.
Alcohol Concern developed the Kitemarking process in order to achieve the highest standards in developing local alcohol strategies. The Kitemark initiative is informed by Alcohol Concern's work on local alcohol strategies in the South West and East Midlands Government Regions.
For more information please contact Catherine Johnson consultancy@alcoholconcern.org.uk
Home Office binge drinking campaign
On 17th June 2008 the Home Office launched its Know Your Limits binge drinking campaign. Adopting the thought provoking tag-line ‘You wouldn’t start a night like this, so why end it that way?’, the campaign encourages its target audience of 18-24 year olds to consider the negative effect that excessive alcohol consumption has, specifically on behaviour and the consequences of drunken actions.
A range of television and radio adverts, print and web-based media have been developed following feedback which recommended using high shock-factor material as the most effective way to communicate with the target audience.
Stakeholders and other alcohol support groups are encouraged to use all the materials that are available to support this campaign in order to communicate the binge drinking message to 18-24 year olds within their region. As well offering a 16-page support guide, best practice and the latest news, the website also has logos and posters for download.
Visit the Know Your Limits stakeholder website:www.alcoholstakeholders.nhs.uk for more information.