Baroness backs pioneering work to tackle alcohol-related harm

A pioneering scheme empowering residents of Bury East to tackle problems associated with alcohol misuse has been backed by Victims Commissioner, Baroness Newlove.

Bury East was one of only ten areas to successfully bid for £90,000 of a £1m Government ‘Alcohol Fund’ early in 2012. The fund was launched by Baroness Newlove in February 2012 to help areas find innovative, community based approaches to tackle problem drinking and alcohol related anti-social behaviour.

Baroness Newlove attended a conference at Bury Football Club (Thursday 20 March) which brought together many of the 15 projects funded through the Bury East Alcohol Prospectus Scheme (BEAPS), which has been hailed nationally as an example of good practice. The projects have provided a programme of education and intervention particularly focused on young people.

Among those who attended the conference were Bury Council, Integrated Youth Support Service, Youth Cabinet, Early Break, Alcohol Dependency Solutions, Victim Support, Streetwise, Barnardo’s, ADAB, the police and Six Town Housing.

Speakers included Dr Mark Limmer, who lectures in public health at Lancaster University, whose key message was around what works in alcohol education. Barbara Jack and Vicky Maloney, founder and current chief executive of the young people’s substance service Early Break, reflected on the changing and emerging challenges in tackling alcohol misuse.

Workshops outlined the physical and mental effects of alcohol misuse, parental substance misuse, how to tackle alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour and alcohol misuse among young people, within troubled families and within the black and minority ethnic community.

Councillor Sandra Walmsley, cabinet member for communities, spoke about the recent announcement that Greater Manchester is one of 20 areas selected to be a Local Alcohol Action Area and one of only five to be chosen for intensive communications support. “Building on our success through the BEAPs project, Bury will play an important role in developing the Greater Manchester strategy and use our experience to expand local work on tackling problem drinking,” she said.

Councillor Mike Connolly, leader of the council, said: “This event was the perfect opportunity to welcome Baroness Newlove to our borough and showcase the positive impact that the Bury East Alcohol Prospectus Scheme has had on the lives of our residents over the last two years. With the great partnerships, services and community assets that exist in this part of the borough, we will continue to tackle all forms of alcohol nuisance for the benefit of our communities.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 25 March 2014.

Picture attached: At the conference are (from left) Cllr Sandra Walmsley; council leader Cllr Mike Connolly; Baroness Newlove; council chief executive Mike Kelly; Cllr Tamoor Tariq, deputy cabinet member for communities; and Emily Kay, Bury’s Youth MP.