Warwickshire News Mine

Warwickshire County Council’s Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT), working with partners from health, the borough and district councils, probation, police, social care providers and young people services in Warwickshire, were recognised for their work to develop a range of easily accessible information and products – all with the aim of reducing the harm caused by alcohol.

There were over 600 entries for the national ‘High Fliers – Positive Practice Awards 2007’, organised by the Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP).

The Warwickshire team’s work was one of only three entries short-listed for the ‘Information Sharing – Joining Health and Social Care’ award.

The Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) found out that they had won the national award on Monday (17th December) at an awards ceremony at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel, which was hosted by the BBC’s Dr. Mark Porter, presenter of ‘Watchdog Healthcheck’ and Radio 4’s ‘Case Notes’.

Kit Leck, Manager of the Warwickshire DAAT, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have won this award and to have our efforts in Warwickshire recognised at a national level.

“We set out to produce information for people in Warwickshire that would both inform them of the dangers of drinking and give good information and advice to alcohol users, their carers and the professionals that work with people of all ages who are at risk of misusing alcohol.”

Innovative work co-ordinated by the team included a project with young people from Leamington-based social enterprise organisation ‘Hybrid Arts’, who wrote, produced and filmed three DVDs about drug use, alcohol misuse and alcohol and teenage pregnancy – all in a ‘garage rap’ style - to be shown to schools and community groups.

One of the films is currently being shown as a promotional advertisement at local Showcase cinemas.

Kit Leck continued: “Another big part of the work was the development of our website, http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/drugs, which gives people access to alcohol advice, education on safe drinking limits, information about services in Warwickshire and a screening tool that can be used by individuals or professionals, all of which can be accessed 24/7.

"Within six months of going live, the website has received at least 22,500 hits.”

Leaflets, wristbands and posters are just some of the items that have been distributed across Warwickshire and made available to libraries, GP’s surgeries, colleges and universities to promote the http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/drugs website and encourage people to think about their drinking habits.

Display screens have been installed in custody suites and court waiting areas providing information on harm reduction and local alcohol support services.

The team have also produced a ‘safer pubbing and clubbing’ guide for 18 to 30 year olds, information on drink spiking for the PubWatch scheme and a CD-Rom on alcohol screening pathways and advice.

In September, they launched a ‘Streetwise’ information pack for young people at Warwickshire College’s Freshers Fayre.

Link to WCC