Alcohol Help

The impact of a pilot scheme which brought together alcohol retailers, pubs and the local community to tackle underage drinking in Ludlow has been highlighted by the results achieved.

The Ludlow Community Alcohol Partnership (L-CAP) was led by Shropshire Council’s trading standards team following successful trials of similar initiatives in other parts of the country.

The alcohol initiative saw shops and pubs, Shropshire Council, West Mercia Police, local schools and colleges, Ludlow Town Council, doctors’ surgeries and the wider community join together in a bid to reduce the crime, anti-social behaviour and harm caused by underage drinking through a six month programme of education, enforcement and actions to change public perceptions.

During the operation of the L-CAP there was:

• a reduction in anti-social behaviour – broad data shows that there was a 14 per cent reduction, compared to the previous six months

• an improved relationship between alcohol licensees and enforcement agencies – the percentage of licensees that either strongly agreed or tended to agree that enforcement agencies are approachable increased by more than 30 per cent

• underage sales at pubs and other premises where alcohol is consumed were less than in other areas of Shropshire – more than 65 per cent of test purchases in the area were refused

• an increased level of training undertaken by licensees – more than 20 representatives undertook free training on preventing underage and proxy sales which is people over 18 years old buying alcohol on behalf of those who are underage

In addition, feedback and surveys revealed an increase in alcohol seized from young people, a shift away from proxy purchasing and young people found it more difficult to obtain alcohol.

Frances Darling, Shropshire Council’s trading standards manager and chair of L-CAP said:

“I am delighted with the overall outcomes that were achieved in what was a relatively short time-scale. A huge amount of work has been undertaken to achieve these results and I would like to thank everyone for their contribution. We have learned a great deal from this pilot project, including areas where we could have achieved even more.

“We are now in the process of launching a community alcohol partnership in Oswestry as a result of the successful work that has been undertaken in Ludlow.”

The L-CAP delivered a number of alcohol projects including ‘Challenge 25’ training for licensees, joint enforcement patrols, engagement with the community at a number of Ludlow events, education through the secondary school, college and Shropshire Youth service, test purchasing exercises and a ‘Don’t Pass It On’ campaign promoted by licensed premises to highlight how proxy purchasing is illegal.

Councillor Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for trading standards, said:

“The L-CAP has been a great opportunity for us all to work together to tackle underage drinking head-on.

“Working together with the community and those who sell alcohol, on a range of initiatives including educating young people about the dangers of underage drinking, has made a difference in terms of bringing about a change in attitudes and behaviour.”

Rosanna Taylor-Smith and Martin Taylor-Smith, Shropshire councillors for Ludlow, said:

“We have fully supported the L-CAP from day one and are very encouraged by the results achieved, particularly the reduction in anti-social behaviour.”

The alcohol targeted work under L-CAP has now come to an end, taking place from July 2010 to January 2011, but the partnership will continue to monitor the effects of underage drinking in Ludlow and is able to deliver specific projects as the need arises.

Shropshire Council

Rhoserchan, Ceredigion
Alcohol free Rehabilitation in the Heart of Rural Wales

About us:

We offer a 6-month programme of residential rehabilitation for people who want to stop using alcohol and drugs and start a new addiction-free life. The first twelve weeks of the programme are spent at the First Stage unit. This provides accommodation for 22 residents and is registered with Care Standards in Wales as a Care Home for younger adults (men and women aged 18-64) with substance misuse problems.

After completion of First Stage, some residents are ready to return home and others need a further period of rehabilitation before being ready to start a new independent life in the community. Our Second Stage unit, Rhoserchan, is a separate farmhouse set in its own garden and accommodates 8 residents. It is not registered as a Care Home but adheres to the same policies and procedures as the First Stage unit.

The First Stage Programme is structured and intensive and residents are expected to participate fully in all therapeutic activities. For residents to get maximum benefit from their time in First Stage, leisure activities and hobbies are restricted and listening to music is not permitted. Use of mobile phones is not permitted, but there is a payphone for residents’ use.

Residents are allocated a focal counsellor with whom they work closely throughout their stay. Group therapy is held every morning Monday – Friday and a workshop on Saturday mornings. In the afternoons there are gardening, yoga and singing workshops and other outdoor activities.

The educational part of the programme consists of lectures and videos about addiction, and residents are given reading and written assignments as appropriate by their counsellor. For residents who find reading or writing difficult, counsellors will adapt assignments as necessary.

All therapeutic work stops at 9pm and there follows an hour and a half each evening when residents relax by watching television, reading or playing table-tennis. At weekends this time is extended to two hours.

The Second Stage Programme is flexible in length and designed to meet the individual needs of clients. Residents receive one-to-one counselling from their focal counsellor, and Group Therapy is held three mornings a week.

All residents are involved in the general upkeep of the house and garden. Therapeutic duties are allocated on a weekly basis and cover all aspects of housekeeping. All residents are responsible for preparing their own breakfasts and lunches, and those residents allocated kitchen duties are expected to draw up menus for the week, shop within a set budget, and cook a communal meal every evening. This will be overseen by staff.

Residents are also encouraged to develop other aspects of their lives as they prepare for their return to the community. They are expected to organise their own leisure time and include in their weekly plan activities such as voluntary work, outdoor pursuits, further education courses and social events. Residents are expected to attend at least three AA / NA or other Fellowship meetings per week.

Restrictions on television and music, which are necessary in the First Stage unit, are relaxed in Second Stage. There is a computer available for residents’ use. Residents are expected to act responsibly in their use of these media outlets.

First and Second Stage residents live in separate buildings and rarely associate with each other.

Contact Details:

Rhoserchan
Blaencastell
Penrhyncoch
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion
Glandyfi
SY23 3EX

Telephone: 01970 820575