Children and young people are at the heart of Hope UK’s mission.

“Habits adopted in the teenage years can form behaviour for a lifetime.  For example, adolescent binge drinkers are twice as likely as their peers to be dependent on alcohol or taking illicit drugs by the time they reach 30 years, while someone who starts to smoke aged 15 is three times more likely to die of smoking-related cancer than someone who starts smoking in their 20s.  The effects of poor health in adolescence can last a lifetime, and even shorten it.  Keeping teenagers well is a valuable investment for the health of the population in the future.”  Sir Liam Donaldson, former Chief Medical Officer 

Our Drug Educators work with children and young people in schools and youth groups, providing interactive educational sessions about alcohol, tobacco and drugs.   Our experience of working with young people shows that many still do not realise how damaging regular excessive drinking, for example, can be.  Lifeskills that enhance peer resistance and build confidence are woven into sessions designed to encourage healthy choices and enable children and young people to realise their potential.

Find out more about:

• Alcohol and drug awareness sessions for children, young people, parents and other adults who have responsibility for them

• Accredited training for children’s, youth and family workers

Hope UK Voluntary Drug Educators undertake a 120 hour course accredited by the Open College Network consisting of distance learning and three practical training weekends.   Volunteers are thoroughly vetted before being accepted onto the Programme and are assessed and observed before they begin to lead sessions.  On-going support and training is provided as well as a yearly updating conference.  Our membership of the Drug Education Forum and Drug Practitioners Forum ensures that our work complies with best practice standards.

Case studies and comments from groups we have worked with help demonstrate the effectiveness of our Educators.

Hope UK’s Strategic Plan for the next 3 years includes the following four priorities:

1.  Develop 8 new local teams of voluntary Drug Educators.

2.  Recruit 6 – 8 local Project Workers to support local teams of Educators, develop local partnerships and access local funding.

3.  Maintain support for existing Educators, teams and local Project Workers.

4.  Continue to develop sustainable income.

Please help us achieve this by making a gift.

Hope UK is a charity with a Christian foundation, which was formed in 1855 as the UK Band of Hope Union.  Our Drug Educators work with people from all backgrounds and groups of other faiths and none.

A Hope UK newsletter is published three times a year and is available by post and e-mail.  Request it by e-mailing m.watson@hopeuk.org or completing the order form and returning it to Hope UK.

Hope UK is a registered charity (England & Wales registration no: 1044475; Scotland registration no: SC040550) and a company limited by guarantee (No: 3022470).