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Home Office (South West) (Home Office) Last chance to enter tackling drugs changing lives awards in the South West Time is running out for people in the South West to submit nominations for a Home Office national awards scheme to find the drug worker and team of the year. The Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Awards are open to all public and voluntary sector workers in the UK who have taken direct positive action to tackle drug issues in the local community. Colleagues, friends, family members and current or ex-service users are being urged to send in any last minute nominations by the closing date on 31 August 2008. Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said: "I know there are thousands of people around the country who are making a difference in tackling drug use and I want to hear from the individuals and teams who are going the extra mile to help change lives. "Drug use is at its lowest level for 13 years and I know those at the frontline have played a vital role in reducing the harm caused by drugs and making their communities safer. "The Government is committed to tackling drugs through tough enforcement, education, information campaigns and, where appropriate, treatment so that communities can be free of drug related crime and drug users can lead positive lives free of illegal substances. "I encourage anyone who knows an individual or team who has really made a difference to nominate them for an award." Colin Passey, Deputy Regional Director, Safer and Stronger Partnerships, at the Government Office for the South West, said: "These awards are an opportunity to recognise the contribution made behind the scenes by the many people working day in day out to tackle drug misuse. They make a huge contribution to their communities. They really do change lives and protect families and communities, for example by reducing drug related crime. "Last year the South West region received many outstanding nominations. These included the Views Into Action drug support group of Weston-super-Mare, who won regional team of the year, and Exeter drugs worker, Jan Hooper, who was awarded drug worker of the year 2007. It would be great if we could repeat that success this year. "Nominees can work within any sector of the drugs field. They might be drug treatment providers, police teams, prison officers, social workers, housing officers, youth workers or drug action teams. "If you know an individual or team in the region who deserves to be recognised, please nominate them for an award as they could be in with a chance of winning a prize for their local drugs initiative or project." Two awards are available, one for an individual and one for a team, and each winner will receive £10,000 for their organisation to spend on the prevention or treatment of drug misuse. Anyone looking to make a nomination can do so at http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/awards2008 any time before the closing date. An expert judging panel, chaired by the Home Office, will choose ten finalists, one from each of the nine government regions plus Wales. Two overall winners will then be chosen - an individual drug worker and a drug team. The winners will be announced towards the end of 2008 at a ceremony in London. Nominations have been flowing in since the awards were launched in June. Among the nominees so far are a police constable from Swindon whose tireless work has resulted in seizure of drugs with a street value of £100,000, and a drugs worker from Salisbury who helped a client defy a medical diagnosis of only having a month to live - one year on he is clean and sober. Views Into Action's Karen Birch, whose team won the regional award last year, said: "The Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Award meant an awful lot to our organisation. It celebrated the fantastic work being done by our unpaid volunteers and raised the profile of the importance of this work to the community. There is a lot of good work being done to tackle drug abuse and provide support for users and I would urge anyone who knows of any valuable work being done to nominate it for an award." The launch of the awards follows the success of National Tackling Drugs Week (19-23 May 2008). This gave drug treatment agencies and police officers the opportunity to highlight work that goes on throughout the year in communities to reduce the harm caused by illegal substances. NOTES TO EDITORS 1. The Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Awards are in their third year. To make a nomination or to view information about past winners go to http://www.drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/awards2008. 2. The Government's Drug Strategy, "Drugs: protecting families and communities", which was launched in February 2008, recognises the key role played by drug workers and drug teams. It aims to protect communities through robust enforcement to tackle drug supply, drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour; prevent harm to children, young people and families affected by drug use; delivering new approaches to drug treatment and social re-integration; and deliver public information campaigns, communications and community engagement. |
