alcoHELP scoops Essex High Sheriffs’ Award

22 March 2013

Specifically designed to reward those community initiatives that address crime and anti-social behaviour, the annual High Sheriffs’ Award Scheme provides a welcome boost to local voluntary organisations such as alcoHELP, which are making a real difference to young lives.
Commenting on the award, Terry Martin, co-founder of alcoHELP, says:
“We are delighted to have received the award; not only will the additional £1,000 funding help us reach more young people, it is also an honour to be recognised by the High Sheriff.”
Run by trained individuals who have experience of direct personal tragedy from alcohol abuse, alcoHELP has delivered its programme to just over 50,000 school-aged pupils over the past 6 years.
A series of stark messages are given to pupils about the dangers of drinking – including videos of real-life alcohol-fuelled road traffic incidents. The powerful sessions focus on the severe health impacts of alcohol with clips of people who have either been killed or seriously maimed as a result of being drunk or being with someone else who is.
The message is stark yet simple; never ever get into a car with a driver who has been drinking alcohol and don’t abuse alcohol in the first place.
Debby Peirson, co-founder and trustee of alcoHELP, who struggled with alcohol for many years, fervently believes that a person’s relationship with alcohol can start at a very early age. She comments:
“I always start sessions by saying that ‘if you start to drink alcohol when you are young, you will start to have problems’.
“The cold hard fact is that in a group of ten 10 -11 year olds, statistically, two will already be drinking and will enter into adult life with an alcohol problem. We set up alcoHELP to address these issues and make young people aware that they have choices and can so “no” to peer pressure.”
To drive the message home, those running the alcoHELP programmes ask pupils to put on a pair of ‘goggles’ designed to simulate the effects of alcohol. Whilst the young people find it funny at first, they soon realise the difficulty they could find themselves in when asked to find their seats. The resulting conversation after the exercise, without fail, makes the children realise just how dangerous alcohol can be.
Terry adds:
“We are trying to plant a seed based on facts. Our film footage on ‘saying no’, coupled with highly impactful and somewhat shocking images, really does leave a lasting impression with the children, as we highlighted in our submission to the High Sheriffs’ Fund.”
Essex Community Foundation (ECF) has managed the High Sheriffs’ Fund in Essex since 1997.  Since then, 467 grants totalling £385,000 have been awarded to local voluntary and community organisations which are working hard to make communities in Essex, safer places to live and work.
Jo Murphy, Head of Communications at ECF said “alcoHELP was a worthy winner of this award, The annual High Sheriffs’ Awards ceremony is always an inspirational event and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the work of local charities and individuals and recognise their contribution to community safety in Essex.”