New Website Tackles Substance Misuse
A new website dedicated to tackling the problem of drug and alcohol misuse among young people has been launched.
The site – www.fixers.org.uk – is designed to be accessible to children and teenagers who have concerns about drink and drugs, and to carers and practitioners working with young people.
Unlike any other resource of its kind, the site includes material such as films and music videos made by young people themselves to a professional standard. It also aims to bring together in one place resources such as workshop plans and factsheets used by different organisations working in the field of substance misuse, and make them freely available.
Fixers.org.uk has been created as part of the collaboration between Groundwork UK, The Children’s Society and the Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT) in a Home Office-funded ‘Choices’ programme. Choices helps the voluntary and community sector to prevent and reduce substance misuse and related offending by vulnerable people aged 10-19 years.
The website draws on material created as part of PSBT’s ITV Fixers initiative supporting young people to undertake social action campaigns to benefit their communities. More than 6000 young people have become Fixers since 2008, and many of them are concerned about substance misuse. Some have overcome personal battles with drugs or alcohol.
As well as creating Fixers.org.uk, the Groundwork/TCS/PSBT Choices partnership is working in 10 distinct areas of England and Wales in projects that support vulnerable children and teenagers to be more aware of the impact of substance misuse. In some projects, young people are undertaking their own Fixers campaigns and creating their own new resources for Fixers.org.uk.
Margo Horsley, Chief Executive of PSBT, say: “There is an honesty, like no other, when young people want to tell their stories about the impact of drugs and alcohol on their lives because they want to prevent other young people from going through the same thing. And young people listening just know it! Some 80 Fixers, from all over the country, volunteered to participate in this initiative and I really admire their commitment and passion to make a difference.”
In 2010 ITV Fixers won several accolades in the Children & Young People Now Positive Images Awards, including Best Media Portrayal of Young People.
For further information contact Margo Horsley, PSBT, on 01962 856177 or 01962 864935, or margohorsley@psbt.co.uk
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