Horsham given £10k grant to tackle binge drinking (From The Argus)

Horsham given £10k grant to tackle binge drinking

6:40pm Saturday 28th July 2012 in News By Neil Vowles

It is best known for its cafe culture and French markets.

But Horsham has become one of ten locations in the country to be given funding to fight binge drinking.

The town will receive Government money to tackle the problem of drinking and antisocial behaviour.

This is despite the area being well below the average for teenagers hospitalised through drink and hospital stays for alcoholic harm in national league tables.

The funding will be given to Horsham District Council, the YMCA and charity Horsham Matters to develop a project for young people to design their own non- alcoholic ‘mocktails’ for a Dragons’ Den panel.

The council hopes the scheme will allow teenagers to learn about the problems of binge drinking and help develop employment skills.
 

The town has won the £10,000 alongside places such as Nottingham, Lan- caster, North Tyneside and St Helens.

Horsham District Council and its partners hope the project will reach every Year Nine pupil in the district – about 2,000 young people.

The council said discussions with schools had already begun with strong interest shown and talks will continue in September.

The programme could then be altered to target those at higher risk of alcohol use, either their own use or the use of their parents or carers in other settings and smaller groups following a review of the project in the schools.

The Government funding will cover the cost of the project for one year and the council has said it could continue after year one with other funding.

A council spokeswoman said: “Alcohol misuse by young people is one of the areas Horsham District Council seeks to address in conjunction with partners such as the police and NHS West Sussex.

“However, the ability to address such issues is finance dependent, which is why the council is always proactive in applying for and ‘drawing in’ external funds that would benefit the Horsham district.

“Applying for funds from the Communities and Local Government Alcohol Prospectus Fund was seen as an opportunity to develop and enhance the Horsham District Alcohol Intervention Project.”