Eli Byass, our Regional Adviser for the North East of England, sets our her ambitions for a new CAP partnership in Thornaby in Stocktn-on-Tees.

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In mid-July, I attended a highly productive pre-partnership meeting in Thornaby (Stockton-on-Tees) to explore the launch of a new Community Alcohol Partnership. Fittingly, the meeting took place during Alcohol Awareness Week, providing an ideal opportunity to focus on how we can work together to reduce alcohol-related harm among young people.

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It was fantastic to see such a strong range of partners around the table, including Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey, colleagues from Catalyst Youth Trust, McDonald's, Asda, Stockton licensing, and Five Lamps, who kindly hosted us at The Youthy in Thornaby.

The purpose of the meeting was to determine whether there was sufficient need and appetite to establish a CAP in Thornaby. Following open and constructive discussions, there was unanimous agreement that launching a partnership would provide real value to the local community.

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We explored several current issues affecting young people, including the growing popularity of high-strength ready-to-drink products and alcoholic energy drinks. We also discussed recent incidents of anti-social behaviour in and around McDonald's and Asda, considering how a CAP could bring partners together to develop practical, preventative solutions rather than simply responding after problems occur.

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A key theme throughout the meeting was the importance of supporting parents and carers. We discussed how the CAP can help raise awareness of the risks associated with underage drinking and proxy purchasing, while also encouraging conversations about how adult drinking behaviours can influence the young people around them.

The Thornaby CAP team is now distributing community surveys to gather local views and help shape the partnership's priorities. We are aiming to officially launch the Thornaby Community Alcohol Partnership this autumn, and there is genuine excitement about what it could achieve. We hope it will not only make a positive difference for young people and the wider community in Thornaby, but also build momentum for establishing further CAPs across Stockton-on-Tees in the future.

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I look forward to sharing updates as the partnership develops. Watch this space!