It has been a busy few months for CAP with the announcement of a new Chairman, Derek Lewis – former Chairman of national alcohol charity Drinkaware - at a successful House of Lords reception and the release of a new promotional video for CAP. CAP officers are actively progressing plans for new CAPs in over 30 new areas, many of which are either in Local Alcohol Action Areas or areas with high underage harms.

House of lords reception

Almost 90 people attended a reception hosted by outgoing CAP Chair the Rt Hon Baroness Newlove of Warrington at the House of Lords on 27 March. The event marked the inauguration of new CAP Chair, Derek Lewis. Derek Lewis brings a wealth of experience and knowledge having held executive and non-executive positions across the health, criminal justice, education, training and employability sectors, including the chairmanship of Drinkaware - a role which he held from 2008 to February 2014.

Commenting on the appointment of Derek Lewis as her replacement, Baroness Newlove - who steps down after almost three years in the role – said, “It has been a privilege to lead the Community Alcohol Partnerships programme. In that time, CAP has become an established and proven solution to reducing underage drinking and associated harm to local communities. Derek Lewis is well qualified to lead the growth of CAP at this exciting time and I wish him every success in this important role.”

Derek Lewis responded: “I am delighted to have been appointed as the new Chair of CAP and am very much looking to working with the CAP Board to oversee the next phase in the development of this impressive and important initiative. Collaborative working between a wide range of local stakeholders with a clear focus on shared aims and objectives is at the heart of the success of CAP. I want to help CAP to build on its impressive track record and harness its full potential to improve communities up and down the country that are blighted by underage drinking and its consequences.”

CAP supports LAAA project

In February the Government announced the names of twenty areas across England and Wales which have been set up as Local Alcohol Action Areas (LAAAs) to tackle alcohol harms and/or promote diverse night time economies. Each action area will receive support and expertise from the Home Office, the Department of Health, the Welsh Government, Public Health England and Public Health Wales. LAAAs are being encouraged to adopt a partnership approach that includes working with local businesses and to adopt successful industry-funded schemes such as CAP and Best Bar None.

The LAAA announcement has given fresh impetus to new CAP development. There are now plans to develop new CAPs in Doncaster, Slough and Southend-on-Sea. Positive discussions have taken place with relevant partners in Blackpool, Croydon, Halton, Greater Manchester, Middlesborough, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Scarborough and Weston super Mare. Where CAPs already exist in a LAAA e.g. Hastings, it is likely that LAAA project work will build on the existing CAP infrastructure. There are currently three existing CAPs in LAAAs – in Hastings, Gravesham and Wigan (part of Greater Manchester).

Minister calls for local partnership working to tackle alcohol harms at conference

Home Office Minister for Crime Prevention, Norman Baker MP, has called for more local partnerships to tackle alcohol harms specific to local needs.
The Minister opened a conference on 3 April, entitled Building partnerships to tackle alcohol harms.

Facilitated by the Portman Group, the conference brought together industry and non-industry led local alcohol schemes, local authorities, police, health services and other local partners to share best practice.

The event was also attended by some of the Home Office’s recently announced Local Alcohol Action Areas (LAAAs) to learn how industry can provide support to tackle alcohol harms in those areas.
The event featured a ‘speed-dating’ session where delegates were able to meet representatives from CAP and a number of other industry-led schemes to find out how the industry can help public sector partners tackle alcohol harms locally. Feedback and follow up from the event has been extremely positive.

CAP DVD

Evans Woolfe Media has produced a promotional film/DVD for CAP, the main purpose of which is to promote uptake and development of new CAP schemes.  The film tells the story of CAP through the stakeholders and young people already involved in and benefiting from the existence of a CAP scheme in their community and features footage from the Edinburgh, Brecon and Hayling Island CAPs.  The narrative is organised around three key areas of focus:

• Business engagement and enforcement
• Diversionary activity
• Education

The film can be downloaded from the CAP website here and DVDs are available on request from CAP.

JADE uprising event - Dinnington

550 young people packed into the Resource Centre in Dinnington on Friday 21st February for an U18s dance event featuring a light show, jumbo sound system and local DJs playing “house” and “hardcore” music. The event was billed as having “firm but fair security and a zero tolerance to alcohol drugs”. A free minibus service provided transport to and from the venue. Held with the specific purpose of raising awareness around alcohol issues, the event allowed local agencies to consult with young people about shaping the future of youth provisions in their area as well as providing learning activities around alcohol.

Young people and partners provided extremely positive feedback on the evening with 98% of survey respondents (n-109) reporting that taking part had improved their confidence, 99% saying that the evening had improved their general wellbeing and happiness and 96% reporting that it had improved the way they felt about themselves.

Bath spa drama students take alcohol awareness workshops into schools

An innovative project, run by Bath & North East Somerset Council, Avon & Somerset Police and NHS B&NES, is highlighting the problems associated with excessive drinking to young people.

Drama students from Bath Spa University visited secondary schools within the Midsomer Norton CAP as part of the alcohol education for school pupils within the partnership.

The interactive workshop is called 'Happy Hour' and is based on a game show format.  The drama students act as the hosts and the pupils split into teams competing to prove who has the best knowledge and awareness.  Video clips are used to depict the potential negative consequences of drinking too much and the pupils discuss what they could have done differently to avoid the situations.  Using chart music and energetic student presenters, the sessions are fun and entertaining but, importantly, pupils get to learn which parts of the body are most affected by alcohol, understand the concept of units and personal safety is also addressed.

Jodie Smith, Health Improvement Specialist for the Council and NHS B&NES, added: "Although we do focus on the possible dangers of drinking too much, we also emphasise that the majority of young people in Bath and North East Somerset are not drinking and getting into trouble. Overall the workshop aims to strike a balance between being both thought-provoking and educational, as well as being entertaining. The key to this project is that it's created by young people for young people, which makes it all the more engaging".

Russell Sharland, Community Alcohol Partnerships Officer said: "The precautionary tales in these sessions incorporate key harm-reduction messages which highlight the health impacts of alcohol and the potential consequences of alcohol-related anti-social behaviour. These alcohol awareness workshops are creative and innovative, which is exactly the ethos behind a CAP.  Everyone concerned in making these events happen should be rightly proud of themselves and they are an excellent example of best practice for other CAPs to follow.”

Minsterley and pontesbury Schools competition

Minsterley and Pontesbury CAP (part of ShropCAP) is running a competition for young people in Years 7-11. Youngsters in the CAP area are being encouraged to submit a piece of creative work highlighting their perceptions of the impact of alcohol. Submissions can be in the form of poems, songs, dance, written work, music, film or any other creative medium.

The closing date is 9th May. Judging will take place by the CAP partnership and two winners (one each from Key Stage 3 and 4) and six runners up will be awarded prizes at a presentation event. Further details can be found at http://shropcap.wordpress.com/2014/03/

New cap launched in hartlepool

Around 40 people attended the launch of the Hartlepool CAP on 28th March 2014 at the Rossmere Youth Centre. In attendance were Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger, Mayor Stephen Akers-Belcher, Leader of the Safer Hartlepool Partnership Sally Forth, CAP Chair Derek Lewis and local Tesco Store Manager Tony Taylor - Tesco will be providing free training for other retailers in the partnership. CAP is grateful to SHS Drinks who provided free Shloer for the launch event.

Status events in kent

STATUS - ‘Stay Safe and Tell Us’ - is a partnership project partly funded by CAP designed for 11-16 year olds. It offers an online social platform for young people to socialise and share relevant content and also holds regular night-time events across Kent and Sussex for this age group, with the explicit aim of encouraging young people to enjoy their evening with similar aged people in a safe environment, without the influence of alcohol and other harmful substances.

STATUS events are held in a variety of venues including leisure centres and nightclubs and incorporate live acts, DJs, music and atmospheric lighting. The organisers – who include Kent Police and local charity CXK - have a strong commitment to the safety and security of young people there are clear messages about anti-social behaviour.

Recent events held by STATUS included a Valentine’s disco in Thanet and an event at Escape Nightclub in Margate on 4th April. Tickets are subsidised (£3 for an advance ticket) and free transport provided. Both events were sold out and feedback from young people who attended was extremely positive. More events will be held over the summer.

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