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Binge drinking:- young people's attitudes and behaviour
A new national
survey of 1,250 young people will reveal that drinking to get drunk
is starting younger with serious consequences to health and crime.
However, it also shows that young people think more activities are
important and that Positive Futures' sport and art activities are
helping them control their drinking. 'Binge drinking: young
people's attitudes and behaviour' was commissioned by
Positive Futures, a leading national social inclusion programme
funded by the Home Office and managed by independent charity, Crime
Concern.
The findings of the survey, launched at a high profile event in
Westminster are a result of 1-to-1 interviews with young people aged
10-19 years old in the 123 Positive Futures projects across the
country and include:-
* 42% began drinking when they were 13 or under.
* 29% said they drink
to get drunk.
* 50% of parents were
reported to condone or not care about their children's drinking
* 42% knew family and
friends with alcohol related problems
* 52% obtained
alcohol from their local corner shop, off license or supermarket
* 50% of young people
had been involved in fighting, violence and aggression as a result
of drinking
* 24% had been in
trouble with the police due to drinking
Despite their own active involvement in underage drinking a number
of measures for reducing alcohol-related crime and anti-social
behaviour were favoured by the young people:-
* 46% favoured diversionary sports and leisure activities to reduce
alcohol-related crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour
* 56% of young people
on the Positive Futures programme, which uses sport and leisure
activities to engage young people in deprived communities thought
Positive Futures had directly helped them reduce their drinking
* 38% wanted better
health information
* 33% wanted underage
sales from off licenses and shops to be tackled
All the above will have policy implications for work in this area,
and will shape the future direction of the programme.
Clare Checksfield,
chief executive, Crime Concern said:- "When young people are
drinking young, then prevention work has to start early, too. Now is
the time to act. We need to tackle a wider drinking culture and
together make certain that parents and peer groups are involved. Young people are taking risks with their health and with their
future by getting involved in alcohol-related violence. However,
Positive Futures is clearly offering a way forward. We need to build
on the Positive Futures model, of developing strong relationships
with young people based on trust, and try to reach out to as many
young people as possible."
In response to the survey findings The Rt. Hon Vernon Coaker,
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Crime Reduction said:-
"I welcome this report which makes a valuable contribution to our
efforts to tackle harmful alcohol consumption among some young
people. Enforcement campaigns to choke the supply of alcohol to
underage children are now well established and this year will see
more direct action by police and trading standards teams to tackle
irresponsible retailers. Alongside tough, systematic
enforcement of the law we are working with local authorities and
schools to educate young people about alcohol harm at an early
stage. A major research programme currently underway will develop
this work further and identify what makes the biggest impact on the
young. This research will help to shape the future direction of drug
and alcohol education across the country."
The Rt. Hon Beverley Hughes, Minister for Children, Young People and
Families said:- "Binge drinking is a concern which the
Government is already taking very seriously, as demonstrated by the
'Safe. Sensible. Social' national alcohol strategy. We have
been working to develop that strategy with detailed plans for
additional government action, specifically on young people and
alcohol, that will be announce in March 2008. The report is
important because it adds to our thinking and crucially tells us
about young people's drinking patterns from the young people
themselves. It's time to build on this knowledge. We're listening." |
£120,000 woodland cash up for grabs
LANDOWNERS
in Merseyside seeking financial support for environmental
improvements have just one month left to apply for grants from the
Forestry Commission’s Woodland Improvement Grant (WIG) scheme.
The Forestry Commission has allocated an extra £120,000 WIG funding
to support work that will increase public benefits from existing
woodlands. But to be in with a chance of qualifying for a
grant, applications to the scheme must be in before February 29,
2008.
The additional funds have been made available for projects that will
create or improve public access to woodland or those that will help
to enhance our region’s biodiversity by protecting or restoring
ancient and semi-natural woodlands. Grants to assist Red
Squirrel conservation work in Red Squirrel reserves and nearby ‘buffer’
areas are also available, which is particularly relevant in the
Merseyside area where Red Squirrel populations in Sefton are a vital
part of the local biodiversity.
Previous successful WIG funded projects have included creating a new
community woodland off Hall Lane, Bold in St Helens – Griffin Wood.
Since 2005, Griffin Woods’ manager and caretaker, The Mersey Forest
has benefited from a series of WIG funding grants to help develop
the 11 hectare site into a much valued public woodland with a
wildflower meadow, ponds, seating, artworks, public access and an
orchard.
Paul Nolan, Director of the Mersey Forest said:- “Griffin Wood
is a great example of how community woodlands can be opened up to
provide a wide range of benefits to an area - from offering
recreation and volunteering opportunities through to providing
training and setting the scene for investment. The WIG funding that
we received helped us to enhance public access to the site, which in
turn transforms the wood into a genuine community resource.”
Richard Topley, Woodland Officer for the Forestry Commission
explains:- “Woodland Improvement Grants are intended for
people who want to increase the public benefits of existing
woodlands. This additional funding is being targeted on projects
that are actively protecting our region’s native woodland habitats
or projects where there is a real need for improved public access. Making it easier for people to access their local woodlands is also
great for the wider community, encouraging better health and
well-being and providing recreation opportunities; all things that
the Forestry Commission is happy to support.”
There are criteria that grant applicants will need to meet to
qualify for support and limitations on the grants available.
Anyone
interested in making an application should contact the Forestry
Commission on 01606 889912. Alternatively they can
email
them. Further information can also be found on the
internet via their
website.
Patients being seen quicker at hospitals
PATIENTS
referred by their GP to either Southport or Ormskirk hospital over
the last few months will have noticed something different, they are
not having to wait so long for their appointments.
We have cut the waiting time for nearly all new outpatient
appointments with most people now being seen within five weeks. The
majority of appointments for diagnostic tests such as x-rays are
also now at a maximum of 4 weeks wait. Where patients then go on to
be listed for a procedure as either an inpatient or a day case
patient, they can expect to wait no longer than 8 weeks in most
specialties.
Margaret Johnson-McDevitt, Deputy Director of Performance said:-
"This is a tremendous achievement which has relied heavily on a
great number of staff working hard to provide additional capacity,
and our thanks goes to them.
Patients can be reassured that the old-days of having to wait months
and months for a hospital appointment are going. By the end of 2008,
no-one should have to wait more than a total of 18 weeks from
referral to treatment, and most will wait a great deal less.
However, we will not be able to achieve this on our own. We need our
patients' co-operation, because unless they are ready and able to
come in for their appointment and if necessary for any treatment,
this goal will not be achievable.
Being seen quicker is good news and our patient should not worry
that just because they will get to see the hospital consultant
sooner does not necessarily mean they are more seriously ill."
Send us your views on this waiting times
on Merseyside to:-
news24@southportreporter.com. |
