AET newsletter for professionals and teachers

Summer Term, July 2018, Ed 38

Summer is certainly well underway with this incredible weather we've been having! Students have finished their exams thank goodness and everyone is looking forward to the summer holidays. In our last newsletter of this academic year, we share some of the things we've been up to over the past couple of months and encourage you to order your resources ready for September. We wish everyone a relaxing and rejuvenating summer break and look forward to supporting you next academic year!

Round up of National Alcohol and Drugs Conference

On the 21st June, The AET and Mentor hosted a conference for all those working with young people at Liverpool John Moores University, showcasing teaching methods, psychologies and evidence based approaches that reduce children’s negative risk taking. Attendees travelled from as far as Gibraltar, Ireland, The Isle of Man and Wales to enjoy a day of thought provoking presentations and practical workshops.

You can view the presentations from the day at

http://alcoholeducationtrust.org/2018/06/national-alcohol-and-drugs-conference-2018-presentations-now-available/

Order your copies of our award-winning resources for September delivery

We are now taking orders for our highly evaluated resources for delivery in September.

Our full pack of resources is available for just £90 and includes the 100 page Teacher Workbook, laminated colour activity cards, scenarios and emojis, a DVD of the 4 BAFTA award-winning 'Just a few Drinks' films and story-led resources especially designed for pupils with SEN with online access to PowerPoints.

Schools are able to order the following resources free of charge:

*The new 6th edition of our Talk about Alcohol Teacher Workbook (100 pages of lesson plans, games and quizzes organised by topic and year group) - 1 copy

* 'Alcohol and You' guide for teens - up to 110 copies per annum

* 'Talking to Kids about Alcohol' parent guide - up to 110 copies per annum

You can order your resources via kate@alcoholeducationtrust.org or via our online store at https://alcoholeducationtrust.org/store/

Launch of new subscription area

Following months of work, we have now launched an exciting all-new subscription area of our website, www.alcoholeducationtrust.org. The aim is to support anyone delivering alcohol education to 11-18 year olds who may not be specially trained or who has limited time or resources to prepare lessons. Each topic has a PowerPoint together with easy-to-use lesson plans and full links to all resources needed.

By subscribing to the AET members area you will receive access to the highly evidenced Talk about Alcohol ready to use PowerPoints, implementation guidance and worksheets on topics such as alcohol and the law, alcohol and its effects social and physical, units and guidelines, staying safe and 16+.

Each lesson plan/PowerPoint contains details of ice breakers, information and a group activities to ensure that the lessons are proactive and effective. All have links embedded to relevant film clips and resources. You will also have access to a further 6 picture rich PowerPoints and guidance developed specifically for younger children or children with moderate learning difficulties. As well as covering the topics above, these also cover consent, distancing techniques, ways of resisting peer pressure and how to categorise risk through a traffic light system and using emojis. The subscription area will be regularly added to with new resources such as first festivals and drink spiking and an assembly presentation, for example.

There are several options for subscribers including:

• Annual individual subscription - £39.99
• Individual subscription for 3 years - £99
• Annual group subscription for academy chains/schools partnerships allowing access for up to 10 people - £250

Click here to view a taster, learn more or subscribe:  https://alcoholeducationtrust.org/subscriptions/

AET supports Southampton Junior Citizenship event alongside “Claudia’s Bus”

As part of the Junior Citizenship programme running at Redbridge Primary School in Southampton, we hosted a stand with resources, activities and information on staying safe around alcohol for parents and carers. The big attraction for the children and young people was “Claudia’s Bus” parked in the school car park, from the social enterprise project “We Make Southampton” and run by Managing Director/Editor Claudia Murg. The project was launched in September 2016 and through the unique platform of “Claudia’s Bus”, a 12-metre bus complete with office facilities, Claudia speaks with people from about their daily lives, their concerns and solutions, as well as connecting with key people and decision makers about the challenges ahead. Claudia puts to good use the journalistic and film-making skills she gained working in mainstream TV and media, (BBC, C4, ITV and Sunday Times, Mail on Sunday to name just a few). Claudia’s Bus hosted Southampton Healthy Living, who were offering parents and carers mini NHS health checks on board.

The afterschool event was part of the pupil’s Citizenship programme which had taken place during that term. Also attending were local clubs and organisations promoting their activities and encouraging pupils, parents and carers to sign up and join in. We were pleased to be working in partnership with Claudia and the Junior Citizenship Warden at this event which enabled us to chat to parents and carers about ways to keep young people safe around alcohol.

Waitrose Community Matters

We were delighted to be chosen as beneficiaries of the Waitrose Community Matters token drop scheme in the Dorchester store during May. Our Schools Coordinator Kate collected our cheque for £298 last week! This contribution will help support our work with schools across Dorset.

Round-up from Kathryn - Northern Coordinator

It's been a busy few months delivering teacher training sessions and Talk About Alcohol Sessions for parents and carers.  I was delighted to attend Stockton, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Leeds to deliver our Talk About Alcohol Teacher training sessions where we looked at the evaluated lessons and teaching staff had the opportunity to take part in the activites.  A wide range of educational establishments attended including mainstream schools, SEN schools PRU's and other alternative education programmes.  SEN schools were eligible for our full SEND resource and went away with the full pack which comprises of the AET 100 page Teacher Workbook, lesson plans, guidance, games and activities, specific SEN guidance, with eight PowerPoints, a DVD of BAFTA  award winning 'Just a Few Drinks’ and 60 laminated picture and story led cards and activities.  We do have a limited amount of funding left for SEN schools so please do get in touch to see if you're eligible:  kathryn@alcoholeducationtrust.org .

I have attended around 16 parent/carer sessions offering advice and tips whilst also challenging parental perceptions around young people's alcohol use.  These have been delivered in a variety of settings and in a variety of ways from more formal bespoke sessions to attending parents evenings, which are an excellent way for us to engage with parents for a particular year group with so many in attendance and gives parents the opportunity to speak in a less formal setting on a 1-1 basis.   Please get in touch if you'd like further information about how to book a session.  kathryn@alcoholeducationtrust.org .

Supporting foster carers in Bournemouth and Hampshire

As part of our work supporting looked after children, we delivered a presentation to foster carers working in the Bournemouth area in May. CEO Helena spoke to local foster carers and provided an overview on Foetal Alcohol Syndrome and its effects.

Our South-East Coordinator Helen has also been busy working with a number of children's homes across Hampshire, delivering workshops and supporting them with our resources.

New BBC 3 Production 'Face the Consequences'

A new BBC Three series  'Face The Consequences' is now live on iPlayer and is available to view via https://www.facebook.com/bbcthree/videos/10155886579560787/

The series shows a man who broke his back on an alcohol-fuelled night confronting four young binge drinkers about their dangerous drinking. Will his story change their habits? 

Drink driving footage

This film clip shows real footage of an adult driving and then crashing whilst over the legal drink drive limit. This may be suitable to show to sixth formers to demonstrate how reactions/coordination/hazard perception and speed are affected by alcohol. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-sussex-43913537/drink-driver-films-journey-on-dashcam

AET resources comprise of www.alcoholeducationtrust.org and www.talkaboutalcohol.com, a Teacher Workbook, booklets ‘Alcohol and You’ for 15yrs+ and ‘Talking to Your Kids About Alcohol’ parent and carer guide. 

We also offer teacher CPD workshops and parent information talks.

For further information on any of the above please contact
Helena Conibear, Founder, Director helena@alcoholeducationtrust.org
Kathryn Arnott-Gent, Parent and Schools Coordinator - N Region kathryn@alcoholeducationtrust.org
Helen Dougan, SE Region & SEND Coordinator hdougan@alcoholeducationtrust.org
Kate Hooper, Schools Coordinator kate@alcoholeducationtrust.org