As we approach half term, and the end of our financial year, we are pleased that things are starting to feel slightly more normal for our work and outreach. Although we are mostly still unable to support young people and teachers in schools directly, we are very busy with virtual support as well as some face to face seminars and outreaches in certain areas. We have also been reviewing and updating our websites and online materials and developing new fact sheets and resources. Read on for the latest news on the building of PiP's, our community space, office and café and to find out what we have been up to over the past month or so!

Despite the challenges faced due to Covid, Karen was delighted to be able to work face to face delivering a session to Gloucestershire Police School Beat who deliver lessons and community support to schools across the county. Feedback comments include: "great input and resources for us" and "very helpful for our lessons."

We delivered a virtual training session to members of the Swan Teaching Alliance at the start of the month. This was part of their network meeting. Again, this was very well-received:

“ 5 out of 5 for the training. The resources that are available to use look really good and easy to apply and use in lessons with students. It is important to challenge some of the misconceptions that students may have about alcohol.”

Karen has also recently worked with the Hampshire Police and Crime Commission, delivering a virtual training session to their Youth Commission. Around twenty 15-25 year olds took part in discussions around alcohol and social norms, looking at physical and social effects of alcohol, the law, drink spiking and staying safe.

Next week we will also be providing all students in Year 11 at Regent Park College School in Southampton with virtual alcohol awareness sessions.

Teaching schools provide the opportunity for all schools to learn from the very best. They have a leading role in the training and professional development of teachers, support staff, and school leaders, in addition to contributing to the raising of standards through school-to-school support.

We are thrilled to have made all our resources, including our ready to deliver lesson plans for KS3 and KS4 available to the 39 members this month.

Two criminal litigation lawyers, Maeve and Brooke from Kinglsey Napley LLP showed cased two important case studies around alcohol and how it can affect consent and the links between alcohol and violence in public places earlier in the month. We filmed the case studies and a Q and A session between two young lawyers and sixth form students from Epsom School in Surrey. The students asked the lawyers questions on these crucial issues that will form part of two 15 minute films that will be made available for our new work in supporting 16 – 25 year olds in a variety of settings. A big thank you to Epsom College and the students for being so engaged and looking after us so well!

Launched in July, our set of six lesson plans with accompanying PowerPoints aim to provide teachers with enjoyable and effective alcohol education lessons with minimal planning and preparation. We felt this was particularly important as the teaching of Health Education became mandatory in September. We have been delighted with the demand for these lessons and have received 143 requests for them since mid-July!

If you work in a school and would be interested in accessing the lessons, please contact kate@alcoholeducationtrust.org for details

We are also currently updating the BAFTA best secondary school resource wining Just a Few Drinks 4 films which will soon be available on a USB as well as via our YouTube channel!!  – please do contact kate@alcoholeducationtrust.org for the updated versions when available.

We are all about inspiring people to make safer life choices and this can be hard remotely. We have been really pleased to see online engagement grow with us over the last months however (this is organic and not paid for!)

From Facebook to Linked in, from Twitter to direct visits to our websites, the www.alcoholeducationtrust.org website alone received 6,700 unique visits and Facebook over 3,000 engagements during September. Combine this with the 5,000 schools, youth and sports clubs, PRU’s and children’s homes we reach via our regular newsletters, tips and advice and we are ensuring that we are doing all that we can to not only continue, but improve and extend the resources, advice, support and services that we offer day to day across the country.

It has been incredible to see the progress being made on the building of our new community space, office and cafe, especially during some rather unpleasant weather recently!

The build is going to plan so far and the works are progressing as per the time schedule. The window and door frames are in place and the slate roof installation has now started. As you know, PiPs will be as eco-friendly as possible and the solar panels are being installed at the end of the month. We are using reclaimed slates and paving and even scaffolding boards in the fit out! We are working on kitchen and flooring plans at the moment as well as counter design and décor. There has been lots of interest from passers-by and we are having signage installed next week to explain what is being built. If you live locally, do go and have a look!

The Levelling Up Our Communities report, written by Danny Kruger and commissioned by the Prime Minister, outlines how the government can best support charities and social enterprises "to sustain the community spirit we have seen during the coronavirus pandemic."

The report promises a 'new social covenant,' which will include a more human and less bureaucratic approach to society, in which people are supported and empowered to play an active role within it. In terms of young people, the proposals promise to:

• Ensure the Kickstart Employment Scheme features a programme to employ young people in social and environmental projects.
• Help young people benefit from extra funds, through the Volunteer Passport system, including a digitally-delivered skills programme with an online training curriculum,

Danny Kruger has also proposed the Levelling Up Communities (LUC) fund, to provide a permanent source of income for UK communities.