Young people in Grimsby are helping to combat the escalating culture of binge-drinking in the north east of England by volunteering to explain to pupils at secondary schools the dangers of excessive drinking and drug use.

Young volunteers from the CSV Millennium Volunteer project PEDAL (Peer Education Drugs and Alcohol) meet with school children from the Grimsby area to inform them about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.  A recent report by the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University found 23% of adults in the north east of England binge drink compared to a national average of 18.2% and just 15.5% in the south. (1)

Pedal co-ordinator Mick Charles says: “Because the volunteers are young people themselves the advice they give on drink and drugs is more easily accepted.  I really believe in the benefits of peer education and hope local government can set up more projects in the future which also deal with issues of real interest to young people.” 

18 year-old Sophie Blow has been a CSV Millennium Volunteer at PEDAL for one year.  She says: “I have developed a strong understanding of the affects and immense danger that drugs and alcohol can present to young people.  My experience has had a great impact on me and I now want to become a youth worker.” 

Millennium Volunteers is funded by the Department for Education and Skills and is delivered by dozens of voluntary organisations, with CSV and BTCV the largest providers.  Millennium Volunteers offers a wide range of exciting volunteering opportunities for 16-24 year olds and since 1999 nearly 250,000 young people have been involved in over 180 project locations across England.

Millennium Volunteers offers a wide range of exciting volunteering opportunities for 16-24 year olds and since 1999 nearly 250,000 young people have been involved in over 180 project locations across England.

Since becoming involved with the scheme, CSV has registered 20,000 Millennium Volunteers, over 10,000 have received an award for completing 100 hours of volunteering and more than 7,000 have received an 'Award of Excellence' for completing 200 hours of volunteering.

To find out more visit www.csv.org.uk/mv  

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For more information on the PEDAL project call the Trin Youth Centre on 01472 500 029 or email Mick Charles on trin.youthcentre@nelincs.gov.uk

Further press information: Robin Sprott or Jason Tanner/Paul Donohoe on 020 7812 0033 / 37 / 38. www.csv.org.uk/press

Notes for editors

1. ‘Local Alcohol Profiles for England’ produced by Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University. http://www.nwph.net/alcohol/lape/

2. CSV (Community Service Volunteers) creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their communities through volunteering, training and community action. Each year 195,000 people give 4.9 million hours of their time as volunteers through CSV. www.csv.org.uk

3. Millennium Volunteers is a Department for Education and Skills initiative that encourages young people to volunteer their time for the benefit of others by “building on what you’re into.” It was launched in 1999 by the Prime Minister Tony Blair.  Open to all 16-24 year olds, irrespective of background, the scheme encourages young people to be involved in local issues that they really care about, whilst gaining valuable experience, as well as social and communication ski