What do we do?

Mentor is a UK charity which believes that prevention is better than cure and focuses its efforts on promoting the health and wellbeing of children and young people to reduce the damage that drugs can do to lives.

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At Mentor, we work through grass roots projects to demonstrate what can be done.

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First Mentor Youth – London Seminar: 15 February 2 – 4 pm

3rd February 2012

Hosted by passionate young people who’ve looked in detail at the quality of drugs and substance misuse education in schools and now want to share their findings.

The afternoon will be a stimulating and creative couple of hours highlighting the extraordinary achievements of young Londoners. It will include a film made by the young people, discussion, short drama piece and other inspirational ways of communicating important information.

Be a part of this leading edge project by helping us to understand how we can help you in your work protecting young people in the capital.

The seminar is held at the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund Offices.

For more information and to book a place please contact Simon Claridge at simon.claridge@mentoruk.org or phone 020 7739 8494.

Only a very few places are left. So act now and be a part of something remarkable!

The Missed Opportunity

30th January 2012

Andrew Brown our Director of Programmes blogs about Education and Prevention and what he hopes to see in the year ahead.

Why intervene early?

The government’s drug strategy focuses on treating drug users. Effective treatment is essential – but the case for intervening much earlier is unarguable.

By the time a problematic drug user is 21, they’ve already cost the state £100,000. Over the course of their life, this rises to around £850,000. [1] The economic costs of adult alcohol misuse are equally staggering – over £2.7 billion a year for the NHS alone. [2]

If we could make an earlier difference by reducing the numbers of young people who start misusing in their teens, there will be huge long term benefits for us all.

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Tip Top: Drugs Policy in Schools

24th January 2012

Andrew Brown (Director of Programmes) sets out his practical tips for schools to improve schools approach to drugs.

The Department for Education and Association of Chief Police Officers have produced a guidance document for schools which aims to help them think through what they can and should do to manage incidents and develop school policy.

The Drug Education Forum has produced a short overview of the guidance which can be downloaded here.

While the advice on searching pupils and how to handle any drugs that are found will be of use to schools what is amazing to us is that the government have missed a significant opportunity to emphasise how schools can use their position to protect the children and young people in their care from the harms associated with drugs and alcohol.

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A quarter of us are worried about local alcohol and drug use

20th January 2012

A quarter of English citizens think people being drunk, or dealing or using drugs in their area is a very or fairly big problem, the latest data from the Home Office shows. Public levels of concern haven’t moved over 12 months.

“Given widespread concern about local neighbourhoods, it’s amazing that only 0.04% of the £95 billion health budget goes on primary prevention in schools,” said Mentor’s Chief Executive Paul Tuohy.

£10,000 from Ansvar

17th January 2012

Leading ethical insurers Ansvar have announced that they’ll be supporting us in 2012 – we’d like to thank them for a great start to the year.

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