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Project 3: Free 2B Me The views and opinions expressed below do not reflect the views of the NCCDP. Free 2B Me History of the organisation Contact details: Free 2B Me Project website: www.rcrptrustltd.org Date it was established: January 2005 Statutory or voluntary? Voluntary Why was it established? Through the Young Peoples Substance Misuse Planning Group it was identified that there was a gap in service provision in Rotherham. The group put together a proposal to NRF to draw down funding to enable the gap to be filled. It was led by the Young People’s Co-ordinator at Rotherham Drug Strategy Team. Funding was granted and match funded by Rotherham PCT. Rotherham Community Resource Programme (RCRP) successfully tendered for the contract to deliver the project. What are your aims? The aim of the Free 2B Me Project is to work with the children of substance misusing parents to improve emotional, cognitive, behavioural and psychological functioning. It is also a preventative initiative and aims to reduce the future substance misuse, offending, anti social behaviour of the children. How has the organisation developed? The project has developed over the last 20 months into a quality service that aims to meet the needs of individual children and young people that are accessing it. The age range has recently expanded to include 14-16 year olds, as it was felt that this age group had limited access to support networks and were often reluctant to talk to professionals about their parents' substance misuse. The project is currently looking at developing a waiting list for young people as demand for support grows. Types of projects undertaken and associated activities Who is the project for? The project is for children (aged 4-16 years) of substance misusing parents across the borough of Rotherham. How are people referred? Free 2B Me has developed a referral form for agencies who wish to make referrals to the project. Referral agencies include: Rotherham Community Drug Team, Rotherham Social Services, School Nurses/Health Visitors and Parent Referrals. What kind of activities are available? Due to funding issues, leisure activities are limited at the present moment. The project offers one to one sessions to 100 children per year, held in venues of their choice (school, youth centre, RCRP premises). Group work sessions are available for young people to access, these cover issues around:
Issues faced by the children and young people accessing the project inform the topics covered during group work and one to one sessions.
The project work is delivered via multi agency networks with each agency bringing its own specialism to the fore.
As relationships are developed between staff and young people, issues are raised that the young people feel they need help, advice and guidance with.
Project work is planned by Free 2B Me staff prior to group work sessions, allowing staff to ensure that all materials used are age and ability appropriate
Challenges
What challenges have you faced? High numbers wishing to access the project. How have you overcome these challenges? We are continually working to overcome the above issues by: How do you think drug prevention will develop in the future? I feel that all drug prevention services will be sectorised, this will include projects that support children of substance misusing parents becoming mainstreamed, enabling service users access to local support and ensuring a more cohesive service Any other comments? None.
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