Hope UK’s successful Worcestershire drug education programme
Teachers and youth workers across Worcestershire are enthusiastically putting their hands up to say they feel much better equipped with knowledge and skills to protect children and young people from drug-related harms.
Over 21 months more than 700 professionals in the county participated in a training programme that successfully increased their understanding of drug harms and grew their confidence to initiate open conversations with young people about alcohol and drug use.
The ‘Drug and Alcohol Training for School Staff and Youth Workers’ programme was commissioned and fully funded by Worcestershire County Council’s Public Health Team in partnership with the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office and delivered by national drug education charity Hope UK, between April 2024 and December 2025.
Hope UK offered both in-person and follow up online training to 60 schools and organisations, including alternative provision for pupils, colleges, youth work providers, family support and foster care agencies. Staff at all levels were eligible to attend.
A youth worker who attended the training explained how they were able to put their newfound knowledge into practice straightaway: “I used the 600 puff vape equals 40 cigarettes fact with a pupil yesterday …to help her understand the impact of her vaping (as she was using an 1800 puff vape which is obviously illegal in itself) and within five hours of the session she messaged me to say that she was going to limit herself to using one 600 puff vape per week (totally unprompted). I see that reduction as a massive success, and it wouldn’t have happened without the training.”
Sarah Brighton, CEO of Hope UK and lead trainer on the project, explained that the focus on upskilling professionals corroborated what we know from all the evidence – that drug prevention works. Sarah said: “Feedback from people was extremely positive. We assessed knowledge prior to the training and subsequently. Staff were mostly not aware of the most effective prevention methods, nor did they have a high level of drug knowledge before this intervention. Participants said that the training equipped them not only in terms of current drug knowledge but also in their confidence to put that knowledge into practice. Our training is very practical, participants had plenty of opportunities to share experiences, think about their own settings and discuss what works and what doesn’t work in drug prevention.”
Director of Public Health at Worcestershire County Council, Dr Lisa McNally, said: “We are delighted to be working with Hope UK. This fantastic training equips educators with the knowledge to recognise signs and symptoms of drug use, improve their own practice and gain a better understanding of the issues in an ever-changing drug use landscape. This awareness allows professionals to identify at-risk young people early and intervene appropriately. This may be through open and honest conversations, discussing dangers or providing alternatives and ultimately aims to reduce the likelihood of drug use.”