Speak up Speak out about children affected by drugs and alcohol

The misery suffered by children affected by alcohol or drugs is being spotlighted in the latest Speak up Speak out campaign. 


It’s the fifth in a series of campaigns by the City of Edinburgh Council, Police Scotland and NHS Lothian highlighting public protection issues. 




The campaign will tackle the issues and offer help, support and advice to youngsters whose lives are affected by drink and drugs:

• by targeting pregnant women, advising them to avoid drinking alcohol or taking drugs and educating on the risks of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
• by encouraging parents to act as role models and think about the effect of drinking in front of their children 
•  offering support to children whose parents have problems with drugs or alcohol supporting parents and carers to get advice on how to talk to their children about drinking and drugs
• signposting support services to children who are being pressured to take substances or are worried about friends
• asking neighbours worried about a local family to speak out on a child’s behalf
• by publishing a toolkit for professionals involved in the support of children affected by drugs and alcohol.

To coincide with FASD Awareness Day, a range of posters will be seen in venues across Edinburgh to spotlight the main issues and directing people to a variety of sources for help:

• edinburgh.gov.uk/speakupspeakout

• Social Care Direct, The City of Edinburgh Council’s social work service (0131 200 2324).

• Edinburgh & Lothian Council on Alcohol (0131 337 8188)

• Crew 2000 (0131 220 3404)

• ChildLine (0800 1111)

A radio advert will be aired on Forth One and Two from Tuesday 9 September and a series of child-friendly posters have been developed for primary and secondary schools.

If you’d like to hear more about the campaign or would like some campaign materials, please 
contact ann.duff@edinburgh.gov.uk

South Central Neighbourhood Partnership Meeting - 12 Dec 11 at 6pm

 The South Central Neighbourhood Partnership will meet in public on Monday 12 December 2011 at 6pm (till 8pm) in the Business Centre, City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh.


For more information please contact: Margaret Campbell (Partnership Development Officer). The MSCC rep on the neighbourhood partnership is Alastair Philp.

The Agenda includes discussion of: 

• Demise of Southside Community Council
• Engagement meetings on the Council Budget Process
• Winter weather working together
• Astley Ainslie/ Royal Edinburgh Hospital redevelopment
• Sub groups progress
• Community grant applications
• Students in the Community event
• It's Good to Talk about Alcohol event

Papers are available:   

1. Go to Council Papers online 
2. Pick "South Central Neighbourhood Partnership" as committee name and "12 December 2011" as dates. 
3. Click "search"

It's Good to Talk … about alcohol community conference We 16 Nov

The South Central Neighbourhood Partnership would like to invite you to participate in its first Community Conference at the Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road on Wednesday, 16th November.


The purpose of the event is explore issues of alcohol and its effects on the community of South Central; to raise awareness amongst people on the wide range of issues around alcohol; enhance knowledge and networking amongst key agencies/service delivery organisations and, principally, to identify a series of recommendations for future, achievable, action for consideration by the Neighbourhood Partnership. A programme for the morning is noted below.


EVENT PROGRAMME (subject to change) 


 9.30 am REGISTRATION 
 9.45 am WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION 
 9.55 am EXPLANATION OF SPEED WORKSHOPS AND THEMES OF WORKSHOPS 
 10.05 am BREAK INTO WORKSHOPS 
 11.45 am COMFORT BREAK (Coffee & Cake Provided) 
 12.00 am EXPERT WITNESSES 
 12.20 pm FEEDBACK FROM WORKSHOPS 
 12.40 pm PLEDGES TOWARDS OUTCOMES 
 12.50 pm THANKS AND CLOSE FROM CHAIRPERSON 
 1.00 pm FINISH


Some of the possible areas for discussion include licensing; sales of alcohol to young people; health effects on older people and women; fire/accident damage; family – effect on children and families; anti social behaviour.


 In order to organise the workshops and for catering please register your intention to participate.