Drugs: avoiding the snares of the secondary school

Drugs: avoiding the snares of the secondary school

Drugs and 11-year-olds – how do you help them resist experimenting when they get to secondary school?

Ask CRE 24 exhibitor Hope UK, who, in 2024 alone, have delivered drug awareness to nearly 18,000 Year 6 students.

Pupils Henry and Eva were full of praise for a Hope UK session they attended.

‘I liked how they got us to think about what’s good and bad for us,’ said Henry. Eva agreed: ‘They made it fun and turned learning about peer pressure into a game.’

Introducing peer resistance skills to 11-year-olds is a key part of Hope UK’s approach in delivering the Junior Citizens’ Scheme (JCS) to hundreds of primary school children across London and the south-east.

For the past two years, Hope UK has also run its own version of the national scheme at the organisation’s head office in Kettering. It was the second year teacher Jane Tinto’s school had attended Kettering Junior Citizens.

‘It is very helpful to build on the curriculum,’ she said. ‘The workshops were informative and interactive. It’s all about getting children to be safe in the real world.’

Many church youth workers feel ill-equipped to manage drug issues with young people. A talk at CRE 24 by Hope UK’s Sarah Brighton (Wed 9 Oct, 12.30pm) will help them get started. More information here.

• Hope UK are on stand P9 at CRE24

CRE 2025

To book a stand at CRE 25, contact:
James Batterbee
T: 0161 240 4500
E: james@creonline.co.uk