The Millom Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) will launch on Monday 8 March to highlight the risks of underage drinking and improve the health and wellbeing of local young people.
CAPs are made up of partnerships between local authorities, police, schools, retailers, neighbourhood groups and health providers, working together to prevent alcohol-related harm to young people and improve the quality of life for residents. There are currently 212 schemes across England, Scotland and Wales.
In Millom, partners include Cumbria Alcohol and Drugs Advisory Service (CADAS), Cumbria County Council, Copeland Borough Council, Copeland Neighbourhood Policing Team and youth project Shackles Off.
The CAP will work with youth services and local organisations to provide alcohol-free activities for young people. It will also work with local schools to take a proactive approach to alcohol education and ensure that young people are equipped to make the right decisions about issues including alcohol and drugs and anti-social and criminal behaviour.
It will also work with local retailers to help them avoid making underage sales and reduce ‘proxy’ sales where adults buy alcohol for under-18s.
The CAP will be chaired by Leigh Williams, CEO of CADAS. She said: “I’m delighted to be chairing the Millom CAP as CADAS have been involved in the community in Millom delivering drug and alcohol education and dependency support for a couple of years now. Residents need the extra support a CAP can bring and some of our initial plans will include prioritising education and support for young people and their parents as well as looking at youth activities. The CAP will also be a useful source of support for local retailers/licensees.”
David Macdonald of Copeland Neighbourhood Policing Team also commented:
“There is a continuing concern about the levels of underage drinking and alcohol availability to young people in Millom among local residents, councillors and retailers. The police will work with partner agencies in this CAP to deal robustly with the issues at hand and keep our young people safe from harm.”
David Macdonald, Copeland Neighbourhood Policing Team
CAP Director Kate Winstanley says:
“It’s great to see the launch of a CAP in Millom which will improve services and support for local young people and highlight the risks associated with underage drinking. Our evaluations show that CAPs have a significant impact on reducing children’s alcohol consumption and protecting them from alcohol harm.”
Kate Winstanley, CAP Director
