Search

Are you a young person currently supported by the YouCan service , or have you been supported in the past? Do you want to help shape YouCan so it can provide the best possible support to young people?  The YouCan Advisory Group gives you the chance to share your ideas, make real changes, and have your voice heard. You’ll work alongside our team to help improve the service for other young people affected by a family member’s drug or alcohol use.  The next meeting is on Tuesday 10th March, 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm , and we’d love for you to join us!    What is the YouCan Advisory Group?   The YouCan Advisory Group is a space where young people help shape how the YouCan service works. It’s all about listening to your ideas, experiences, and suggestions so we can improve support for young people affected by substance use in their families and reach those who need our support.  This group is open to young people aged 11+ who are currently supported by YouCan or have been in the past. When you join, you’ll work alongside staff to help make decisions and improvements.    What happens at meetings?   Meetings usually take place every two months online and last around one hour .  Sometimes, if we’re working on a project together, we might meet more often. Occasionally, we meet in person or take part in a fun activity as a thank you for your time and input.    What will you have your say on?   You don’t need to have all the answers, just your honest views. Together, we might explore things like:  How can YouCan be more inclusive and welcoming for everyone?  How can we reach more young people who need support for a family member’s substance use?  How can we make social media, leaflets, and our website more young-people friendly?  What works well already, and what could be better?  Your experiences can help improve support for other young people in similar situations.    What’s expected from you?   If you join the advisory group, we ask that you:  Care about making a positive difference for other young people  Share your ideas, opinions, and experiences  Work with us to improve the service  Try to attend sessions every two months  There’s no pressure. If you miss a session because of exams, college, work, or life, that’s completely fine.    What’s in it for you?   Joining the YouCan Advisory Group can help you:  Meet other young people with similar experiences  Build confidence speaking in a group  Gain experience for your CV, college, sixth form, university, or job applications  Have a safe space to talk about things that matter to you  Help improve support for yourself and other young people  Most importantly, your voice can help shape real change .    Want to take part?   If you’d like to join the YouCan Advisory Group, speak with your YouCan worker or contact us: youcan@matthewproject.org   We’d love to hear from you!

If you’ve been supported by the YouCan service at The Matthew Project, you already know how powerful it can be to talk to someone who listens to what you’re going through. Living with or being affected by a family member’s drug or alcohol use can sometimes feel lonely. But you’re not alone, and now you have the chance to help others feel supported too. Peer Mentor Training - 25th February We’re excited to be running Peer Mentor Training on 25th February for young people aged 13+ who are currently supported by YouCan or have been supported in the past. This is your chance to use your experience to help other young people, while also building confidence, skills, resilience and friendships. What is peer support and why does it matter? Peer support for young people connects you with others who understand the challenges of having a family member struggling with substance misuse.   When young people support each other, it can help them: Feel less alone Build confidence and resilience Feel part of a supportive community Sometimes the people who understand us best are those who’ve been through something similar. That’s what makes peer mentoring so powerful. What does a YouCan Peer Mentor do? As a peer mentor, you’ll play an important role in helping other young people feel welcome in group activities. You might: Welcome new young people to activities and help ease nerves. Take leadership roles during sessions (like helping lead games or den building). Offer reassurance to young people who feel worried. Share ideas to help develop and improve the YouCan service. You won’t be expected to have all the answers, just to be kind, supportive, and willing to help others feel included. You will be well supported by the YouCan team. How being a peer mentor can help you Becoming a peer mentor isn’t just about helping others, it’s also a great opportunity for your own personal growth Many young people find it helps them: Improve communication and teamwork skills Build confidence and leadership experience Make new friends who understand them Gain experience for college, university, or job applications Boost their CV or personal statement It’s a rewarding experience that can help you grow. Who can join? You can sign up if you: Are aged 13 or over Are currently supported by YouCan  or have been supported previously. Want to help other young people affected by family substance use. Are interested in learning new skills and making a difference. How to get involved If you’d like to become a YouCan peer mentor , we’d love to hear from you. Speak to your YouCan worker, or email us at youcan@matthewproject.org We’ll help you sign up for the 25th of February Peer Mentor Training.

We’re excited to announce that Dan Fisher, Lead Nurse for our Unity service, will be speaking at the regional public health conference on ketamine and synthetic opioids in Norwich. Organised by the Norfolk Drug and Alcohol Partnership (NDAP), the conference brings together experts, health professionals, the voice of lived experience, and frontline practitioners to explore emerging trends, clinical challenges, and harm reduction strategies related to ketamine and synthetic opioids. Showcasing Our Ketamine Information Page and QR Code Sticker At the event, Dan will be presenting our newly launched Ketamine Information page and QR code sticker, designed specifically for young people who are concerned about ketamine use. Developed with input from young people, the webpage features real-life stories, practical harm reduction advice, and clear information about the impact of ketamine on the bladder. The page helps young people access trusted and accurate information about ketamine. Dan will discuss why the page was created, how young people helped shape it, and the positive impact these resources are already having within the community. This event is open to healthcare professionals and service commissioners in the East of England only. Learn more about the conference and how to attend here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/norfolk-ketamine-and-synthetic-opioids-conference-tickets-1978413248283 If you haven’t already, you can view our Ketamine Information page here: https://www.matthewprojectyoungpeople.org/ketamine

On Track is a free service supporting young people in Norfolk to move closer to or get into education, training, employment, or volunteering, while offering guidance and practical help. Welcome to On Track! A free service that supports 13-24-year-olds to move closer to or get into education, training, employment, or volunteering. On this page, you can find out about the four projects young people can participate in. King's Lynn and West Norfolk SPACE A project to support young people aged 16-24 who are not in education, employment or training to access regular positive activities and community engagement. The activities will be in a small group of no more than ten young people who live in Kings Lynn and throughout West Norfolk. The aim of the project is to raise young people’s motivation and support them by building resilience to have hope for the future. Supported by Norfolk Community Foundation through Sir Norman Lamb Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund. King's Lynn & West Norfolk Coaching A project for young people aged 16-24 living in King's Lynn and West Norfolk. We offer 1-2-1 outreach coaching and follow on employability based activities and groups. The project aims to bridge the gap between disadvantaged young people and employment and training opportunities. This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Norwich SafeSPACE A project to support young people aged 13-18 who are not in education, training or employment (or at risk of) to access regular positive activities and community engagement. The activities will be in a small group of no more than ten young people and will be Norwich City based. The aim of the project is to raise young people’s motivation and support them by building resilience to have hope for the future. SafeSPACE is Norfolk Community Foundation Supporting Positive Activities and Community Engagement Fund. Central Gt Yarmouth Engagement Coaching Providing support to 14-19 year olds living in Nelson Ward, Great Yarmouth, who are either NEET (not in education, employment or training), or at higher risk of becoming so. Offering 1-2-1 coaching in school/college or outreach complimented by follow-on confidence and aspiration building activities, groups and community engagement. We are a delivery partner for NRThirty to ensure that young people in Central Great Yarmouth have access to the best possible support and opportunities. Thank you to our funders & partners Get support To access support, click the button below to fill out our referral form. A social worker, teacher, or youth worker can complete it for you, or contact us for help. Click Here Contact us Still unsure? Would you like to talk to someone before deciding if you want to receive support? You can chat with us via email or over the phone - 01603 723845 Email us

The Matthew Project is a Norfolk charity offering free, confidential support for young people dealing with issues around drugs, alcohol, or family substance use. Our services include YouCan (help for under-19s affected by a family member’s substance use), Unity (support for under-19s impacted by personal or others' substance use), and On Track (guidance for 13-24s facing barriers to education or employment). Supporting Young People Across Norfolk Find the right support for you Our Young People Services Take a look at our three services and see which one could help you. Read More YouCan If you’re worried about a family member or relative using drugs or alcohol, use the button below to see how we can help. This service is for: Aged under 19 Living in Norfolk Impacted by family/relative drug/alcohol use Read More Unity If you're worried that your own drug or alcohol use is having a significant impact on you or others, click the button below to see how we can help. This service is for: Aged under 19 Living in Norfolk Wanting to stop or reduce their drug or alcohol use Read More On Track If you’re facing barriers that make it difficult to find or stay in education or employment, use the button below to see how we can help. This service is for: Aged 13–24 Living in Norfolk At risk of, or not currently in, education or employment Accessibility We’re here to make every young person feel welcome and supported. Whether you meet us in person or online, we aim to make accessing our services straightforward. Click the button below to find out more. Accessibility Support What's New Our latest news, events, and updates. New Substance Info Pages for Young People The Flourish Survey 2024 revealed a statistic that almost 1 in 5 young people in Norfolk said they have no one or nowhere to get information about alcohol use. At The Matthew Project, we wanted to help change that. With the input of young people, we’ve developed five brand-new substance information pages on our website designed specifically for young people who want clear, honest, and reliable information. These pages cover: Real stories from young people we support Har Have Your Say. Make a Difference. Join the YouCan Advisory Group Are you a young person currently supported by the YouCan service , or have you been supported in the past? Do you want to help shape YouCan so it can provide the best possible support to young people? The YouCan Advisory Group gives you the chance to share your ideas, make real changes, and have your voice heard. You’ll work alongside our team to help improve the service for other young people affected by a family member’s drug or alcohol use. The next meeting is on Tuesda Become a YouCan Peer Mentor If you’ve been supported by the YouCan service at The Matthew Project, you already know how powerful it can be to talk to someone who listens to what you’re going through. Living with or being affected by a family member’s drug or alcohol use can sometimes feel lonely. But you’re not alone, and now you have the chance to help others feel supported too. Peer Mentor Training - 25th February We’re excited to be running Peer Mentor Training on 25th February for young people aged Ketamine and Synthetic Opioids Conference We’re excited to announce that Dan Fisher, Lead Nurse for our Unity service, will be speaking at the regional public health conference on ketamine and synthetic opioids in Norwich. Organised by the Norfolk Drug and Alcohol Partnership (NDAP), the conference brings together experts, health professionals, the voice of lived experience, and frontline practitioners to explore emerging trends, clinical challenges, and harm reduction strategies related to ketamine and synthetic opi 1 2 3 Your Stories Read real stories from young people like you. YouCan Service "The Matthew Project and all of the workers there have helped me over the years so much and i wouldn't have been able to cope with certain situations without their support. I have always felt comfortable and listened to." "They listen and give you good feedback and don't try to pretend that things are ok but actually have a human conversation and you feel like you're actually being listened to." "I feel like i understand how it affects me. She made me realise how well I can cope with it and if needed I can message her. Now I feel comfortable with talking to my dad about his alcohol abuse knowing my worker has comforted me with it and given me advice on how to deal with the affect it has on me." Have Your Say Your thoughts and ideas help us make our services better and easier to access for young people. Click the button below to find out more about the different ways you can have your say. Have Your Say Social Media Take a look at what we’ve been up to over on our Instagram page! Load more

Resources to help inform you and keep you safe around drug and alcohol use. Resources Substances Information Click the buttons below to learn more about different substances. Click Here Ketamine Cannabis MDMA Alcohol Cocaine Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Assembly Video The assembly video explores common myths around alcohol and cannabis, and shares information about our services for under-19s in Norfolk who are affected by substance use, whether their own or that of a family member. You can view the video below: Assembly Video_V0.4 Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Here you can find resources for other sites, helplines and more. If you know of any resources that you think would be helpful to add to the list, please contact us via email. Details can be found here . Important Notice In an emergency situation, or if you feel you, or another person is at risk of immediate harm, call 999 for urgent support from police, fire or medical services. You can also access non-urgent police support by calling 101 and non-urgent medical advice by calling 111. (*) Asterisk marked resources will take you to an external page not monitored by us. While we check these sites to make sure they are secure, we are not responsible for any information collected by/or given to them. Drug & Alcohol Information and Support CGL* Support for those affected by, or using, substances who are over 19yrs. Number: 01603 514 096 More Info Talk to Frank* Information about drugs, their effects and the law. More Info NACOA* For children of problematic drinkers. Chat advisers are available. Number: 0800 358 3456 More Info Alcohol Education* Supports parents, carers, teachers and community leaders to keep young people safe around substances. More Info Drug Wise* Promotes evidence-based information on drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Not for individual support, just information. More Info Other Helplines & Websites Childline* Call 0800 11 11 for support or help for children aged under 19. More Info Kooth* Online wellbeing community. Free, safe and anonymous online support and counselling. More Info CEOP* Provide information and advice on how to keep children and young people safe online. More Info YESS Norfolk* Supports young people aged 10 – 18 across Norfolk recognising that young people are experts in their own lives. More Info Samaritans* Call 116 123 for support and awareness around suicide. More Info Young Minds* Young people and children's mental health charity. Has a 24/7 crisis text support at: 85258 More Info The Mix* Helps with mental health, money, homelessness, finding work, breakups and more. More Info SHOUT* Text SHOUT to 85258 for wellbeing support 24/7. More Info First Response* Urgent 24/7 mental health support service for Norfolk and Suffolk. Number: 111 (Option 2) More Info Norfolk FYI* Trusted help, advice and information for 11 to 24 year olds around their health/wellbeing. More Info Family Support / Concerned Others Family Lives* Parenting Support 24/7. Parent line on 0808 800 22 22. More Info Just One Norfolk* Local support for young people, parents and professionals. Parent Line: 0300 300 0123 / 07520 631 590. More Info ADFAM* Support for family members affected by drug and alcohol issues. More Info