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The last couple of months have been packed with activities, learning opportunities and fun experiences for the young people involved with On Track. From employability workshops to outdoor adventures, it’s been fantastic to see young people building confidence, developing new skills and connecting with others in a supportive environment. Safe SPACE Arts & Crafts Session - 16th April We started with a creative arts and crafts session for our Safe SPACE group. Six young people attended and enjoyed an afternoon of getting creative and spending time together in a safe and welcoming environment. Sessions like these provide a great opportunity for young people to socialise, express themselves and build confidence. Employability Skills Sessions Launch in King’s Lynn - 20th April Our first Employability Skills session in King’s Lynn and West Norfolk took place with six young people attending. The session focused on problem solving and teamwork through a range of interactive activities. Young people were challenged to build the tallest tower using marshmallows and spaghetti - with the winning tower reaching an impressive 69cm! We also played “What’s in my Bag?” and a creative twist on Pictionary, where one person described an image while another attempted to draw it. A huge thank you to the Family Hub in King’s Lynn for allowing us to use their space for the session. Safe SPACE Allotment Visit - 23rd April Seven young people joined us for a brilliant afternoon at the allotments. Everyone got involved with planting potatoes, cabbage, strawberries and runner beans. It was fantastic to see young people trying something new, working together and enjoying being outdoors. Safe SPACE at Eaton Park - 30th April We made the most of the sunny weather with an afternoon at Eaton Park. Six young people took part in a photo scavenger hunt, played catch and football, and enjoyed spending time together in the sunshine. Sessions like these are a great way to develop teamwork skills. Safe SPACE Trip to Winterton - 8th May Our Safe SPACE group took a trip to Winterton in the hope of spotting some seals. Although we only saw a couple out at sea, the group still had a fantastic day exploring the beach and spending time together. Six young people attended and enjoyed the opportunity to get out and experience somewhere new. King’s Lynn Employability Skills Session 2 - 11th May Five young people attended our second employability and personal development session in King’s Lynn, which focused on positive thinking. Young people explored their strengths and weaknesses, discussed how to turn challenges into positives, and created their own “strength jars” filled with encouraging reminders and personal achievements. We repeated this session in Norwich on 15th May, with four young people. Safe SPACE Trip to Hunters Yard – 18th May We had a wonderful day at Hunters Yard, with six young people enjoying the opportunity to get outdoors, try new experiences, and spend quality time together. A special thank you to Hunters Yard for facilitating the day, and to Rachael at Tesco Ipswich Road for kindly providing lunch for the group - your support helped make the day even more special for the young people involved. Coming Up Next… We’re looking forward to our next Norwich Safe SPACE employability session on 27th May, which will focus on developing problem solving skills through interactive activities and teamwork challenges. If you are a young person who would like support to move closer to education, training, employment or volunteering, you can find out more about On Track on our website.

We know that not every child and young person feels ready to attend group activities or connect face-to-face with others who have lived experience. For some, taking part in activities from the comfort and safety of home can feel like a much more manageable first step. That’s why, last year over the summer holidays, our YouCan service launched a series of At Home Activity Packs designed to help children and young people stay engaged, creative, and connected during the school break. Each holiday period, we produce 50 of each pack in an effort to reach as many young people as possible. The activities are tailored to different age groups and interests, giving young people something meaningful, positive, and enjoyable to focus on at home. Summer Holiday Activity Packs Our summer packs included a range of fun and creative themes, encouraging young people to try new things, build confidence, and spend quality time with family members or carers. The packs included: Baking Pack Bug Hunting Pack Self-Care Pack Growing Pack Positivity Pack Art Pack The response from families was incredibly positive, with many sharing how much the activities helped young people feel engaged and excited during the holidays. “The activity packs were greatly received and we made the cupcakes last night which were pretty good! [YP name removed] was straight on his bug pack and found all of them in our back garden except for a butterfly. I did not know we had a family of grasshoppers living in our back garden so I’ve learnt something too.” Continuing Through the Year Following the success of the summer packs, we continued creating themed activity packs throughout the year to coincide with school holidays and seasonal events. October Half-Term For October, we created a cosy comfort pack designed to help young people relax and unwind during the darker autumn evenings. Christmas Holidays Our Christmas pack focused on festive arts and crafts activities, encouraging creativity and giving young people the opportunity to make something special over the holiday period. February Half-Term In February, young people received a pancake-making kit, offering a fun activity they could enjoy independently or alongside family members. Easter Holidays Our Easter packs gave young people the opportunity to grow their own sunflowers and tomatoes, helping them learn new skills while encouraging patience, responsibility, and wellbeing through gardening. May Half-Term Reading & Writing Pack This May half-term, we’re encouraging imagination and creativity through a reading and writing themed pack. The pack includes: A book to read A blank book for creating their own stories Hot chocolate Biscuits Stickers A bookmark Story writing prompts and tips We hope these packs continue to provide children and young people with enjoyable experiences, opportunities to learn new skills, and moments of calm and creativity during the school holidays. Our At Home Activity Packs are a reminder that support can look different for every young person, and sometimes, small activities at home can make a big difference.

Here is a real story from a young person within our service, sharing their experience with ketamine. Their journey highlights how use can develop over time and the impact it can have on wellbeing, relationships, and everyday life. At The Matthew Project , we support young people at all stages of their journey, offering a safe, non-judgemental space to talk openly and explore the changes they want to make. By sharing this story, we hope to raise awareness and help others recognise when they might benefit from support. “I first started doing Ketamine when I was 15 as just another drug i wanted to try for fun with friends. I got such a euphoric high from it and found myself drawn more to it than other drugs. It was so fun I went from doing it at events now and again to getting through multiple g’s a week. It was often hard to stop buying it as i had friends around me who loved it just as much. I didn’t realise I had a problem until i started doing it every other day. It was becoming an obsession in my head, i found myself doing it around friends who didn’t touch drugs, blowing any money i had on it and using it alone in my room. I reached out for help when I began stealing money from my parents to afford it and taking amounts of my friend’s ketamine to get a bigger high for myself.          My tolerance grew, my cravings grew but the fun of the high shrank. I would be out of it for hours and be left tired and low, unable to do my day to day activities. Ketamine affects my friendships, my college work and I found myself distant from family, especially when I was always doing it out with others or in my room alone.  When I am feeling low or stressed, I think about how good i would feel on it and my mind often try’s to find excuses to buy myself some. One of the biggest challenges I faced was discipline; I would say yes at any opportunity or go straight back to it when something went wrong in my life, it was hard to finally choose to cut myself off.  The Matthew Project has helped me through meeting weekly to talk about my usage and the ways in which Ketamine created problems in my life.  I have gained a bigger awareness on the harmful impact it has on my body and mind. The Matthew Project has helped me find other ways I can find highs in my life which don’t come from drugs and understand the way my addiction has affected me over the past year.  My advice to anyone struggling with Ketamine use is it’s not silly to ask for support. I used to think I didn’t have a problem and I could stop whenever I felt like it. But i never stopped and i struggled to manage my well-being. Talk to people because then it gets easier to find solutions on how to make a change.  I feel I am doing okay now. I’m not using it as often as I used to and I am learning about myself and what how want to shape my future, moving away from ketamine use. I’ve distanced myself from certain friends who made it harder to quit and I started ignoring my dealers.  I found being around people who didn’t use Ketamine and instead found fun in simple activities like spending time with each other was the most positive impact on my drug reduction. I found enjoyment in the little things I forgot I loved.” If you’d like to learn more about ketamine, including its effects and risks, you can visit our information page here: https://www.matthewprojectyoungpeople.org/ketamine If you’re under 19, living in Norfolk, and feeling worried about your own drug or alcohol use, our Unity service is here to support you. You can find out more about the support available here: https://www.matthewprojectyoungpeople.org/unity

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 On Track Highlights - April & May The last couple of months have been packed with activities, learning opportunities and fun experiences for the young people involved with On Track. From employability workshops to outdoor adventures, it’s been fantastic to see young people building confidence, developing new skills and connecting with others in a supportive environment. Safe SPACE Arts & Crafts Session - 16th April We started with a creative arts and crafts session for our Safe SPACE group. Six young people a At Home Activities We know that not every child and young person feels ready to attend group activities or connect face-to-face with others who have lived experience. For some, taking part in activities from the comfort and safety of home can feel like a much more manageable first step. That’s why, last year over the summer holidays, our YouCan service launched a series of At Home Activity Packs designed to help children and young people stay engaged, creative, and connected during the school b Ketamine: A Young Person’s Story Here is a real story from a young person within our service, sharing their experience with ketamine. Their journey highlights how use can develop over time and the impact it can have on wellbeing, relationships, and everyday life. At The Matthew Project , we support young people at all stages of their journey, offering a safe, non-judgemental space to talk openly and explore the changes they want to make. By sharing this story, we hope to raise awareness and help others recog 1 2 3 4 5 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

Discover clear information for young people about alcohol, its effects, and how to make safer choices. Learn facts, tips, and where to find help. What you should know about Alcohol This page explains how alcohol can affect your body and share tips for having a safer night out. Young people helped create this page, working alongside the Unity service . Therefore, the stories featured relate specifically to Norfolk. ⚠️ Dangers of Mixing ⚠️ Combining alcohol with other drugs can worsen their harmful effects and increase the risk of overdose. When mixed with other substances it will affect your judgement, leading to risk taking and can cause harm to your developing brain and body. Alcohol and the Brain Alcohol is a depressant - not because it can make you cry, but because it slows your brain down. Messages between your brain and body start travelling in slow motion. That’s why your balance, coordination, and general “acting normal” skills can be affected. Alcohol reaches your brain in about 5–10 minutes after your first sip and can make you feel relaxed or euphoric at first ( due to dopamine release) but if you drink too much , or too often it can also affect your mood and behaviour , causing depression, anxiety, or aggression. Memory (Hippocampus) It also interferes with the hippocampus, the brain’s memory centre. That’s what causes blackouts or difficulty remembering things after drinking. Decision Making (Frontal Lobe) The first part of your brain alcohol hits is the frontal lobe (the decision-making part of your brain), that’s why you might feel extra confident and chatty. Basically, alcohol makes risky choices feel easier. Movement and Balance (Cerebellum) Alcohol affects the Cerebellum, which controls movement, balance, and coordination. This is why people may stumble on or slur their words. Brainstem (breathing and heartrate) The brainstem controls vital functions like breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, swallowing and consciousness. If you drink too much, your brain can slow so much that it forgets to tell your body to breathe, and your gag reflex can stop working so if you vomit, you can’t cough or clear your airway . This is like drowning in your own vomit , which is why alcohol poisoning is so dangerous. Hover over the boxes below to see more details. Impact on the Teenage Brain The brain continues to develop into a person's mid-20s , with a critical period occurring during adolescence (a period of rapid brain development). Alcohol is a neurotoxin that can interfere with this process and alter the way the brain is wired , potentially causing long-lasting changes in brain structure and function: Alcohol can interfere with the development of the frontal lobe , which is crucial for impulse control, planning, and judgement. GABA When you drink alcohol , it increases the activity of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) a neurotransmitter that slows down brain activity. This can depress your brainstem - that’s the bit in charge of keeping you alive by keeping your heart beating and your lungs breathing without you having to think about it! Alcohol doesn’t create GABA; it just makes its effects stronger, like turning up your brain’s “relax mode.” When this happens, your thinking, movement, and reflexes slow down . Risks of using Alcohol Hover over the photos below, to see the risks of Alcohol. Physical Raises heart rate and blood pressure, straining the heart. Weakens memory, immunity, and nutrient absorption, increasing illness risk. Disrupts deep and REM sleep, causing fatigue and poor concentration. Agitation Feeling Disconnected or Psychotic Symptoms Low Mood or Depression Panic Attacks Memory Problems Social Lowers inhibitions and impairs judgment, causing arguments, misunderstandings, or risky behaviour. Long-term heavy drinking can damage health and strain relationships. Frequent drinking can cause mood swings, anxiety, and irritability. Can worsen depression and anxiety and may create a cycle of emotional dependence. Emotional Safer Night Out - Stay Safe Tips For You and Your Mates Planning a night out? Here are some helpful tips to help you stay safe and enjoy yourself. Press the arrow on the slideshow to see information for before, during, and after your night out. Before a Night Out Set a limit. Excessive drinking harms your health, relationships, and sexual safety. It can also lead to poor decisions, aggression, and memory loss. Setting a limit helps you stay in control. Keeping within your limit reduces the chance of injuries and dangerous situations caused by intoxication. Stay hydrated. Alcohol is a diuretic - it makes your body lose water through increased urination. This leads to dehydration, which causes thirst, headaches, and hangovers. Charge your phone before heading out, and bring a portable charger if you can. In case you need to call anyone in an emergency or to get a lift home Eat a proper meal. Eating foods rich in protein, fat, and carbohydrates slows the absorption of alcohol, reducing how quickly you get drunk. This helps prevent a sudden spike in blood alcohol levels and protects the stomach lining from irritation. Sort your journey home in advance. Whether it’s public transport, a trusted taxi, or a designated sober driver. Young People's Stories Watch young people from our Unity service share their real stories and perspectives on alcohol - honest and straight from their experience. Alcohol Webpage Video Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Young person - 1 I started using alcohol because it was accessible. I knew it wouldn’t necessarily help, but at the time it felt like it would. At first, it was really good, but then I ended up in hospital and that’s when I realised things were starting to get worse. That’s also when I started working with the Matthew Project. It definitely made my mental health worse, because I noticed that whenever something was wrong, I used more and it didn’t help. The moment I realised I needed support was when I ended up in hospital after a drinking binge. The Matthew Project helped me in multiple ways: harm reduction and just nice having someone decent to talk to. My advice to someone else struggling would be: talk to someone and try to understand what you’re doing and why. Things for me now… I haven’t drunk any alcohol for about a month - that was the thing I was most worried about. I talk to my mum more about things now, and I think she worries less. I don’t go to CAMHS anymore because I feel I cope better, but I know to go back if things ever get worse. Video Prefer watching instead of reading? Check out this short video about Alcohol to see how it affects people and get the facts you need. Alcohol - Respect Your Brain Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied About The Matthew Project If you’re under 19 and using ketamine or other substances, our Unity service is here to support you. You won’t get in trouble for reaching out. Click the button below to learn more about the Unity service. If you are 19 or over, you will need to contact Change Grow Live. Unity Service

We want you to feel safe and be able to talk openly about things when you meet with your worker. Is it safe to talk? Confidentiality We want you to feel safe and be able to talk openly about things when you meet with your worker! You have a right to a confidential service and to disagree with us. It is important for you to know that we do not share the information you give us unless we have your permission. In very exceptional circumstances we may have to disclose information. This means we will only pass on information if we believe there is a risk of you or someone else suffering serious harm or a serious crime is planned or has been committed. Data Protection Everyone who sees a Matthew Project worker for support will have information about them held on our computer system. How do you keep the information about me safe? Your file is password protected with additional security features. Your file might contain sensitive and personal information including details of the work we do with you. If we fill in anything on paper, this will be scanned onto a computer and shredded. What will be put in my file? It will contain the things you tell us about yourself and may have information that other people tell us about you, such as forms filled in by other professionals (e.g. school, children services). We only record relevant information. Why do you do this? We record information so that staff can make good decisions about the kind of support we offer you and to make sure you get all of the help you need. We also need to be able to explain and prove that we have been working well with you. Who sees the information? Matthew Project staff can see the information about you. They will only look at it if they are working with you or your family. Can I see the information you have about me? Yes, you have the right to ask us for copies of your personal data. If you want to access your information, you can do this face-to-face, by email, on the telephone or by letter. We will respond within one month. The Data Protection Law is in place to ensure we use your personal data lawfully and keep it safe. For more information, please visit - matthewprojectyoungpeople.org/privacy-info Sharing Info With your permission, we will collect information for local and national statistics for our funders and to help plan our services. We will only use your personal information with your consent and only for the purposes it was collected for. We will keep personal information confidential and will not disclose it to any third party without your consent, unless we are obliged to do so by law, or it is necessary due to your or someone else’s safety. We will always try to talk with you before sharing this information although this may not always be possible or appropriate. Compliments and Complaints If you would like to make any comments about The Matthew Project or tell us about something we have done well, please contact us . We hope to give you the best service possible but sometimes problems may arise. We aim to deal with your compliant in a way which will put things right and stop problems from being avoided or covered up. If you complain it will not be held against you in the future. You will be listened to and your complaint will be confidential. We will try and deal with complaints on an informal basis by chatting through the problem. You can call your worker or another staff member by phoning 0800 970 4866. If this does not resolve the problem/issue, or is not suitable you can make a formal complaint. Making a Formal Complaint You will be asked to write your complaint down in an email, someone can help you with the writing if you want. You must complain within 3 months of the problem happening. We will explain to you how we will follow up your compliant.