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In November, we launched three new specialist training sessions  for professionals who work with children, young people and families across Norfolk, and they’ve been a big success! People from lots of different organisations joined us, all wanting to learn how to support young people better when it comes to substances. We know that if you’re worried about drugs or alcohol, you might not want to go straight to a service. You might prefer to talk to a trusted adult  in your life, like a youth worker, teacher, support worker or family member. And that choice should always be yours. That’s why these sessions matter. They help professionals understand how to listen, support and respond in a way that feels non-judgemental, respectful and genuinely helpful . What were the sessions about? Professionals could choose to attend one, two, or all three sessions. Each one focused on a different (but connected) topic: Understanding substance use in young people This session explored different substances, possible risks, and what’s happening locally. It helps professionals understand the reality of substance use, rather than relying on myths or assumptions. Having better conversations This was all about how professionals talk to young people. The focus was on listening properly, avoiding judgement, and making sure young people feel heard and respected when talking about substances. When substances affect families The final session looked at the impact of a parent or carer’s substance use. This helps professionals understand how that might affect a young person’s wellbeing, so they can be more empathetic and offer the right support. What’s next? We’ve got six more sessions running before the end of March , and four are already sold out . If you’re a professional and want to book a session, you can do that here: https://matthewprojectyoungpeople.eventbrite.com

From Stigma to Support, Changing the Conversation on Substance Use Practice Week is a time for everyone in Norfolk who works with children and young people to learn, connect, and share ideas. This May (19th–23rd), things were a little different. Practice Week was led by young people from across Norfolk, exploring the Flourish framework theme: ‘Understood’. Young people said that they wanted to take the lead in helping adults understand their experiences - in their own words and from their own perspectives. At The Matthew Project, we worked with young people to create a short video called “From STIGMA TO SUPPORT: Changing the Conversation on Substance Use.” The video looks at how stigma can hold people back from asking for help when they need it most. It can feel isolating or even scary to speak up about substance use and that’s something we want to change. Through honest reflections from young people, the video highlights what services can do better to make support more accessible and non-judgemental. It also shows how The Matthew Project is working to challenge stigma and start open, compassionate conversations about substance use. By listening to young people, we can make sure everyone feels understood. 👉  Watch the full video:

"I was 15 when I was referred to the Matthew Project by the safeguarding lead at my school. I needed help to stop smoking cannabis. I'd been smoking for a couple of years and couldn’t do it on my own.   I live with my Mum. She and Dad split up. They were always arguing when they were together. I didn't like it. The memories of shouting and the fact that it didn’t leave much time for me was one of the reasons I started smoking. I felt like cutting and I did sometimes. I was getting bad marks at school, I didn’t want to go, I felt that school was the last place I wanted to be. Cannabis use was affecting my mental health, and I felt anxious and struggled to sleep.  I first smoked cannabis after school. Most of my friends had tried it. Then I would hang out with older mates, and sometimes we smoked at my home. It was hard to say no when they asked. My mum felt helpless to do anything. There was concern about county lines involvement. Then I became at risk of being excluded from school for inappropriate behaviour and no attendance. That's when I asked for help.  The first session with The Matthew Project was about them getting to know me and introducing me to the service. Building a trusting relationship is an important part of their initial work as young people can often feel uncomfortable sharing details about themselves with a professional, they just met.   They asked lots of questions to build a better picture of my life which helped them to create a support plan with me. We wrote down the goals that I wanted to achieve and what would help to get me there. My priorities were to cut down on substance use, improve my mental health, get support with my education, and improve my friend and family relationships. The process wasn’t too formal which put me at ease.   Me and my worker focused on improving my eating habits and sleeping pattern. I started exercising daily for 20 mins, came off my phone before bed and kept my room tidy. I started to feel less tired in the mornings...  Then my worker helped me get back into football which was great because I stopped wanting to smoke so much and I got my appetite back!   After checking with me, my worker also had a chat with my mum as I was worried about telling the older mates that they couldn't come to my house to smoke. It helped her understand how to help me and we have a much better relationship now.  Me and my mum found Unity service really helpful. I think not only did it help with my cannabis use but also with my anxiety and low mood... and it's kept me at school, so I stand a better chance of getting my GCSE's!  I have cut down on my usage massively, although I still smoke sometimes. Unity have kept my case open so I can continue with the support when I need it, which is really reassuring to know. Big thanks to everyone from The Matthew Project that helped me." Do you feel like your worried that your own drug/alcohol use is having a significant impact on you or others around you? If so, click on the button below to see how we can help.

Support for those that are worried their own drug/alcohol use is having a significant impact on them or others Welcome to Unity! It can be worrying when you feel that your own drug/alcohol use is having a significant impact on you or others around you. Below are a few ways in which you might feel your drug/alcohol use is impacting you. If you feel like these are relevant to you, our Unity service can help. Scroll down to see how we offer support and how you can get in touch with us . If you would like to learn more about different substances, click on the button below to go to our resources page. Resources Page Common signs No Control? Feel like you need to use drugs/alcohol? You can't cope without it? This can make you feel out of control of your life, but we can help. Emotional Change? Are you experiencing noticeable changes in mood, anxiety, irritability or depression? These changes can happen when using drugs/alcohol. Feeling Ashamed? Do you use drugs/alcohol on your own? Trying to hide it from others like your family? You could be feeling embarrassed about what you're doing. Feeling Withdrawal? Tried to stop and started to feel sick, anxious or develop shakes? You could be experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Our Support to You We can support you in the following ways: Regular tailored support and safety advice Meet in a place you feel safe that's your choice Flexible contact range (phone, text, email etc) Motivational techniques Education around substances and their impact Harm reduction & relapse prevention support Sexual health advice (C-Card, BBV + Hep B Screening) Finding other support services to help you We know it can also be hard explaining things to your family/guardians, which is where we can also help. 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 through our anonymous Live Chat, via email, or over the phone. Click Here

Resources to help inform you and keep you safe around drug and alcohol use. Leaflets and Posters Download and print our leaflets and posters to use in your school, workplace, community centre, or anywhere that young people may want to learn more about our services. YouCan Leaflet Poster Unity Leaflet Poster On Track King's Lynn and West Norfolk Coaching Kings Lynn and West Norfolk SPACE Great Yarmouth Support Norwich Safe Space Confidentiality Is it safe to talk here? Leaflet Substance Information Ketamine Poster Substance Information Support for Professionals Professionals' Poster Parent/Carer - YouCan Service Parent/Carer Leaflet Refugees & Asylum Seekers Refugee/Asylum Seekers Leaflet

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. Helping Professionals Support Young People In November, we launched three new specialist training sessions for professionals who work with children, young people and families across Norfolk, and they’ve been a big success! People from lots of different organisations joined us, all wanting to learn how to support young people better when it comes to substances. We know that if you’re worried about drugs or alcohol, you might not want to go straight to a service. You might prefer to talk to a trusted adult in your lif Young People Take Over Practice Week From Stigma to Support, Changing the Conversation on Substance Use Practice Week is a time for everyone in Norfolk who works with children and young people to learn, connect, and share ideas. This May (19th–23rd), things were a little different. Practice Week was led by young people from across Norfolk, exploring the Flourish framework theme: ‘Understood’. Young people said that they wanted to take the lead in helping adults understand their experiences - in their own words a 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 A Summer of Memories Our YouCan summer programme has now come to an end and what a summer it’s been! This year, 19 young people joined us in person for activities, and 33 chose to get creative with at-home activity packs. Together, we’ve learnt new skills, explored new places, and built memories through nine incredible activities. Week One We kicked off with Pizza Making and a Movie in King’s Lynn, where young people cooked up their own delicious creations before relaxing together with a film. La 1 2 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