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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.

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 Harm reduction advice  to help you stay safer Information about how substances affect the brain  and decision-making You can explore the new pages here: 👉 Ketamine 👉 Alcohol 👉 Cannabis 👉 Cocaine 👉 MDMA To help spread the word, we’ve also created stickers and posters  featuring QR codes that link directly to these pages. If you’d like to request a pack  to display or hand out at your school, youth group, or workplace, please get in touch - we’d love to share them with you.

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 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 What's New 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 Story from a Young Person in our Unity Service "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 ge 1 2 Your Stories Want to know what other young people think? Check out what they’ve said about the support they’ve had from us. 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." Social Media Take a look at what we’ve been up to over on our Instagram page! Load more

Support for those worried about a family member or relative using drugs/alcohol Welcome to YouCan! It can be worrying when a family member is misusing drugs/alcohol. Without realising this can have an impact on those around them, like you. Below are a few ways in which you might feel affected by their misuse. If you feel like these are relevant to you, our YouCan service can help. Scroll down to see how we offer support and how you can get in touch with us . Common signs Afraid? You are worried about their health, that they might be involved in an accident or you might also feel uncomfortable around them. Feel embarrased? You may be worried about their behaviour, such as saying strange things meaning you don’t invite friends round, leaving you feeling alone. Feel responsible? You feel you're responsible for their drug/alcohol use. You think it's your job to try help them. Feel unsafe? You don't feel like you are protected, either from physical or emotional harm. If this is happening to you, please tell an adult you trust. 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 thats your choice Flexibe contact range (phone, text, email etc) 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. Activities In addition to one-to-one support, you can participate in activities that help build confidence, connect with other young people who have similar experiences, and develop vital skills. These activities take place during school holidays and evenings. Examples of activities from Summer 2024 include a residential trip to How Hill, cupcake making, sports day, Clip and Climb, a VR escape room, sailing, pottery painting, bowling, and first aid training. If you decide to join our service and are 13 or older, you'll have the opportunity to become a peer mentor. As a peer mentor, you can support others during activities. Being a peer mentor is a rewarding experience that develops self-confidence, builds connection with others, and allows you to make a positive impact on young people with similar experiences. 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

Information to help parents and careres who have a child struggling with drugs/alcohol or is affected by family use. Parents/Carers Info A little about us We are a Norfolk charity that provide a free confidential service to young people up to 19. These young people can be using substances themselves (we refer to this as Substance Misuse) or that have a parent, carer or sibling thats using substances that could be affecting them (we refer to this as Affected Other). Worried your child is an Affected Other? If your worried that your own, a relatives or other childs substance use could be affecting one of your children, we can support them. Support Worried about your child's drug/alcohol use? If you're struggling with a young person's substance use, we're here to help. You are not alone - drugs and alcohol can impact the entire family. Support Support for you We can provide support to parents who are worried about their child's substance misuse. This can include virtual group sessions, focusing on the exploration of family dynamics, boundaries, consequences and the development of support networks. The Matthew Project run a parent/carer support group which runs monthly and provides a chance to meet other parents of under 19's who are experiencing similar difficulties. The groups aims are to help deal with the worries and stresses faced while providing strategies to help you to cope and deal with the challenges that often arise. The parent support group takes place 19:00 - 21:00 at 70 - 80 Oak St, Norwich, NR3 3AQ. Booking is essential. The referral form for the parent/carer group is below. For more information, please email: unity@matthewproject.org Referral Form Parent FAQ's Further Tips & Advice Contact Us The Matthew Project supports adults in addiction recovery through structured programs, skills training, therapeutic group sessions, and one-to-one support. The Matthew Project Change Grow Live (CGL) offer support for adults affected by someone else’s substance use and supports adults who are struggling with their own substance misuse. CGL's Website “When shut out of your son’s life, and all doors seemed closed, The Matthew Project opened theirs. A big thank you. As a parent I was desperate, how must my son feel?” Anonymous Parent/Carer