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Professionals working with children, young people, and families may encounter individuals affected by substance use, whether through a parent’s use or their own. Having the right knowledge and confidence is essential to enable meaningful and supportive conversations. That’s why, in November, we launched a series of specialist substance misuse training sessions designed to equip professionals with practical tools, up-to-date knowledge, and real insight from young people themselves.   Why Substance Use Training for Professionals Matters Understanding young people and substance use is vital, as early intervention and informed conversations can make a significant difference in a young person’s life. Our training programme was developed to help professionals: Build confidence in discussing drugs and alcohol with young people Learn about different types of substances and associated risks Understand the wider impact of parental drug and alcohol use on children Develop effective approaches to supporting young people affected by substance use   The Training Sessions We delivered 10 sessions in total, both online and in person, allowing professionals to engage in a way that suited them. Attendees could choose to attend individual sessions or complete the full programme. Each session focused on a key theme: Understanding Substance Use: Exploring different substances, their effects, and emerging trends in drug and alcohol use among young people. Supporting Young People: Practical strategies for engaging young people, building trust, and having meaningful conversations. The Impact of Parental Substance Use: Understanding how parental use affects children and young people, including developmental, psychological, and physical impacts. Reaching Professionals Across the Sector We’re proud to share that 111 professionals attended the training, representing a wide range of organisations working with children, young people and families. The sessions were delivered by Luke Adcock, Service Manager for The Matthew Project ’s YouCan and Unity services. With over 20 years of experience supporting young people affected by substance misuse, Luke brought a wealth of expertise, real-world insight, and practical guidance to each session.   What Professionals Said About the Training One of the strongest themes from the feedback was increased confidence. Whether it’s understanding the impact of substance use or knowing how to start a conversation, these skills are vital for anyone working with young people. By taking part in these training sessions, professionals are better equipped to support young people at risk of drug or alcohol misuse, signpost to support and create a safe environment for young people to talk. The feedback highlights the real value of creating space for learning, reflection, and discussion: “I felt like my knowledge was outdated, so it was good to have an updated conversation and to know what information is still relevant today.” “I have a better understanding of how conversations, particularly early on, can support a young person to make positive changes.” “I now have more knowledge and information, which I feel more confident in sharing with young people.” “It was easy to understand, delivered at a good pace… very informative and interesting!” “I definitely feel more confident in recognising the signs and behaviours of a child experiencing parental alcohol and drug misuse.” “I learned about services available for young people who have parents misusing substances, alongside gaining a greater understanding of the various impacts.”   Stay Updated on Future Training Opportunities If you work with children or young people and want to strengthen your understanding of substances, engage effectively, and explore the wider impact of parental use, keep an eye out for our future training sessions: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-matthew-project-119199569811

At The Matthew Project , our On Track service supports young people across Norfolk who are not currently in education, employment or training (NEET), or who may be at risk of disengaging. Through group activities and one-to-one support, the team helps young people build confidence, learn new skills and explore future opportunities. February was a busy and exciting month, with young people getting involved in everything from creative workshops and careers events to wellbeing sessions and trips out. Here’s a look at what happened. Early February   2nd February - Creative Image Transfer Workshop (King’s Lynn) The month started with a creative session for young people from King’s Lynn & West Norfolk SPACE. Ali from CREA delivered a hands-on image transfer workshop, where 10 young people experimented with creative techniques and made their own artwork. A big thank you to Georgie from the YMCA for coming along to support the session and help make it such a positive experience. 5th February – Mental Health Focus Group (Norwich) Young people from Norwich SafeSPACE took part in a mental health focus group with Mental Health UK. Four young people shared their thoughts and experiences to help improve mental health support for young people. It was a great opportunity for them to have their voices heard.   Mid-February 10th February – Careers & Apprenticeship Event (King’s Lynn) Five young people from King’s Lynn & West Norfolk SPACE attended a Careers and Apprenticeship Event in King’s Lynn, where they had the chance to meet over 45 local employers. Events like this help young people discover different career paths, learn about apprenticeships and think about their next steps. 12th February – Healthy Relationships & Sexual Health Session (Norwich) Six young people from Norwich SafeSPACE took part in an informal and informative session delivered by The Magdalene Group. The session covered healthy relationships, contraception and sexual health, creating a relaxed space where young people could ask questions and learn useful information. A big thank you to Iulia and Aggie for leading such an important session.   Half-Term Adventures 18th February - Trip to the Sealife Centre (Great Yarmouth) During half-term, 11 young people from SafeSPACE and the Central Great Yarmouth Coaching project visited SEA LIFE Great Yarmouth. The group saw some amazing sea creatures and finished the trip with chips for lunch - a great way to end the day. Trips like this are a brilliant chance for young people to try new experiences and build friendships with people from different areas of Norfolk.   Late February 25th February – Bowling Trip (King’s Lynn) Four young people from King’s Lynn & West Norfolk SPACE went on a bowling trip. 26th February – Gardening and Planting (Norwich) Five young people from Norwich SafeSPACE took part in a gardening session. The group decorated plant pots and planted house plants to take home. They also planted potatoes in a grow bag in the car park, which everyone hopes will grow well in the coming months. If they do, the potatoes will be used in the kitchen at our Oak Street centre! Want to Get Involved? If you’re aged 13–24 and living in Norfolk, and you’re not currently in education, employment or training (or you feel like you’re struggling with it), the On Track team may be able to support you. You can learn more about the service and make a referral here : https://www.matthewprojectyoungpeople.org/on-track

Talking to our children about drugs and alcohol can seem daunting so many of us put it off or avoid it completely. We worry about when and how to talk to them because it can feel awkward, scary, or even unnecessary. However, we know from research that children who have open, honest conversations with their parents are less likely to engage in risky substance use. While schools discuss drugs and alcohol as part of PSHE, parents remain an influential source of information and values.  If you can instigate an open dialogue with your child, it can help them to understand risks and legal realities of substances, feel comfortable asking questions, develop the confidence to make positive choices and most importantly come to you if something goes wrong. Our Unity service is here to support you with honest information on the risks of different substances and support for your child or yourself if you need it.  You don’t need to be an expert (we can help there) you just need to be approachable and honest. Start the dialogue early and keep it going, you don’t need to wait until your child is a teenager. At primary age keep it simple and safety-focused, for example that medicines are only safe when given by a trusted adult. When curiosity increases in the teenage years you can discuss peer pressure and how to handle it, what alcohol and drugs do to the brain and body and about UK laws. As they get older focus on harm reduction and real-life situations such as how to stay safe at parties and look after your friends.  Make it a conversation, not a lecture, young people switch off quickly if they feel judged. Try to ask open questions, listen without interrupting, avoid scare tactics and stay calm, even if you’re shocked. If they think you’ll overreact, they might not come to you next time. Be honest about your own choices around drugs and alcohol, you don’t need to share every detail of your teenage years and certainly be careful not to glamourise, but honesty builds trust. It’s important that we model the behaviour we want to see, children notice how adults use alcohol and cannabis at home.  Set clear expectations, children feel safer when boundaries are clear, it’s okay to be explicit about your family rules on alcohol and drugs and what will happen if those rules are broken. Having said that it’s important that they know safety comes first and they can call you for help without fear of immediate punishment (not the same as lack of consequences). A “no questions asked” lift home rule can encourage safe decisions if things go wrong on a night out.  It’s good to be aware of possible warning signs of substance use. Changes that don’t always mean substance use but are important to watch for are sudden mood swings, secretive behaviour, new friendship groups with no explanation. Coming home smelling of alcohol or smoke, new problems at school. If changes make you concerned, stay calm and start a conversion.  If your child has already tried something don’t panic, thank them for being honest (if they have been). Focus on how much you love them, their safety and what they learned. It might be good to discuss how they’ll handle similar situations next time. If you’re worried about ongoing use, support them to seek support.  A one-off chat probably isn’t enough, hopefully you’ll be able to create an environment where questions are welcome, mistakes can be discussed safely and your child knows you’re on their side. Regular, possibly shorter low-pressure conversations maybe while driving or walking are often good.  Remember your relationship is the strongest protective factor your child has so try to preserve it as much as it depends on you, for the majority of young people “this too shall pass”.   For more information on specific substances, Unity has information pages on Ketamine , Alcohol , Cocaine , Cannabis and MDMA . These webpages provide practical guidance on risks, effects, and harm reduction strategies. The safest way to avoid risks is not using substances, but knowledge helps your child make safer choices.    Support for Parents   If your child is misusing substances, The Matthew Project runs a parents group once a month, offering a safe space to connect with others in similar situations. To join, email: unity@matthewproject.org

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

Support for those that are worried their own drug/alcohol use is having a significant impact on them or others Welcome to Unity! Unity is a free, confidential service in Norfolk for young people under 19 who feel like their own drug or alcohol use is affecting them or people around them. You might be feeling like you need to use drugs or alcohol to cope, can’t control how much or when you use, hide your use from family or friends, or notice that your mood, sleep, school, friendships, or daily life are being affected, and if this sounds like you, Unity is here to help. Nervous about speaking with us? We get it - talking about drugs or alcohol can feel daunting. We’re here to help, not get you in trouble. What you tell us stays private, unless we believe you or someone else is at serious risk of harm, or a serious crime is involved. You can find out more about confidentiality here . Substances Information If you’d like to learn more about substances, click the buttons below. Ketamine Cannabis MDMA Alcohol Cocaine Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here What Unity Offers Here's how we can support you: Confidential one-to-one support We’ll chat about how you’re feeling and we can meet in person at school, college, or somewhere in the community you feel comfortable, or talk by phone, text, or email. Information about substances Learn how drugs and alcohol affect your brain and body. While the only way to completely avoid risks is not to use substances, we can show you ways to reduce harm. Health support You can get advice about sexual health, including STI testing, blood-borne virus checks, and Hepatitis B vaccinations. Connecting you to other help If you need extra support, like help with housing, mental health, or other challenges, we can point you to the right people or services. 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

See frequently asked questions about our service and what we do. Frequently Asked Questions How do I get support for someone I know/myself? Anyone can get in touch with us to make a referral. This could be a parent, carer or professional or you. If you want to refer yourself or someone you know, you can do this by going to our contact us page to chat with a member of the team in the most accessible way for you. What happens when I get referred? We will contact you, or the person referring you and arrange to come and meet, in a place you feel comfortable. What happens if I change my mind? Just let us, or the person who referred you know. Our support is totally voluntary. We understand that people change their minds. You are always welcome to come back. Will you tell other people what I have said? We offer a confidential service. Confidentiality means us not telling anyone else about the things you tell us, we will talk to you about who you are comfortable with us talking to. Sometimes your parents, carers or teachers may be aware that you have been referred to us, particularly if you chose to see us at your school or home, this does not mean we will tell them everything that you tell us, we will discuss this with you and agree what information YOU feel comfortable sharing. If there’s a risk of very serious harm to you, or someone else, we may need to share some of what you have told us, we will try and talk to you and let you know what might happen next. Will you tell me to stop using drugs/alcohol? No we understand this is your choice and people use substances for a variety of reasons. We are not here to judge you, or tell you what to do, we will support you to decide what you want from the support. Do you have to tell my parents that I am working with you? If you are over 13 and we feel you understand what it means to get support from us, we do not need to tell your parents that we are supporting you. If you are under 13, we do need to get consent from your parent or carer to be able to offer you support. This doesn’t mean we will tell them what we talk about with you. Will I get into trouble? We will not share the information you tell us unless we are extremely worried for your safety, our aim would be to keep you safe not for you to get into trouble. How long can you work with people? For the YouCan and Unity service. Our support is not time limited we can continue to support you for as long as you feel you need the support. We can see you weekly, fortnightly, or monthly, depending on what works best for you. For On Track, there are sometimes time limits depending on the service. Contact On Track's (https://www.matthewprojectyoungpeople.org/on-track)for more details. Is there a waiting list? We do have at times a waiting list but we will be in contact within 2 weeks and will always keep you updated of when a meeting will be booked. Can I see you in school? Yes we can come and meet you in a place you feel comfortable this could be at home, school, college, wherever you feel comfortable. Can I talk to you about other stuff? Yes we understand that drug or alcohol issues can be one of the issues you are facing, we will complete an assessment with you that will look at what other support may be useful, this could include mental and physical health, housing, education and relationship advice. Will there be a change in worker? We try not to change your worker, we know it can be difficult when one of our workers leave, if we have to change you to a new worker, we will ask you what kind of person you would feel most comfortable with and try and match you with one of our workers. Can I bring someone with me? Yes we understand it can be a big step meeting someone new. My parents/carers don't drive, how do I get to you? We come to you! We can meet you in a location you feel comfortable such as school and for our holiday activities we can arrange transport so you can attend.