CHILDREN’S CHARITIES MAKE DRAMATIC CHANGE AS DRUG DEATHS SKYROCKET
27 August 2009 Government reports deaths from drug misuse are at highest since 2001
The children’s charity, Coram, today announces it is bringing on board the charity Life Education, now called Coram Life Education. This innovative partnership unites the UK’s oldest children’s charity with the largest charity providing healthcare education to children in Britain.
This amalgamation sees two influential children’s charities respond to the national issue of children and young people’s well-being and the need for innovative partnerships to tackle it.
Evidence that drug and alcohol education needs to start early during a child’s formative years for it to be effective is clear:
• A quarter of children aged 11 to 15 admit to having taken drugs
• In 2008 deaths involving cocaine increased by 20% compared with 2007
• The number of under 18s admitted to hospital after drinking alcohol has risen by 80% in five years
• 70% of children come before the family proceedings courts because their parent has a serious problem with alcohol, drugs or both.
There is impressive strength and breadth in this combination: Coram works with over 10,000 children, young people and their families each year, often when difficulties are entrenched. Coram has vast experience of working with parents to encourage young people’s education and development at home.
Reaching up to one million children and parents across 4,000 schools every year, Coram Life Education helps educate children, young people and their parents about healthy choices, including prevention of drug and alcohol misuse.
Life Education, as it was previously known, utilises interactive mobile units to teach preventative health messages to primary school children so they make smart choices as young people. These messages contribute to existing Personal, Social and Health Education curriculum (PSHE). There is a national consultation currently underway to make PSHE compulsory in schools.
Dr Carol Homden, Chief Executive, Coram:
‘We need to be doing more for parents and children to tackle drug and alcohol abuse. More than one million children in the UK come from homes where drinking and serious drug use is a problem. From our work in Adoption and the Family Drug and Alcohol Court, in particular, Coram knows only too well the consequences of substance misuse for children. If they think this kind of behaviour is normal it can be all too easy for them to take the wrong path, compromise their future and set the cycle in motion again with their own children.’
Stephen Burgess, National Director, Coram Life Education:
‘Today’s news about rising drug deaths shows again the urgent need to help young people learn the skills they need to make the right choices. Misuse of alcohol and drugs among British young people is shocking. Kids are very much aware but don’t fully appreciate the dangers. They need to learn from professionally trained teachers and properly informed parents about how to grow up safely in a society where drugs are an increasing menace. We are excited about teaming up with Coram to be able to carry this education on into the home, helping parents and children to learn the skills they need to make the right choices.’
Richard Black, Head of Merger and Collaborative Working at the Charity Commission:
“Good communication, planning and a shared goal have brought this collaboration (between Coram and Life Education) to fruition which is very pleasing.”
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For more information or to arrange an interview with Dr Carol Homden or Stephen Burgess please call Roberta Goldstein on 020 7520 0346 or email roberta@coram.org.uk
Notes to editor
1. The Office for National Statistics released ‘Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales, 2008’ on the 26th of August 2009, which found that in 2008 the total number of drug misuse deaths rose to 1,738, the highest level recorded since 2001; and there were 235 deaths involving cocaine in 2008, an increase of 20% compared with 2007.
2. In a 2008 nationwide survey carried out with 1,491 9 – 11 year olds, Life Education, as it was then known, found that one in five 10 year olds think that heroin is legal; a quarter of 10 year olds think ecstasy is legal; and more than half of children surveyed could name 4 or more illegal drugs.
3. Coram has been working with children for nearly 300 years; its adoption has the lowest disruption rate in the country; 3% against the national average of 20%. A special concurrent planning programme works with babies born to drug and alcohol addicted parents reducing the moves of babies between carers. The UK’s first Family Drug and Alcohol Court - a collaboration between Coram and The Tavistock & Portman NHS Trust, and commissioned by Camden, Islington and Westminster Councils - provides support to families trying to break the cycle of substance addiction. www.coram.org.uk
4. Coram Life Education is the UK’s largest children’s health education charity, helping primary school children make healthy choices through their work with schools, with parents and engaging the community. For each class age-appropriate sessions are delivered by trained educators with emphasis placed on teaching in a fun and interactive manner using music, sound and light effects as well as interactive technology. Topics covered include: how the body works, the importance of healthy diet and exercise, safe use of medicines, the risks of tobacco, alcohol and non-prescription drugs and emotional well-being, including bullying.
5. Under this unique charity arrangement, Coram will become the majority member of Coram Life Education, which will remain independent with its own dedicated board of trustees and will have control over the charity’s objects and constitution. The amalgamation will allow Coram Life Education to build from the current role in schools and with families at home, in support of the government agenda for PSHE, but specifically give more recognition to the crucial role of parents and teachers as primary educators to integrate and strengthen the charity’s approach. This amalgamation brings together parenting expertise with school facing expertise – an exemplar of improved effectiveness in the third sector.
