Teen drinkers can get help

An organisation providing free and confidential support and information to young people with drug and alcohol problems wants to work in Balderton.

Mr Jimmy Poyser, from Face It, told Balderton’s Safer Neighbourhood Group that he was aware there were problems with underage drinking in the village.

Face It, based in Mansfield, runs an outreach service across Nottinghamshire for under-18s who may be tempted to start or are already drinking or taking drugs.

It is paid for by the NHS and the Drug Alcohol Action Team.

Mr Poyser is one of four drug and alcohol workers and covers Newark, Sherwood and Gedling. At Monday’s meeting he said he was keen to help youngsters in Balderton.

They could call Face It free and the telephone number would not show on a bill.

He said if they wanted to discuss problems in person, meetings could be held in a safe environment such as a café.

“We are not there to police. We are there to give them harm-reduction advice. Alcohol is the number one issue at the moment,” Mr Poyser said.

“I know there are activities happening in Balderton but I don’t know where.

“Young people know they cannot be served in a retail outlet. Who is getting them the alcohol?”

A Balderton parish councillor, Mrs Angela Jarvis, asked Mr Poyser if he thought alcohol exclusion zones would help.

Mr Poyser said if there were alcohol exclusion zones the drinkers would just go somewhere else.

“I would rather see young people drink where everybody knows where they are so we and other services can engage with them.”

The head of The Grove School, Mrs Patricia Head, said staff from Face It had visited to provide pupils with information.

She said the school tried to support pupils as much as possible.

The beat manager for Balderton, Pc Martin Stannard, welcomed the scheme.

“We still have problems with young people fuelled by alcohol,” Pc Stannard said.

“We are trying to look at it from various angles. We have had a lot of success taking alcohol off some people.”

Face It can be contacted free 0800 5877878 or at its office on 01623 643598.