Community group One Voice has partnered with CGL Inspire and GO2 to raise awareness of support for drug and alcohol misuse in both young people and adults.

The initiative is part of phase three of the Baiter Sehat project, in partnership with Blackburn and Darwen Borough Council.

One Voice worked with a number of young people through focus groups to gain an insight into the thoughts of the South Asian community when it came to drug and alcohol abuse.

The young people have worked in conjunction with staff at CGL Inspire and GO2 and have produced a poster which will be distributed in Blackburn and Darwen in the next fortnight.

The support is 'open access,' which means anyone who needs help can get it without an appointment or referral.

A team of trained staff support people who need help in a range of ways including therapeutic group work, psychosocial interventions, prescribing and clinical interventions including detox, counselling, family work and a range of recreational and wellbeing focused activities to improve social networks and reduce isolation.

Staff can also support people who just want to reduce their alcohol use to improve health and wellbeing.

Aisha Seedat, member of youth group WEGS said, "There are many young people in the local community whose lives are affected by drugs and alcohol. In many cases, they simply don't know who to turn to for help as they cannot talk to family of friends.

“This initiative is a great way for people to access support. I am delighted to have been part of this project."

Earlier in the year One Voice helped to create a drug ambassador in Adam Umarji, who will be starting his training later this month.

Hasan Sidat, Community Education Officer at Blackburn with Darwen Inspire and Go2 Integrated Prevention and Recovery Service said, "The partnership working between Inspire/Go2 and One Voice has strengthened further whilst developing these promotional materials together and listening to the focus groups in the designing of them.

“We are keen to ensure that collaboratively we support communities in raising awareness, in opening up difficult and sensitive discussions and making people aware of the services that are available within the district in relation to substance misuse.

“Our ambassadors are working hard in making substance use everybody’s business, and have fast become an asset to the service, and within the local communities where they work."