Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Awards 2009
2009 is the fourth year for the Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Awards scheme. The awards are held to recognise, reward and celebrate the work being done by drug teams and workers across the country.
Tackling drugs to change lives and protect families and communities by reducing drug misuse and related crime are the ambitions that drive the government's drug strategy. Across the country, practitioners are putting these aims into practice and making a real difference to people's lives. Now in their fourth year, the Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Awards provide national recogntion for individuals and teams that carry out inspirational work at a local level
Anyone can nominate a drug worker or team for an award - whether they are colleagues, friends, family members or current or ex-service users. The nominations must demonstrate how the nominees have made a difference. The winners will have changed the lives of the people with whom they have worked, made a major impact on their communities and demonstrated a commitment that is an inspirational.
Proposed new format for 2009
This year the awards have a new format. The awards are made up of six categories from which finalists will be selected. The categories are;
- Young people: A team or an individual who work in the young people sector to either divert young people away from drugs or support them if they become drug users.
- Drugs and the Criminal Justice System: recognising that there are a huge amount of people who work in Criminal Justice Integrated Teams as part of the Drug Interventions Programme to help and support drug using offenders in the Criminal Justice System.
- Community Engagement: A team or an individual who works hard to encourage local partnerships to engage with their communities and address local concerns about drugs
- National Tackling Drugs Week: Every year a staggering number of local agencies and police forces take part in National Tackling Drugs Week and this category recognises this work.
- Drug Team of the Year: Working in partnership, demonstrating commitment to their work, evidence of improving the lives of residents in the local community.
- Drug Worker of the Year: has the individual demonstrated how they have worked closely with clients and the local community?
Five finalists from each of the six new categories will be invited to awards ceremony which will take place in London on 9 December.
All the finalists will be in for a chance to win one of two overall national Tackling Drugs Changing Lives awards. The overall winners will each receive £10,000.
There is no longer a regional element to the categories however all regions in England and Wales will be encouraged to enter to ensure a good regional spread of finalists.
An expert judging panel, chaired by the Home Office, will select the finalists and the winners.
Further information can be found at www.drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/awards2009
Last update: Wednesday, June 17, 2009