Alcohol action day tackling underage drinking throughout Bridgend
Over 50 representatives from public agencies across Bridgend came together on Friday May 8th to tackle underage drinking and its impact on crime and disorder in the borough.
Organised by the Safer Bridgend Community Partnership, the ‘Young Person’s Alcohol Action Day’ saw South Wales Police, Bridgend County Borough Council, the Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations, the National Public Health Service, the Substance Misuse Action Team and many more agencies join forces to address the issues related to underage drinking in the borough.
The aim of the action day was to strengthen joint partnership working and to develop a multi-agency plan for the next six months to tackle the issue.
Introduced by Council leader Mel Nott and Bridgend Police Chief Inspector Simon Belcher, Coun Nott said he was “sure the outcome (of Friday) will benefit the young people of the county borough”, and the day had the “full support” of the council.
Ch. Insp. Belcher promised that the outcomes of the action day would be “taken up to the very top” and the police would be acting on the actions “as best we can.”
Led by Siobhan Riordan from ‘Learning Communities Training’, the day-long session started with the team completing an exercise on the perception of underage drinking, before breaking down into four smaller teams to brainstorm opportunities for partnership initiatives.
15 young people also attended the session so they could give their views on underage alcohol consumption and offer suggestions from a young person’s perspective. Refreshments during the day were provided by young people working with the Youth Offending Service.
The action day comes after 100 front line workers from across the borough received training in alcohol workshops organised by the National Public Health Service and South Wales Police.
Conway Hawkins, Antisocial Behaviour Reduction Coordinator for the Safer Bridgend Community Partnership who organised the action day said: “Drinking by young people is a serious issue in the Borough, not only in respect of antisocial behaviour but also in terms of young people’s safety and health. By working together, agencies in the area can do a lot to reduce this problem and make Bridgend a safer place for us all.”