Berkshire West PCT – Alcohol, Communication and Engagement – Reducing Alcohol Harm in Berkshire

Here the Trust made a small donation to a conference for practitioners with the aims of broadening attendees’ general alcohol knowledge and their understanding of the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy. It is intended that a wide range of speakers, workshops and stands will encourage delegates to recognise alcohol as a key issue and prioritise it in their own strategies and budgets.

Powys Domestic Abuse Forum
Domestic Abuse and Alcohol – the Effects on Children Training Conference

The Trust made asmall, general contribution towards this conference which aims to enhance practitioners’ awareness of alcohol related domestic abuse and how this affects the lives of children in particular. They will also cover such issues as the risks of drinking during pregnancy and highlight the problems many immigrants face in terms of accessing services and information because of the language barrier. By inviting speakers with both domestic and alcohol abuse backgrounds, they will also ensure that attendees not only learn these facts but grasp how to use them. All these points will be cemented by former service users who can describe their experience as victims of these forms of  abuse and point out instances of good and bad practice that they have encountered.

NOFAS UK – Foetal Alcohl Spectrum Disorder Conference

This Conference is aimed at health and welfare professionals as well as those personally affected by FASD. Due to take place in autumn 2007, it provides general information on the condition, the links between it and birth defects, management techniques relating  to FASD along with an introduction to diagnosis. The event is being rerun in response to requests for further training from last year’s delegates as well as a rising number of calls to NOFAS’ helpline. In this instance, Drinkaware’s grant was given as a contribution towards conference materials and advertising.

Age Concern Southwark – Alcohol and Older People

Many professionals highlight the lack of cohesion among key agencies concerned with older people in Southwark and their subsequent inability to combat prevalent drinking within this age group. In response to this, the Southwark branch of Age Concern are holding a conference on 28/06/07 which gives practitioners and the public the chance to discuss and learn more from experts about key issues in both the local and national contexts. By doing so, it is hoped that there will be greater understanding of the issue and that stakeholders will be better equipped to adopt more joined-up approaches.