This season is the start of the updated and newly accredited ISS Drug Freeze Programme. Throughout the summer, the Drug Freeze players and coordinator undertook Surrey Drug and Alcohol Action Team's (Surrey DAAT) accreditation programme alongside Surrey Police Youth Officers and YPCSOs. (Youth Police Community Support Officers)
'Drug Freeze' is offered free of charge to schools & Youth Clubs throughout Surrey. The programme is now targeted at Year six, and is run by the Guildford Flames in conjunction with Surrey Police.
Due to the programme's success in previous years, the decision was made to ?streamline' the programme throughout Surrey, making the message consistent with current issues facing Year 6 pupils in their transition to Secondary School. The programme has been re-written with the joint partnership of Surrey Police and Surrey DAAT. All three organisations will continue to meet regularly to monitor and alter the programme, ensuring that schools are getting the most up-to-date information regarding decisions surrounding alcohol and cannabis awareness.
The aim of Drug Freeze is not only to increase drug awareness amongst young children, but to do so whilst promoting a healthy interest in sport & exercise.
The Drug Freeze Programme has four key objectives:
- To give pupils all the information they need to make informed decisions about alcohol and cannabis
- To make pupils aware of the consequences, legal and personal
- To advise pupils to talk to trusted adults about problems including the supply of illegal drugs
- To encourage pupils to achieve their maximum potential at school and in their chosen sport/hobby by showing them positive role models
The general outline of the programme consists of a current hockey player coming in to talk about ice hockey, and how they use their equipment to protect themselves from injury. He then passes the presentation over to the officer who delivers information regarding drug awareness to enable the children to protect themselves with the decisions they will be making about alcohol and drug use.
