Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2011 | Page 51

ISLAND LIFE

Project
that
really
Works
A groundbreaking project called The
Works, launched earlier this year to
help young Islanders give up drink and
drugs completely, is already producing
positive results.
It is an alarming fact that the
Island has one of the highest rates in
the country of young people being
admitted to hospital with an alcohol or
drug-related condition. It is estimated
that there are 38,000 Island residents
aged 16+ who drink alcohol in excess
of the recommended daily limits at
least once a week.
Of those, 21,000 adults are regarded
as hazardous drinkers, consuming
alcohol in excess of recognised sensible
levels but are not yet experiencing
harm, and 5,000 are harmful drinkers,
consuming alcohol in excess of
recognised sensible levels and are
experiencing harm.
The Works was founded by the Isle
of Wight Youth Trust, a charity of 28
years supporting young people on the
Isle of Wight. The Works has its own
steering group and entirely separate
funding. It is an option that seeks to
help people, in the 18-25 age group,
stop their dependency on drugs or

alcohol, especially those who have hit
‘rock bottom’.
John Elford is project manager of
The Works, a project funded by the
Lloyds TSB Foundation, The Big
Lottery, the Royal Hotel Ventnor,
and the IW Council, but in need of
further financial support from Island
businesses and individuals to ensure its
future.
The Works’ major annual fund-raiser
is the Isle of Wight Youth Trust gala
dinner and grand auction which will
be held on Friday, December 2, at
The Royal Hotel, Ventnor. The event,
now in its third year, has raised over
£70,000, which in turn has helped
secure Big Lottery funding of over
£107,000, £45,000 from Lloyds
TSB and ‘in-kind’ support from IW
Council.
John put together The Works
programme using different approaches
to drug and alcohol treatment
combined with educational theories
and personal experience. He believes
the comprehensive programme will
help many people to find the life they
want; a life that is no longer controlled
by drink and drugs.

He said: “The Youth Trust wanted
someone who could run a programme
that is abstinence based. This was
specifically set up to get people off
drink and drugs. I was eng vVBF