County Derry Post

Two councils in County Derry have joined forces to launch a new hard-hitting campaign to tackle alcohol abuse among young people.

 

Magherafelt District Council and Limavady Borough Council have created the ‘Where is your child tonight?’ initiative in bid to encourage parents to take more responsibility for their children’s whereabouts.

 

Shocking posters of a young girl lying drunk in a street have been placed on buses in both council areas to raise awareness of the campaign which has been launched to coincide with the busy Christmas season.

 

The project, delivered by the Community Safety Partnerships in each area, aims to deliver an awareness raising campaign to local parents, urging them to pay attention to the whereabouts of their children at all times and asks the questions:

  

-         Do you know where they are?

 

-         Do you know who they’re with?

 -         Do you know what they’re doing?   

The initiative, funded by the Community Safety Unit, will also aim to stimulate debate around the key community safety issues of anti-social behaviour, youth offending and drug, substance and alcohol abuse which are problematic in both areas.

 

The campaign is being co-ordinated by Bridget McCaughan, Community Safety Officer with Limavady Borough Council, and her counterpart in Magherafelt, Michael McCrory.

 

Mrs McCaughan said parents had a key role to play in protecting their children.

 

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to highlight the issue of parental awareness around the subjects of drug and alcohol mis-use and anti-social behaviour at this key time of year,” she said.

 

Vintners in Magherafelt and Limavady council areas will be offered beermats and posters to display in their premises.

  

The campaign will run for six weeks at what is a peak seasonal time for anti-social behaviour and alcohol abuse.

  For further information on this initiative contact the Community Safety Partnership in Magherafelt on 79397979 or in Limavady on 77760311.