Community effort hopes to combat effects of drink and drugs

Community groups encouraged to come up with ideas combating effects of drink and drugs.
Community groups encouraged to come up with ideas combating effects of drink and drugs.

A MORAY INITIATIVE seeking to tackle the effects of drugs and alcohol on local communities is looking to recruit candidates for a key stakeholder group.

‘Our Communities’ is a new participatory budgeting scheme initiative aimed at engaging community groups in developing innovative projects that have the potential to improve the lives of those affected directly or indirectly by alcohol and drug misuse.

tsiMORAY, the third sector interface for Moray, intends to deliver the initiative as part of the Moray Alcohol and Drugs Partnership – and are particularly interested in hearing from individuals who are currently working with people affected by issues relating to drugs and alcohol.

They also wish to hear from anyone who would like to get involved with creating and developing community-led innovations that could prevent or reduce the harmful impact of substance misuse.

Through this project over the next three months from July to September the stakeholder group will provide support to community groups to develop proposals and apply for small grants of up to £1500 from a total funding pot of £20,000.

Elidh Myrvang Brown, Community Development Officer Drugs and Alcohol, tsiMORAY said: “This is an excellent opportunity for somebody playing a leading role in a community group or other third sector organisation to join the project as a key stakeholder and be a part of real change.

“The Our Communities Initiative is dedicated to preventing or reducing the harmful impacts that can stem from misuse of drugs and alcohol and Participatory Budgeting is a great way for local people to have a direct say in how and where these funds will be used to address local needs.”

For further information on the scheme Elidh can be contacted by email.