NEW RECOGNITION FOR LOCAL ALCOHOL STRATEGIES THAT MEET THE MARK

Alcohol Concern has awarded its first ever 'Kitemark' to the Swindon Community Safety Partnership for the quality of its alcohol strategy.

Alcohol Concern has awarded its first ever 'Kitemark' to the Swindon Community Safety Partnership for the quality of its alcohol strategy. The Local Alcohol Strategies Kitemarking Initiative aims to support local authorities to achieve the highest standards when developing local alcohol strategies by certifying, and celebrating good practice, focusing not just on alcohol-related crime reduction, but also health promotion, interventions, service user involvement and treatment.

In order to gain an Alcohol Concern Kitemark, strategies (either current or draft) will be reviewed according to criteria drawn from the Home Office/Alcohol Concern Local Alcohol Strategies Toolkit which describes good practice in developing, delivering and reviewing local alcohol strategies in line with the revised national alcohol strategy. Safe. Sensible. Social.

Don Shenker, Chief Executive, Alcohol Concern says:
"This new kitemarking process is further demonstration of Alcohol Concern's commitment to helping alcohol leads in their drive for constant improvement at the local level. The new PSA and LAA targets demand ambitious things of the alcohol sector and we expect that those who sign up to a Kitemark review will find it a challenging, but ultimately helpful experience"

Richard Palusinski, Head of Community Safety, Swindon Community Safety
"The Kitemarking of our Alcohol Strategy by Alcohol Concern is a significant event for the Swindon Community Safety Partnership. It provides an important independent review of our strategy and sets it in a national context, validating our plans. We look forward to the successful implementation of the Strategy and to working with Alcohol Concern in the future."
ENDS

For enquiries about the project contact Catherine Johnson at Alcohol Concern on 0207 264 0520 or email: consultancy@alcoholconcern.org.uk

Notes to editors

Alcohol Concern is the national agency working to reduce alcohol related harm in society. We work to reduce the incidence and costs of alcohol-related harm and to increase the range and quality of alcohol services available to problem drinkers and their families.

Authorities will be charged one thousand pounds for the initial Kitemarking and a further one thousand pounds per annual review.

Date: 21 April 2008