We’re really chuffed to see our First World War project, We Are Poppy, featured on the Heritage Fund website – alongside other brilliant projects – if you’re looking for something to feed your brain and soul, there are some amazing online events, workshops, videos and podcasts listed, many created by community-focused organisations like Make (Good) Trouble.
We Are Poppy was co-created by teens and was completed during the pandemic – much of it through Zoom workshops and brainstorms. Our team worked incredibly hard and created a thoughtful, innovative and insightful project that opened a window on the lives of women living through the First World War, looking into how women’s experiences affected their mental heath. These are the hidden histories of that war.
Other projects from the list include Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre’s live daily dolphin watch (5am to 11pm) and Alexandra Palace’s free online photography project for young people aged 16-24 (you can sign up now!).
Huge thanks to the Heritage Fund and, if you play the National Lottery, thanks to you too. Your contribution made this project possible.
Some parents wonder when, where and how to start a conversation about cannabis. They ask themselves and others: ‘What age is the right age to start talking about drugs?’ Or, ‘Should I ask the questions, or should I wait until my child ask me something?’ Every child is different, so there is no ‘right age’ to start talking about cannabis. But it makes sense to have your first conversation before your child is likely to try using cannabis. That way you establish a connection and share your expectations before they are exposed to any risk associated with cannabis.
Responding to your child’s cannabis use
Discovering (or suspecting) your child has been using cannabis or any other drug can be scary, especially if you feel that it is not just part of ‘normal’ experimentation. While it can be tough to resist the urge to go wild with worry or anger, the best thing you can do for your child is to respond responsibly. It is important not to let your concerns harm the relationship and the trust you have with your child.
1) Stay Calm
Yelling and making threats will not help the situation. If anything, ‘freaking out’ will give your child another reason to hide things from you. Searching their room or personal belongings may harm the trust between you and your child.
2) Talk to your child
Sit down with them and tell them how you feel. If they are high, wait until the effects have worn off so you can have a more meaningful discussion. Say ‘I’m worried because…or ‘I’m afraid because…’. Then give your child an opportunity to express their own feelings. Make sure they know you are really listening. And allow them time to think things through before speaking.
Learn why your child is using drugs. Find out what led them to try cannabis in the first place. Was it because their friends were using it and they wanted to fit in? Was it for the ‘buzz’ that comes from having an altered state of consciousness? Was it because they wanted a way to escape? Was it to manage symptoms of anxiety or other mental health problems? If so, you might want to consider seeking help from a mental health professional. It may also be helpful to find out how often your child uses cannabis.
Young people use cannabis because they feel it benefits them. The most common reasons a youth uses cannabis are:
To feel good – young people may use cannabis to feel more social, celebrate or relax. Using cannabis to feel good is associated with moderate use. There is still some risk, as there is in life in general.
To feel better – cannabis can help to reduce anxiety in social situations or when trying to connect with others or reduce symptoms of chronic anxiety or depression. If young people use cannabis regularly to deal with troubling feelings, then use may become problematic.
To do better – some young people feel pressure to improve their performance, ‘get going’ or ‘keep going’.
To explore – Young people may use cannabis out of curiosity or to ‘walk on the edge’, trying something new and different.
If your child is engaging in risky activities such as using cannabis at school or selling cannabis, it is important to talk with them about why they are engaging in these activities so that you can assess the level of risk, help them think through the consequences and identify alternatives. For example, if your child is selling cannabis to make money, talk with them about safer ways to earn an income.
Quick tips for safer cannabis use
Avoid smoking cannabis with tobacco.
Avoid deep inhalation or breath-holding.
Use a vaporizer if smoking cannabis, use joints rather than water bongs.
Use a small piece of rolled unbleached cardboard as a filter to prevent burns.
Only use cannabis purchased from a trusted source.
Signs of risky or harmful cannabis use
Using regularly at an early age daily or near daily use.
Using during school or work.
Using as a major form of recreation
Using to cope with negative moods
Experiencing chronic coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing or psychotic symptoms.
Long term effects of cannabis use
Decline in IQ (up to 8 points if prolonged use started in adolescence)
Poor school performance and higher chance of dropping out.
Impaired thinking and ability to learn and perform complex tasks.
Lower life satisfaction
Addiction (about 9% of adults and 17% of people who started smoking as teens become addicted)
Potential development of opiate abuse
Relationship problems, violence, antisocial behaviour including stealing money or lying
Financial difficulties
Increased welfare dependence
Greater chances of being unemployed or not getting good jobs.
This post was written by Carl Scott, Youth Worker Follow Carl on Instagram @carl_scott_official
We talked about weed and drug-taking with experts Toby Chown from Oasis Project, Carl Scott from Reboot Sussex, Luci Hammond from RU-OK? and PC Joe Davies from Sussex Police.
If you’re concerned about a young person getting involved in drugs or county lines, getting advice before talking to them can really help. Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Thank you! Thank you for all your support this year. It’s been a challenge, but we’re motoring on with plans for 2021. This pandemic has brought into sharp focus how much families need support and each other. We hope to build on what we’ve achieved in 2020 with work focused on mental health, excluded pupils and giving young people and families a voice.
We are hugely proud and delighted to have awarded 54 Cities of Learning Digital Badges to the young people that have been actively involved in our projects in 2020. Well done team!
We Are Poppy, our First World War project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, was co-produced by young people across Brighton and East Sussex. It was created entirely remotely due to Covid-19 restrictions and is a fascinating look at how women fared during the Great War, as well as its legacy for women today.
You can listen to WeArePoppy here, as well as theinterviews the team did with historian Professor Lucy Noakes about women’s lives, with therapist and historian Denise Poynter about women and shell shock, and with trauma therapist Darren Abrahams about how trauma affects people today.
Our third series of radio show, Raising Teens, was broadcast on BBC Sussex and Surrey in May/June this year. Co-prodcued by young people and again, entirely remotely, all episodes from the three series are available online. It was supported by Public Health, East and West Sussex Local Authorities.
We would like to thank Sussex Police for their unwavering support and we look forward to strengthening our partnership further in 2021.
Our Facebook Group, Raising Teens in Lockdown is going strong and providing much needed support to parents and carers. We’re hugely grateful to the support from the National Lottery Communities Fund. Our Facebook Live Q&As, posted on our Make (Good) TroubleFacebook page, have covered everything from concerns about drugs, going back to school in a pandemic and how to keep your teen safe. Do give us afollow on Facebook to make sure you catch the next Q&As in the new year.
Quick links to catch up on our Facebook live Q&As:
Concerns about weed and drugs, with Sussex Reboot youth counsellor Carl Scott, PC Joe Davis from Sussex Police, Luci Hammond from RU-OK? and Toby Chown from Oasis Project
Men’s Mental Health, with Carl Scott from Reboot Sussex, Glen Wiseman from. YMCA Downslink Group and Lee Hines from East Sussex College
We collaborated on Extraordinary with Storythings and Brighton Festival. It’s a lovely film featuring teens and Lemn Sissay, celebrating the achievements of Year 11 students of 2020 who had their GCSE’s cancelled and who are extraordinary!
It’s been a busy year! We wish you all a happy, safe Christmas. See you in 2021,
Our latest Q&A is all about weed and drug-taking. We’ve seen a rise in concerns from parents and teens about use of weed, and worries about county lines. We brought together a group of brilliant experts: Carl Scott, a youth worker from Reboot Sussex; Toby Chown from charity Oasis Project which helps families affected by alcohol and drug use; Luci Hammond from RU-OK?; and PC Joe Davies from Sussex Police.
Watch our half hour conversation (below) which covered:
signs to look out for if you think your teen is taking drugs;
how a parent should approach them and talk about concerns;
advice about what effect different drugs have on the body;
when to seek help and where to find it;
parent’s influence
what to do if you’re concerned about drug dealing and county lines;
and what the law says.
If you’re concerned about a young person getting involved in drugs or county lines, getting advice before talking to them can really help. Call Crimestopperson 0800 555 111.
HELP & SUPPORT
Talk to Frank Information for parents worried about their child and demystifying the language around drugs
Oasis Project, helps women, children and families affected by alcohol or drug misuse, and Young Oasis providing a place of safety and support for children and young people
RU-OK? Part of Brighton & Hove Children’s Services, working alongside under 18s whose lives are affected by substance misuse in Brighton & Hove. RU-OK? adolescent service switchboard – 01273 293966 – ask for RU-OK
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