Silx Teen Bar

Charity Details

Full Name: People and Drugs Limited, operating as Silx Teen Bar
Field: Community Service
Founded: 1996
Headquarters: Blyth, NE24 1BG
Charity No: 1118360

History and Activities

The coastal town of Blyth in Northumberland has had an unfortunate association with substance misuse among young people. In 1995, the BBC’s Panorama programme reported on the escalating number of heroin and methadone-related deaths in Blyth. This attracted the attention of the then Newcastle United Manager, Kevin Keegan, who organised a series of charity football matches between Newcastle United, Blyth Spartans and Gateshead FC to raise funds to help combat the problem. The £250,000 raised was used to fund the establishment of Silx Teen Bar in 1996. This proved a big success.

Silx Teen Bar is a youth project that tackles the problem of substance abuse by discouraging the taking of drugs and by helping those who are taking drugs to overcome their addiction. The charity employs a small group of qualified youth workers who have the support of volunteers. Three services are offered. First, there are Teen Bar sessions at which advice, information, encouragement and support are offered in a congenial environment. The Teen Bar is open in the evenings 17.00 to 20.00, four days a week, for young people aged 11 to 19. There were 6,369 attendances in 2016/17. Secondly, there is an employability project that promotes active lifestyles and helps young people get involved in the local community, at which there were 2,270 attendances in 2016/17. Thirdly, there is engagement with young people on the street in response to evident problems. There were 2,708 such street contacts in 2016/17.

The Silx Teen Bar project has helped in turning around the lives of large numbers of vulnerable young people during the last twenty plus years, helping them into employment (61 in 2016/17) and averting personal disaster. It is difficult and at times frustrating work, but work that gets results. The team has been recognised with numerous awards, including a PoSBO (Positive Social Behaviour Order) Award for “work in promoting a positive image of young people”, a High Sheriff’s Award for “activities and contribution in enhancing the life of the community” and a Northumberland Local Heroes Award. Funding for the Silx Teen Bar project comes predominantly from philanthropic sources. Funders include the Sir James Knott Trust, the William Leech Charity, the Greggs Foundation, the Ridley Family Charity and the Barbour Foundation.

Vital Statistics (year to 31/03/2017)

Website
http://www.silxteen.com/

References