Footy project to beat drugs.

Byline: By Adam Jupp

Student coaching aids recovery plans

A football tournament staged to help drug-users end their addiction ended with a fiercely-contested final.

More than 50 users from across Tyneside were given weeks of free coaching by Newcastle University students.

The scheme was rounded off with a seven-a-side contest between all the groups involved.

The project was intended to give the addicts a focus to help them through their treatment programmes and was organised by the Government Office for the North East and the National Treatment Agency in the region.

Alan Brown, director of the communities group at the Government Office for the North East, said: "We're delighted with the success of the programme. It's exceeded our expectations and up to 50 people have taken part in the scheme every week.

"We're confident the project will not only have a direct impact on the lives of the people who've taken part as members of the teams but also on their families and, hopefully, on the communities in which they live."

The eight teams had weeks of coaching before coming together on June 12 for the competition at the university's Coach Lane campus.

The winning team, Phoenix House from South Shields, was presented with the Ian Smith Memorial Cup by Fiona Young, drugs and communities director at the Government Office for the North East.

The other sides that took part were Tyneside Cyrenians, Escape, the North East Council for Addictions and Newcastle Prolific & Priority Offender Scheme.

The tournament was named after Ian Smith, who died in 2004. A former addict himself, he trained as a lecturer and an alcoholic counsellor and established one of the first dedicated cocaine services in the country.

Colin Bradbury, regional manager for the National Treatment Agency, said: "Very significant progress has been made over the past year in increasing the amount of drugs treatment available and reducing the length of time people have to wait to access treatment services.

"However, good quality treatment is only the start of the process. This scheme is an excellent example of the sorts of programmes needed to get people away from drugs altogether and reintegrate them into the community. The response to this project has been fantastic and demonstrates the need for more work to be done on an alternative activities for drugs treatment to be truly effective."

The scheme was backed by former Toon star Aaron Hughes. And the players themselves say it has helped them focus on beating their addictions. Michael Scott, 24, of Cruddas Park, Newcastle, said: "I started taking drugs when I was very young, 12 or 13, and this gives me something to focus on."

Coach Ross Spain, 20, of Jesmond, said: "This has been a real challenge but it's worked well. They're all showing real signs of improvement and all seemed to enjoy it."