Essex Young People's Substance Misuse Forum
Essex Young People's Substance Misuse Forum (EYPSMF) is a group
of children and young people that helps Essex Young People's Drug
and Alcohol Service (EYPDAS).
Many young people who use our services want to help us make an
even bigger impact and the forum is made up of young people who use
any part of the Essex Young People's Drug and Service.
"As a forum we learn and interact. We've shared our opinion
on things, including giving and sharing our opinions with Essex
DAAT and Trading Standards. We've started to develop ideas for drop
cards that we want for all young people that come into contact with
EYPDAS"
"We are all there (at EYPSMF) for the same thing. There's
adults and young people you can talk to and I've got respect and
friendship from being a part of EYPSMF. I feel proud to come
here. It helps myself and helps others. I'm not embarrassed to say
I'm coming to EYPDAS, when my mates are going down the pub. It
helps keep me out of trouble. I'd like it to grow."
"EYPSMF helped me to bridge the gap from speaking to an
EYPDAS worker every week, to being independent, as I still get to
keep in touch with the service."
"I am grateful for what the service has done
for me and I would like to see it continue to impact positively on
young peoples lives. When I am at the project I feel comfortable
and enjoy being there very much. I like the way EYPDAS involves
young people in the project and I thoroughly enjoy helping them
like they have helped me. "
"Everyone at EYPDAS listens to young people
s opinions and act upon them, for example I have participated in
The Children's Society website, given my opinion on different
posters and how the project looks as well as short listing and
interviewing potential employees and the team have all taken my
opinion in to account and made appropriate choices considering
others views."
"I am not on the youth forum but know some
of the work they have done decorating the interior of the project
and making it relaxed, modern and welcoming. This has been possible
because as I previously mentioned young peoples' views are taken in
to account."
Staff profiles