Football, drama, dance and art are being used to urge people in Glasgow to Get Real about Alcohol and Drugs.
GRAND week 2011 will take place from Saturday September 10 to 17 following a launch event in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Thursday September 8.
An array of events will be held across the city to bring together members of the community and raise awareness of the issues surrounding alcohol and drug misuse and the range of services which can help anyone affected by addiction.
On Tuesday September 13, Family Addiction Support Service (FASS) is holding a “Families Together” Conference at the Parish Halls which will bring together 21 family support, kinship and recovery groups in Glasgow to showcase the help and support they provide to their community.
The Bridge in Easterhouse will host drama productions and dance performances as well as art and photographic displays on September 14 between 2.30pm and 5pm.
A family fun day will be held at Springburn Academy on Saturday September 17 from 1pm to 3pm. There will be alcohol and drugs education aimed at children and young people as well as a bouncy castle, arts and crafts, face painting and a 5-a-side football tournament.
In the South, Pollokshaws Burgh Hall will host a variety of information stalls and activities on Monday September 12.
Community coaches from Rangers and Celtic football clubs will also teach primary seven pupils across the city the importance of good health and exercise following drug awareness workshops from Glasgow Council on Alcohol’s Prevention and Education Teams.
Primary four children from across the city will take part in the Positive Choices Calendar Competition and artwork will be on display at the North West GRAND event at Kelvinhall Sports Arena on September 15.
A Hepatitis C Awareness Day will be held in the Albany Conference Centre in Ashley Street on September 14 from 10am to 4pm. There will be presentations, workshops, holistic treatments and access to support from professionals.
Loads more events are also planned. GRAND week is an annual initiative involving partnership between alcohol and drug forums, community and voluntary organisations and salutatory services. The events have been developed by local community groups and supported by the Communities Sub-group, chaired by Glasgow Community and Safety Services, and Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) GRAND funding.
The main partners involved in developing GRANDweek 2011 include: local alcohol and drug forums, Glasgow Community and Safety Services, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Addiction Services; Strathclyde Police; Glasgow City Community Health Partnership (North East, South and North West Sectors); Glasgow Council on Alcohol; FASS; Scottish Drugs Forum; Strathclyde Fire & Rescue; Alcohol Focus Scotland; Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS.
GRANDweek 2011 comes after Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council, and Strathclyde Police Chief Constable, Stephen House, announced a range of tough new measures to combat the city’s alcohol problem.
The zero-tolerance approach includes a dedicated police task force to carry out enforcement operations across the city, plainclothes police officers on public transport, child protection referrals to social work and a new multi-agency intelligence group.
Full details of all the GRAND events are available at http://www.glasgowgrand.org