Local Euro MP visits Hull school

4.00.00pm GMT Wed 26th Nov 2008

Local Liberal Democrat Euro MP Diana Wallis visited Endeavour School in Hull today Wednesday 26th November.

As well as having a tour of the school with the Headmaster, Mr. Straker, Ms. Wallis met 4 students who travelled to Switzerland and Liechtenstein this year to take part in the Euroschools 2008 competition. Endeavour was the sole UK school represented (picked by Dads Against Drugs (DAD) which has strong links with the school).

Eight DADs beneficiaries and two co-ordinators also travelled to Bosnia in March to take in a European-wide street football tournament in the town of Foca in the Republica Srpska. Foca 08 was partly funded by the EU.

Ms. Wallis also met Mr. Rob Broomfield, the founder of Dads Against Drugs, to discuss the work of his initiative in the city.

Ahead of the visit Diana Wallis MEP, a Vice-President of the European Parliament, said:

"I am delighted to be able to visit Endeavour School which has come a very long way in the last three years or so. I am particularly interested in seeing the way they have used innovative techniques to make the improvements they have.

"Dads Against Drugs is a brilliant imitative that grew up from within the community in Hull and now has national recognition, so I am delighted to meet its founder Rob Broomfield tomorrow too."

Note:-

http://www.dadsagainstdrugs.co.uk/default.aspx

The Dads Against Drugs football initiative was launched in June 2001 as a response to tackle the issues of drugs within our local communities. The initiative was founded by local resident Rob Broomfield, following a research conducted by the Kirklands Area Neighbourhood Watch; researchers commissioned to conduct the survey into local people's needs were approached and offered the opportunity to buy drugs, these findings sent shock waves throughout the community. In response a Dads Against Drugs football team was formed to promote drug awareness to our kids and local communities.

DADs has since received considerable media coverage and widespread acclaim for its work. The programme has expanded throughout the City of Hull in a variety of community settings and local Prisons. Football, rugby and other sports, skills for life programmes and drug awareness campaigns including DADs comics and Football Musical Theatre has spread the message about the dangers of drugs. All of these programmes have been maintained by grants and donations.

In 2006, DADs received the Governments Home Office inaugural Tackling Drugs Changing Lives www.drugs.gov.uk Yorkshire & the Humber Region Award for its outstanding work in tackling drugs through sport, skills for life and drug awareness.

(Pic shows Rob Broomfield, the founder of Dads Against Drugs)