Preston Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) and the Lancashire Trading Standards team have been jointly awarded an Excellence in Education Award at a national awards ceremony held at the House of Commons.  

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The duo was given its award by Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAP) at its annual awards ceremony held in the House of Commons.  CAP is a national organisation that sets up and supports local partnerships that aim to reduce alcohol harm in children and young people, improve their health and well-being and enhance their communities.

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The CAP was recognised for its dedication and impactful educational programmes that have significantly benefited the community.

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The Lancashire Trading Standards team, a vital component of Preston CAP and 10 other CAPs across Lancashire, has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to educating all members of the community. Its proactive approach and diverse interventions have made a tangible difference in reducing underage drinking and related harms.

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Key achievements that contributed to this award include:

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• Retailer C25 Education and Test Purchasing: The team conducted four C25 training sessions, educating people from local businesses. Their diligent test purchasing efforts resulted in a significantly reduced failure rate of 7% for alcohol sales, a substantial improvement compared to previous years.

• Community and Parent Education: During National Licensing Week, the team partnered with the Police and Preston City Council Licensing to address proxy sales. Their impactful "chalk spray" campaign and social media outreach effectively raised awareness and resulted in positive community feedback.

• Freshers Week and Spiking Education: The team developed an online training course for the night-time economy, focusing on preventing drink/needle spiking and protecting vulnerable individuals. They also created "Keeping Safe on a Night Out Vulnerability Awareness Information" to empower young people to recognise and prevent spiking incidents.

• "Where's the Harm?" Campaign: The team successfully reached every secondary school in Lancashire with their powerful "Where's the Harm?" campaign, providing educational booklets and posters to raise awareness about underage alcohol sales and encourage reporting.

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The "Where's the Harm?" campaign received overwhelmingly positive feedback from schools, with many requesting additional resources for other year groups. The team's proactive approach and ability to address current challenges have made them highly respected partners within the education sector.

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Director of Public Health, Wellbeing and Communities Sakthi Karunanithi commented " We are pleased to see that the work of officers from our Trading Standards, Alcohol and Tobacco Team have been recognised by the awarding of the Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) Excellence in Education Award.  The work Sam and Jason have done in both consumer and business education has been outstanding. Working with CAPs in Lancashire is at the forefront of the work done by the team, educating about the harms caused by the use of substances including vapes, tobacco and alcohol by young people. This important area of prevention can only look to benefit future generations and make Lancashire a safer healthier place."

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"The Lancashire Trading Standards team's consistent and sustainable approach to education and support has made a significant impact on the community," said Kate Winstanley, Director of CAP. "Their innovative programmes and dedication to reaching all members of the community make them a worthy recipient of this award."

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This award adds to the team's impressive track record, which includes previous CAP accolades for Excellence in Education, the Chairman's Award, and Parental Education/Engagement.

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The team plans to continue their impactful work by embedding the Young Health Champions programme into their core activities, enhancing training platforms for businesses and partners, and exploring new opportunities to engage parents.

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For media information, please contact: Samantha Patel, Communications Manager - sam@communityalcoholpartnerships.co.uk

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