The Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Awards recognise, reward and celebrate the unsung heroes on the front-line who are working to tackle drugs and change lives every day.
And staff at Littledale Hall Therapeutic Community, a Lancaster-based treatment centre, are doing exactly that.
The non-profit making residential centre was set up just two years ago but has already welcomed scores of people needing help through its doors.
Those behind the Centre constantly go the extra mile to try to transform the lives of substance misusers. Keith Robertson and Kim Wong, who set up the centre, are an inspiration to many and have worked tirelessly over the last two years to get Littledale up and running.
Keith Robertson, Registered Manager of LHTC, said:
"All staff, service users past and present, friends and families connected to Littledale Hall Therapeutic Community consider it an honour to be considered for the prestigious Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Award.
"Littledale Hall Therapeutic Community is built upon the belief that people can fundamentally change if they are provided with the best opportunity to do so. We will continue to strive to support those in need, to live productive, drug free lives."
Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said:
"I know that drug workers and drug teams across the country are working tirelessly everyday to tackle drugs and change lives. In fact, I have met many people and teams who deserve to be nominated for these awards.
"These awards recognise their inspirational examples, which will help us to realise our ambition of fewer people starting to use drugs and for our society to be free from the problems caused by illegal substances."
The closing date for the awards is fast approaching, so potential award winners who have not yet applied are being asked to get their nomination forms in quickly.
Two awards are available, one for an individual and one for a team, each winner will receive £10,000 for their organisation to spend on the prevention or treatment of drug misuse.
Anyone can nominate a drug worker or drug team whether they are a friend, family members, colleague or service user. The closing date for nominations is 30 August 2008.
A panel of expert judges, chaired by the Home Office, will choose ten finalists, one from each of the nine government regions plus Wales. Two overall winners will then be chosen - an individual drug worker and a drug team. The winners will be announced towards the end of 2008 at a ceremony in London.
