Visit mobile bus for free drug and alcohol misuse advice

A new mobile alcohol and drug outreach service will be rolled out for the first time in the Royal Borough next week.

The specially kitted bus will be stationed at the New Windsor Community Centre car park in Hanover Way from Monday to Sunday, November 25, from 1.30-4.30pm.

The Royal Borough's drug and alcohol action team (DAAT), in partnership with council treatment provider SMART, has launched it so they can reach more people in need of advice and support.

SMART service manager Jenny Bryan said it will allow them to reach people rather than waiting for them to come in, and will be particularly effective for rural communities.

The bus will provide free and confidential advice and support from professional workers to anyone concerned about their substance misuse.

Advice and support will include brief interventions, referrals and signposting to groups, referral and access to an alcohol detox nurse and advice for concerned family members.

It has been launched to tie in with Alcohol Awareness Week, which is taking place across the UK next week with the theme 'It’s time to talk about drinking'.

Other events taking place across the borough in support of the week include:

• Visits by the young people’s substance misuse worker to Windsor Girls’ School on Monday and Furze Platt School in Maidenhead on Friday, November 23.

• Peer education sessions at Desborough School and Newlands Girls’ School.

• Information stands in the foyer at Maidenhead Town Hall and at the Magnet Leisure Centre in Holmanleaze.

Call SMART on 01628 683260 to talk about any concerns.