Drug education for kids Helping young people avoid

Hi everyone, I'm Dave from the UK.

I have a Drugs education for young people program I would like to get going again. My program will help young people make the right choices when it comes to drugs and crime.

 

I'm an ex-junkie and an ex-con.

 

So I got into drugs at 13 to cope with a physically and mentally abusive mother.

For years drugs allowed me to not feel pain and just about function in the world!

 

I've been to prison 4 times in 2 countries and gave up hard drugs in a jail cell on my own as I couldn't speak Spanish and ask for help.

 

The last time I got out of prison, I started a program going into schools to teach kids about drugs, prison, crime, and its effects on your life.

 

I found that young people have many misconceptions about this part of life, and for most, it's not something they learn about until it's too late.

 

My program made a difference (I won a Pride of Wearside Safer Communities award for it).  I got 1500 testimonials; some teachers even said it was the best thing they had seen in schools.

 

I lacked the financial backing to continue the program. So I had to give up.

 

So since then, I've been like a boat set adrift with no purpose and just doing whatever odd jobs I could get to pay the bills.

 

Covid has not been kind with lockdowns, and my work dried up, and it hasn't been enough to pay the bills, so I have built up a little bit of debt.

 

I posted on a group on Facebook about my situation, and everybody said I should go back to teaching kids about drugs and crime.

 

It was the most rewarding time of my life (not monetary wise, but I felt I was doing good in the world for once), and we have a major problem in the UK with drug gangs using kids.

 

So the money that I am asking for today will go towards paying off my £3578 debt to get me back on track. A one-week driving course and a bridge to sort out my missing front teeth so I can speak without feeling self-conscious when I go back into schools and talk to the kids again.

 

Here are some of the testimonials I received when I did my talks in schools before:

 

Testimonials from teachers:

 

“We thought that David had a really powerful message to give the pupils, and we’ve had him in three or four times now.” Gwen has been at the school for ten years and believes that what David does is the most successful program they have run in her time at the school.

 

"A relevant and engaging topic for pupils. Opportunity for guests to discuss their own school experiences and mistakes, excellent rapport with pupils, especially naughty boys. Great presentation and definitely would like more sessions like this." JJ

 

"Got them thinking and engaged in activities that challenged their beliefs. Really positive experiences for the pupils. An interesting insight into someone’s life, very different from the normal type that they hear about." PC

 

"Real-life experiences of life in prisons were great and how choices really make a difference. Gave an honest account of where he went wrong in life, educating the pupils to consider the consequences of their behaviour." SW

 

A couple of testimonials from kids:

 

"I found the topic interesting because he spoke about life in prison which I found most helpful. I liked all of Dave’s presentation because he really explained the effects of getting a criminal record and how getting into crime can ruin your life." TB

 

"Excellent Presentation about life in Prison. Enjoyed how he explained everything he had done and how now, he helps others by teaching them not to do the things he had done. I liked hearing straight, honest accounts that told us the problems of getting a job when you have a criminal record." MK

 

"Prison will ruin your Life. Explained why we should make good choices and how easy it is to get involved in things that will ruin your life. He was easy to talk to. Good information to know" KC

 

So why should you donate?

 

My program is different from any other program young people will encounter in their life at school!

 

How can I say that?

 

Because I’ve been told it is, I designed it and reworked it that way after seeing the responses of 1500 people.

 

I have designed an even better program, based on all the feedback.

 

It works because it’s real; the program is broken down into three parts.

 

1. Stereotyping exercise

 

The stereotyping exercise is designed to break young people's beliefs about which “crimes” they can go to prison for. It’s powerful and packs a hard dose of reality. It shatters people’s beliefs and gets them thinking.

 

2. Real-life experiences

 

I explain who I am, where I’ve been, and the life choices that lead me there. The students learn the tactics drug dealers use, the psychology behind it and builds their defences against the tricks drug dealers use.

 

3. Q and A

 

Question and answer session where nothing is off-limits. The students can ask me anything, knowing I’ve got nothing to hide and the reasons why they can trust my answers are true.

 

If you fund me today, I will be making a difference in the world in a few months.

 

Stretch goal

 

Any money donated over what I ask for will go towards my goal of buying old prisoner transport vehicles, converting them and taking them into schools to show kids what is in store if they do break the law and end up in prison.