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Student Hubs and the Portman Group invite you take part in our 2nd annual student ‘Take it to the Top’ social policy competition. Since October 2012, Student Hubs and the Portman Group have been working together to engage students across the UK in alcohol policy discussions, as we believe that students are in a unique position to inform public opinion and policy regarding the responsible consumption of alcohol amongst young people. With the Portman Group’s sector experience and Student Hubs’ growing UK network (with a student membership of over 22,000 students) we have been working to engage and empower students to develop innovative solutions to alcohol social and health-related harms. If you’re passionate about the role students can play in social policy, and would like the chance to develop a policy idea which could become a pilot programme, we want to hear from you. The competition Background: We are seeing some positive changes in alcohol consumption amongst young people, in particular with reductions in binge drinking among 16 to 24 year olds – falling 37% for women and 31% for men between 2005 and 20121. Nevertheless the health2 and social impacts (such as anti-social and risky behaviours) of alcohol misuse amongst students remains a concern for policy makers. QUESTION Considering one of the following, develop a policy proposal which would help reduce alcohol related harms and promote a culture of responsible alcohol consumption amongst students: 1. How the media can be used to debunk the glamorisation of alcohol amongst young people. 2. The interrelation between universities (off-campus or on-campus) and local town centres and business and how they could work together to promote responsible drinking behaviours amongst students. You might want to consider linking this with existing local industry-led schemes (http://www.portmangroup.org.uk/docs/default-source/recruitment-jds/localalcohol-partnerships-.pdf?sfvrsn=0). 3. The impact of student population drinking on local NHS services, including A&E and GPs, and how this could be reduced.
ONS (2013) Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, Drinking Habits Amongst Adults, 2012. Available at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/ghs/opinions-‐‑and-‐‑lifestyle-‐‑survey/drinking-‐‑habits-‐‑amongst-‐‑adults-‐‑-‐‑ 2012/index.html 2 The recommended daily drinking guidelines is 2-‐‑3 units for women and 3-‐‑4 units for men. 1
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4. The role of social norms in alcohol consumption among young people. 5. Freshers’ week and promoting responsible alcohol consumption. Your proposal should follow the format below: • The entry should be no more than 3 pages long (this does not include references and can be supported by up to 2 pages of appendices). • There should be a one line headline sentence setting out the policy solution. • There should be a summary on the front page, of no more than half a page. • There should be a background section setting out the problem, and context supported by evidence. • Your proposal should include: o A clear definition of your policy. o How the policy would work. o Who would be involved. How will your entry be judged? We appreciate that, for most, this will be your first experience of writing a social policy proposal. The thing we are most interested in is your ideas – ideas for local partnerships, student-led initiatives and university policies that support the priorities to tackle public health and socio-economic issues surrounding alcohol social responsibility. Shortlisted candidates will be selected by Student Hubs and submitted to the Portman Group. The PG will convene a judging panel which will decide the final winner. Entries will be considered on the following components and the degree to which proposals: • • • • • •
Put universities and students in a leadership role to reduce alcohol misuse in their town/on campus. Will change the longer-term culture of drinking to reduce harms from alcohol misuse amongst students. Are compatible with, and can be delivered voluntarily through a local partnership framework Use evidence to support their recommendations. Can be replicated in other university towns. Can attract a sustainable source of funding.
Please send your proposal to zoe.conn@studenthubs.org by 9am Monday 28th April The winning candidate will be notified in the week commencing Monday 26th May. The prize for the winning candidate will include: • The chance to present your proposal at a policy roundtable dinner. The dinner will be attended by a carefully selected group of experts who have the insight, knowledge and unique perspectives to help you explore and develop your idea. Student Hubs is a registered charity in England and Wales, number 1122328.
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Support from the Portman Group, the social responsibility body for the alcohol industry, to develop your proposal from an idea to an on-the-ground pilot programme. A Parliamentary visit with the Portman Group to experience the process of UK policy-making first-hand.
We have put together a very useful list of resources to help you with your proposal. Please have a careful read of some of these resources which provide some background context to alcohol consumption and alcohol related harms in the UK; an overview of existing local industry-led schemes which have been set up to help tackle alcohol misuse; and policy tools to help you formulate your ideas. Policy Framework Follow these links to find some great policy tools and begin to formulate your ideas to government standard. MINDSPACE (http://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/MINDSPACE.p df) - exploring how behavioural change theory can help meet current policy challenges. Nuffield Ladder of Interventions (http://www.nuffieldbioethics.org/public-health/publichealth-policy-process-and-practice) - illustrating the range of measures needed to change behaviour in a way that will make a real difference to societies biggest problems. Impact Assessment (http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/better-regulation/docs/i/111111-impact-assessment-guidance.pdf) - a governmental guide to thinking your proposal through. The Wilberforce Society, Cambridge (http://old.studenthubs.org/xwiki/bin/download/Social+Action/Take+It+To+The+Top+Res ources/StudentsandAlcohol-1copy.pdf) - members of the UK's first and largest student think tank have written 6 proposals to get your social policy brain into gear. For good background information on alcohol consumption and alcohol related harms visit: • •
Department of Health https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health Drinkaware http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/?gclid=CIqj3rGv1bwCFWoOwwodSiEA3Q
To find out about some existing responsible alcohol initiatives visit:
Student Hubs is a registered charity in England and Wales, number 1122328.
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Local Alcohol Partnerships How the alcohol industry can support community action in promoting responsible drinking http://www.portmangroup.org.uk/docs/default-source/recruitment-jds/localalcohol-partnerships-.pdf?sfvrsn=0 The Baroness Newlove Alcohol Fund - offering an insight into existing local community initiatives tackling the damaging impacts of alcohol misuse. http://www.helennewlove.co.uk/alcohol-fund/
Student Hubs is a registered charity in England and Wales, number 1122328.
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