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Department of Health

The Department of Health has supported YouthNet since 2001 through a close partnership with investment in TheSite.org's sex and relationships, drink and drugs work, and more recently to develop volunteering in the Health and Social Care Sector.

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Over the last three years YouthNet has developed in-depth joint working on substance misuse. This has helped to consolidate TheSite.org as the authoritative online reference point for all young people to find non-biased drugs information  and develop self-help strategies relating to drugs intake.

The Department of Health has been a staunch supporter of YouthNet's practice and methods, sharing its own knowledge and experience of issues in order to help more young people.

"The Substance Misuse team supports YouthNet because we know we can rely on the charity to dispel myths and talk facts in a way that young people understand," Nick Lawrence, Department of Health.

YouthNet and the Department of Health's drugs team have set up an expert Advisory Group that brings together key people working in drugs information for young people. It is through effective cross-sector working and positive partnerships like this that YouthNet, the wider voluntary sector and government departments can combine wisdom and resources and be able to best meet the needs of young people.

In addition, through the Section 64 scheme, the Department of Health provides valuable support for a three-year project to increase the number of volunteering opportunities with organisations in the health and social care sector.

There is huge demand for volunteering in the health sector, though traditionally this is the preserve of older volunteers who have been touched in some way by health issues within their family or peer group. The aim of the project is two-fold:

  • To increase the diversity of volunteering opportunities on www.do-it.org.uk, the National Volunteering Database, by recruiting 100 health and social care organisations or hospital trusts to provide these opportunities;
  • To encourage more young people to volunteer in this field, to diversify the volunteering base within the sector.

YouthNet is delighted to receive three-year funding until March 2010 for the 'do-it in your local hospital' project.