News story

28th September 2004

Steve Webb Helps to Launch New South Glos Drugs Charity

Steve Webb speaking at the launch of the Two Bridges Trust

Northavon MP Steve Webb today joined community leaders, representatives of local businesses and politicians to help launch the "Two Bridges Drug & Alcohol Trust" at the BAWA social club at Filton. The Two Bridges Trust has been set up to provide support for people who have drug and alcohol problems, to work with their families and to provide education and information to young people, who are most vulnerable to taking drugs and alcohol.

The launch event was introduced by David Warren who heads the Trust and has been a driving force behind its creation. The meeting then heard from two service users, Suzanne Owen and Del Jackson, about their experiences and about how services for people with drug and alcohol problems had helped them to rebuild their lives. They were then followed by two of the patrons of the Trust, Northavon MP Steve Webb and Conservative leader Michael Howard MP.

Steve Webb paid tribute to the work of the Trust and stressed the importance of preventative work which tries to make sure that problems can be caught early. He also said that the drugs work in South Gloucestershire had become an example for other areas to follow and pledged his ongoing support for the work of the Trust. Michael Howard told the launch meeting of his work as Home Secretary in setting up a national drugs strategy and also paid tribute to the new Trust. After the formalities were completed there was a display by the Red Devils parachute team.

Speaking after the event, Steve Webb said:

"The setting up of the Two Bridges Trust is an important step forward for the people of South Gloucestershire. Support and early intervention can help people with drug or alcohol problems to put their lives back on track, and that is to the benefit of all of us. We have a common interest in tackling the twin problems of drug and alcohol abuse, and organisations such as the Two Bridges Trust are an important part of that strategy".