Think Differently
A unique and proactive alcohol and substance education programme for young people aged 11-18
This programme is designed to help young people in schools throughout Kent and Medway to Think Differently about alcohol and substance misuse.
The aim is for young people to gain a better understanding of the effect substance misuse has on physical and mental health, emotional wellbeing, relationships and future achievements. Think Differently uses real-life stories and experiences from individuals previously affected by alcohol or drugs, whether this is due to them losing a family member to them, or having a previous addiction. Their stories focus on thoughts, feelings, behaviours, underlying issues and how the choices they make can have an effect in their life, family and community around them and can make some young people more susceptible to substance misuse.
“I would like to pass on my thanks to both Andy and Kim for their honesty, bravery and dedication to making a difference for our youth. Our youngest (Sophie 13) came home eager to share everything about the assembly. It prompted an amazing discussion, where our eldest (Charlotte 16) remembered her experience of their assembly in a previous year. We cried for Kim’s loss and had a very open discussion about our own experiences growing up, and how easily people we knew could have gone down the same path as Andy (and some did). What they are doing is amazing and they are not only going to change lives, they are going to save them.
Many thanks for facilitating this for our children.” A Parent - Kent Catholic Schools’ Partnership - 25th January 2024
It helps young people to see these issues of crime and addiction and how it affects people, such as the breakdown of relationships with families and friendships, gangs and peer pressure, crime and prison, and emotions such as fear, anger, hopelessness, despair and selfishness. However, throughout the stories, there are examples of hope, friendship, determination, understanding and change. These positive messages help young people to understand that it is never too late to make a positive change in your life.
Cost
Half Day (up to 3hrs) £300
Full Day (up to 6hr) £425
These costs include bespoke alcohol and drug education from our highly skilled and experienced Kenward in the Community Team, all resources, handouts and travel costs.
Think Differently can be tailored to meet the individual needs of your school and/or particular year groups. It can be delivered to the whole group via an assembly, to specific year groups, to a small group of targeted individuals who may be at risk of alcohol and substance misuse.
Our Speakers
Andy Watson
Andy was a resident at Kenward Trust in 2003 and he has since gone on to do some amazing work with young people and adults. His approach and experiences means that he can relate to young people who are starting to abuse alcohol and drugs, and causing Anti-Social Behaviour. Andy delivers outreach youth work and other educational and intervention work for the Kenward in the Community team.
Kim Webster
Kim Webster lost her son four years ago, after he took the painkiller Tramadol. In a bid to warn others of the dangers, and paint a picture of how difficult her life has been since his death, Kim is on a mission to help educate, inform and ultimately save young lives. Since the tragedy, Kim has voluntarily spoken to over 17,000 teenagers about what actually happens when someone you love dies and the decisions a parent has to make as a consequence.
Together with Andy Watson, they are making a huge impact in schools using real life stories and experiences from individuals to help young people understand the outcomes of making certain decisions.
Our Film and Learning Resource
We have produced a film and learning resource for FREE for schools across Kent, through funding from Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust, Gibbs Laidler, the Henry Oldfield Trust and Kent Community Foundation.
This film follows the stories of the families of two young boys who unfortunately died after taking drugs in Kent. The families have been working with Think Differently and Kenward Trust to help raise awareness and educate young people across the county about the risks associated with alcohol and drugs. The aim of the video and resource is to allow young people to be equipped with the facts and education to be able to make an informed choice when encountering substances.
The film will be accompanied by three lesson plans, Power Point presentations, handouts, and activities designed to start conversations about substances and help young people understand the risks.
To find out more about the film or to download the learning resource, please email us or complete the contact form below.
Cascade Training
Our latest service is our Cascade Training, which aims to give young people the vital knowledge they need in order to understand the effects substances have on both physical and mental health, alongside emotional wellbeing, relationships, and future achievements.
We use real-life stories from volunteers and sessional workers with previous drug and alcohol addictions, plus ex-prisoners, to engage with young people and raise awareness of the issues and potential consequences of alcohol misuse.
Our Cascade Project will train pupils from sixth form to become peer mentors to provide guidance to pupils from Years 7 and 8 whilst acting as a positive role model to younger pupils.
What To Do Next
For more information on any of these services, please email us, call 01622 814187 or complete the contact form below.
Further Information
You can find more information and support regarding the issues mentioned above here.
Feedback
“The Think Differently assembly that has been delivered to our young people this week, will be the main tool in helping them with the education around making better choices and the path that wrong choices can make.
For some of our most disengaged and vulnerable students we are the last educational setting that have given them a chance. Andy's delivery and ability to read our young people is a genuine gift and a credit to the Kenward Trust.
Andy is a wonderful man and a real inspiration to the students to always strive for what you want. We are extremely excited to have Andy back this year”. A West Heath School in Sevenoaks visit funded by Sevenoaks Lions
“Having worked with Kenward for many years, I feel their approach both in group, assemblies and 1-1 is fantastic. I have worked in the main with a gentleman called Andy, who I cannot champion highly enough, he speaks with the young people in a calm , respectful way, he is extremely talented in reading people/rooms and has some incredible outcomes with the hardest to reach young people.
Sadly as we know our children are under many pressures and do not always look to positive strategies to fulfil their needs and therefore the services and knowledge of Kenward Trust is a welcome insight.”
-Senior Early Help Worker, December 2023
“No other workshop has been able to live up to the quality and realness of the Cascade Team… The students vulnerabilities and level of understanding puts them at risk everyday, however they have learnt so many strategies from the workshops about how to make better choices…”
-a Teacher at West Heath School, Sevenoaks, May 2022
“Andy manages to engage our students for an hour's session and during the whole session they sit quietly and listen to what he has to say. Our students normally struggle to concentrate for even short periods, they also talk about the session afterwards and reflect on Andy's story. I don't think they would do this unless they had really taken in what he says”
-a Teacher at Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision Centre, 2022
“The students absolutely loved the Cascade Workshops and got so much out of them. They are still talking about it and have written passionately about it on their Personal Statements. In fact, one of them has changed their career path and undergraduate plans as she now wants to work with young people with addiction problems”
-a Teacher at The Skinners Kent Academy, Tunbridge Wells, 2022
“I felt it was about time I let you know what an amazing support Andy has been for our school and young people… Andy has been able to engage some of our harder to reach students in some difficult conversations and they have come away wanting to meet Andy again… The service that the Kenward Trust provide to our young people is priceless”
- a Teacher at Aylesford School, 2022