School Health and Social Education Programmes have never been more important in todays society. Communities benefit from education. We provide education programmes to educate children in Primary years 5-6, Ages 9-11, and Secondary schools to 6th form and College.
‘Meet the Stinkers’ is our fun interactive panto-esque show, which through laughter addresses the very serious topic of nicotine addiction and cannabis. It has pre and post questionnaires and an After-Show Q&A. For a target audience of Primary School year 5-6 children Age 9-11. The kids love the funny actors, interactive experiments and enjoy the magic of the puppets. This high result-achieving show previously serviced many schools, nationally under its pre Covid home of POP (Sadly no more), to many local authorities. We are so proud to be delivering this proven schools health education programme back into schools.
First piloted with West Berkshire Council, who were so impressed with the results, the show continued with their support and statistical monitoring, to be shown in many targeted schools in their area. Quickly joined by Oxfordshire County Council, Kent County Council, Bracknell Forrest Council, Reading Borough Council, Mansfield Council via Solutions4Health Ltd, Wokingham Borough Council, it was becoming very popular but… covid had other plans. Theatre in Schools being the hardest hit and the last to return.
This show as an addition showed itself as very affective for flagging safe guarding issues.
ASHTAG
An Education Programme for Older More Inquisitive Minds.
Classroom discussions on Smoking Cigarettes, Vaping and Cannabis.
Age 11-18
Our Upper / Secondary Schools and college presentation programme, as you would expect, is a completely different dynamic. Our Interactive classroom presentations open the floor to fun open debated Q&A sessions, with no holds barred questions and challenges. Here we discuss vaping and cannabis in a lot more detail, as students tend have more questions regarding these.
HASHTAG
This education programme covers drug and alcohol abuse among the youth. Partnering with specialised organisations, we deliver presentations to fit the needs of the community and the issues they present in its schools. We work closely with our partners to deliver these. Issues around cannabis, nitrous oxide and alcohol are discussed in detail here. However, arrangements can be made for other drugs if requested.
SLASHTAG
We are proud to work with various knife crime specialist charities surrounding this brutal topic and working closely with them we deliver age-appropriate presentations or performances to educate on subjects most students don’t think about. Helping students not act in ignorance, but make informed decision through education. Short acted out scenarios, followed by a Q&A, hot-spotting the characters after delivering the liaised script. Or an arranged Q&A’s with people affected by knife crime and organised crime. A Point of view presentations with guest speaker surviver victims and of ex gang members, telling harsh reality and Sad truths. Themed music and... Sometimes with Rap and Singing performers. Anything to connect and Fight Back!
BASHTAG
This is about gang culture, working with specialist organisations, sometimes law enforcement officers and ex- gang members, through open discussion, we look at areas like:
How it targets and grooms, the punish and reward culture, designed to get results through fear of not belonging. County line wars and expectations
How to deal with it and keep yourself and family members safe.
What help is available out there with contact details should a student need it.
(All provided on a blanket system, everyone gets a pack, and nobody needs to be singled out by asking).
We don’t pretend to have all the answers. That’s why we partner with, and collaborate with, specialist organisations/charities to provide and deliver projects, ensuring we always deliver with specialist expertise for accuracy and have all programmes presented and signed off by necessary authorities, ensuring it hits the brief before its placed in any school due to the sensitivity of some of the subjects.
We always ensure age-appropriate programmes for our targeted demographic. Areas tend to be assessed as being in need by local authorities and law enforcement agencies. We welcome monitoring as we love our statistics which enable us to grow.
Evidence suggests, there is a strong correlation between offences caused by children, teenagers and young adults and ADHD, within unsupported environments.
ADHD can create poorer education or exclusion from school, both of these are factors that contribute unemployment and anti- social behaviour.
Around 25% of UK prisoners are estimated to have ADHD [mk-law.co.uk], [olliers.com] In some studies 45% of youth offenders show ADHD traits [cepip.org] 5–10x higher rates than the general population [rcpsych.ac.uk]
Most people in the justice system with ADHD also have other conditions such as substance misuse, conduct disorder / behavioural issues and have had trauma or/and school exclusion. In fact, up to 96% of prisoners with ADHD have another mental health condition.
What’s important to remember is people with ADHD don’t have a criminal gene. [rcpsych.ac.uk] Most people with ADHD never commit crime and we are in no way implying that they do.
It’s mainly about risk factors, not intent. Core ADHD traits linked to risk are Impulsivity (acting without thinking), Poor emotional control (aggression, conflict), Low attention / planning (poor decision-making) and Risk-taking behaviour. [blog.govnet.co.uk]
ADHD young people start offending earlier and reoffend more often [cepip.org]
Persistent ADHD (into adulthood) is linked to poor education outcomes, unemployment and antisocial behaviour [pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
We are passionate about doing what we can here, we believe it’s a factor that needs addressing to help Communities Fightback. Proper support can reduce criminal behaviour significantly. We can’t diagnose, but we can certainly increase awareness around this issue. Estimates suggest treatment could reduce offending by 32% in men and 41% in women [mk-law.co.uk]
That’s why police, NHS, and MoJ are pushing early diagnosis. ADHD + environment + lack of support = higher risk
We believe in working and partnering with ADHD charities to provide support, by actively bringing support, help and information to our events, makes a difference to people with ADHD traits and their families and… the community.
We believe guidance and education through partnerships is key.
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This isn’t a minority problem
Around 1 in 5 young people (11–17) have tried vaping [ash.org.uk]
Nearly 1 in 10 secondary school pupils currently vape [england.nhs.uk]
Over a third (37%) have tried alcohol [england.nhs.uk]
13% have tried drugs, with cannabis the most common [england.nhs.uk]
Reality: This isn’t rare behaviour — it’s become normal in many schools.
Vaping: The risk hiding in plain sight
Nicotine is highly addictive and harms the developing brain [healthiert...her.nhs.uk]
Young people who vape are more likely to go on to smoke [independent.co.uk]
Exposure is massive — 72% of young people see vape promotion [ash.org.uk]
Sad truth: This isn’t just experimenting — it’s early addiction.
Smoking: Lower, but rising again
Around 11% of pupils have tried smoking [england.nhs.uk]
Rates among 11–17s have started increasing again after years of decline [bmj.com]
Sad truth: We’re going backwards.
Alcohol: The most normalised drug
Early drinking is linked to:
Poor school performance
Risky behaviour
Long‑term addiction risk [digital.nhs.uk]
Sad truth: It’s accepted — but causes the widest harm.
Cannabis, Drugs & Nitrous Oxide: The “not that bad” myth
Cannabis is the most common drug used by young people [england.nhs.uk]
87% of young people in treatment are there because of cannabis [gov.uk]
Nitrous Oxide (NOS): Looks harmless, isn’t
Cheap, easy to access, and widely used in social settings
Sad truth: If it looks safe, young people trust it.
What NOS actually does
Reduces oxygen to the brain → blackouts, possible brain injury
Damages nerves → numbness, loss of coordination
Causes sudden collapse → accidents and injuries
Linked with confusion and mental health issues
These are known risks — not rare incidents.
The Hidden Damage
The brain is still developing until the mid‑20s
Substance use in this stage can lead to:
Addiction before adulthood
Mental health problems
Poor focus and behaviour
Increased risk of exploitation and crime
49% of young people in treatment also need mental health support [gov.uk]
Sad truth: Substance use is often a symptom, not the root cause.
The Pattern Nobody Talks About
Linked with:
Violence exposure
Exploitation
Mental health struggles [safelives.org.uk]
Sad truth: It rarely stays as “just one thing”.
Bottom Line
Young people in the UK aren’t just experimenting —they’re being exposed, influenced, and normalised into substance use early.
Vaping is hooking a new generation on nicotine
Alcohol remains widespread and underestimated
Cannabis is common but downplayed
Nitrous oxide is misunderstood and rising
Mental health sits underneath it all
The real issue isn’t just the substances — it’s what’s driving young people towards them.
Our Solution:
To address these issues head on, working with our own Schools Programmes ASHTAG & 'Meet the Stinkers' and other specialist charity partners in schools targeting children aged 9-18. Creative education to connect and help children in unsupported areas reconnect positively within their community, think differently and break the negative social cycle.