Education
Addiction Awareness Talks
Our education team delivers addiction awareness talks to schools and colleges across Leicester. The talks help young people understand how alcohol, vaping, drugs, pornography, social media and smartphones affect them physically, psychologically and spiritually, and how addiction can take hold while minds and bodies are still developing.
- Delivered by experienced members of our education team, drawing on many years of teaching in the local community
- Educational and preventative, never aimed at any individual or group of students
- Interactive, non-judgemental and adapted to the age of the audience
- For a whole year group or a smaller class
Our holistic approach
We believe addiction affects the whole person, and that lasting change means looking after all three sides of a person's wellbeing.
Physical
Health, dependence and withdrawal, fitness and routine.
Psychological
Thoughts, emotions, stress and the habits that keep addiction going.
Spiritual
Purpose, values, faith and belonging, which give people a reason to stay well.
What the talks cover
Physical
Young brains and bodies are still developing, so harm comes faster and dependence sets in more easily. Covers alcohol strength and poisoning, vaping and nicotine, and the risk of spiked vapes.
Psychological
Why young people start: curiosity, peer pressure, stress, social media and low self-esteem. How a habit quietly becomes a dependence, and its links with anxiety and low mood.
Spiritual
Purpose, values, identity and belonging. How addiction wears these down, and how a strong sense of who you are helps protect against it.
Social media and smartphones
A particular focus of our talks. How apps are designed to keep young people scrolling, and how heavy phone use affects sleep, concentration, mood, self-esteem and real-life relationships.
Pornography
How easy access online can turn into a compulsive habit, and its effect on young people's mental health, self-image, relationships and values.
What help looks like
Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness. Students learn the early warning signs in themselves and their friends, and what support involves: a confidential, non-judgemental conversation, a trusted adult in school or college, family support, and specialist services such as Spinney Hill.
Coping strategies
Practical ways to manage stress, cravings and peer pressure: saying no with confidence, setting limits on phone use, sleep, exercise and routine, talking things through, and staying connected to faith, family and positive friendships.
How sessions work
- Talks are interactive and non-judgemental, and the content is adapted to the age and needs of the audience.
- Sessions can be delivered to large groups, such as a year group, or to smaller classes.
- Staff are welcome to sit in. We suggest tutors are told beforehand so they can pick up any questions from students afterwards.
Safeguarding and confidentiality
- Talks are delivered in partnership with the school or college's safeguarding team and follow its safeguarding procedures.
- Any disclosure made by a student is passed to the school or college's Designated Safeguarding Lead.
- Spinney Hill staff also follow our own safeguarding policy, overseen by our Safeguarding Lead, Mushtaq Dakri. No individual student or case is discussed in sessions.
About Spinney Hill
Spinney Hill Addiction Support and Wellbeing Centre is a free, confidential, community-based service in Leicester that helps men and women overcome addiction. It has been running for over 15 years, is part of The Recovery Network (registered charity no. 1206797), and sits on the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Violence Reduction Network.
Our aims are to support recovery through one-to-one support, peer mentoring, referral to rehabilitation and our recovery gym; to support families, including through our Fathers' and Mothers' groups; to prevent harm early through education; and to break down the stigma that stops people seeking help.
Book a talk
Complete our short booking form and a member of our education team will be in touch to arrange a talk at your school or college.
Open the booking formeducation@spinneyhill.org.uk
Leicester LE5 4HJ