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It’s the start of a new term, and we’re continuing our mission with fresh momentum. Our commitment remains the same: to equip young people with the knowledge, confidence and practical skills they need to make informed choices about drugs and to stay safe.
In this update, we’re sharing what’s ahead over the coming months and highlighting the impact created by ensuring young people across the UK can access vital drug education. |
What’s new for our work in schools?
The spring term is always really busy, and this year was no exception, with the team delivering nearly 100 student workshops in 69 settings, reaching over 11,000 young people. We have some funding available, and always say when we identify a school, college or other setting that may be eligible, so don’t delay in contacting bookings@dsmfoundation.org.uk or scotland@dsmfoundation.org.uk if you want us to visit.
We also put on 40 sessions for more than 1,000 adults in the lives of young people, with many of the workshops for parents and caregivers taking place under a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund. We still have some of this funding left, so do get in touch using the most appropriate email given above if you’d like to schedule one. These are also the best contacts for enquiries about training sessions on drugs for school staff or any other professionals working with young people. |
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Last term was a stormer for ‘I Love You, Mum – I Promise I Won’t Die’ with – at one point – three play tours running at the same time! This meant that around 16,000 students saw a performance of the play that tells Dan’s story in the words of his family and friends, plus the specially designed accompanying discussion and discovery session delivered by the cast. We are now planning tours for the 2026-27 academic year in Scotland, London and Northern Ireland (with some further performances elsewhere in England) so if you’d like to register your interest, please drop a line to play@dsmfoundation.org.uk. |
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If you can’t wait for the next tour, or a live performance doesn’t feel like the right fit for your setting, don’t forget about the filmed version of the play. This is now available in various iterations: An hour-long performance featuring a cast from across England, with accompanying “discussion and discovery” resources for teachers to deliver in around 30 minutes. As above, but with subtitles. As above, but with a Scottish cast. As above, but with a Scottish cast and subtitles. As above, but split into three sections for delivery in 3x30-minute sessions, eg, form time.
More versions are currently in development to widen access and relatability as much as possible, so get in touch with bookings@dsmfoundation.org.uk if this is of interest.
More information about all our provision can be found in our delivery booklet here. |
What’s new for us?
We are excited to be one of only two projects nationally to be awarded the third and final round of government funding via the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Innovation Fund. This research will see Middlesex University working out how we can ensure our drug education is most effective for more vulnerable young people, who are not only at increased risk of drug use and drug-related harm, but also more likely to miss out on drug education, and as such students aged 13-15 in Pupil Referral Units in London, and mainstream schools in more deprived areas in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, will receive our multi-component drug education programme. |
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We know that a lot of staff in schools and colleges appreciate the free of charge sessions put on by the Drug Education Forum (which DSM Foundation founder Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE chairs), so do keep an eye on the Eventbrite here. The next speaker event may be of particular interest, as it features Dr Will Lawn from King’s College London, who is an expert in adolescent cannabis use, and Agnes Wootton from We Are With You, who will be talking about diversion programmes for young people found in possession of Class B or C drugs. |
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What’s new on our site?
Ketamine is a prominent subject matter, and we will shortly launch a bespoke resource on the topic. This resource will include a staff training video and materials that can be used for students either as an assembly or during tutor time that is given over to PSHE/PSE. It will soon be available free of charge here. Professor Rachel Isba, consultant in Paediatric Public Health Medicine at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, has contributed to this and recorded some content for the Ask The Expert area of our website, which can be found here. |
Help us help young people...
We have three places available for the London Vitality 10K race on Sunday 27 th September 2026. If you or someone you know would be interested in taking on this flat, fast and fun course, you can find out all the details on how to register here. |
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… and the help that has already helped! A huge thank you to Greenshaw High School, who raised £703 through their Christmas showcase at the end of last year for the DSM Foundation. We are grateful to Wren Academy, who hosted a performance of 'I Love You, Mum – I Promise I Won’t Die' in February as part of this year’s London tour and went the extra mile by inviting parents to donate. Well done and thank you to Stanchester Academy, who put on their own school production of ‘I Love You, Mum – I Promise I Won’t Die’ over three nights in March, raising £135 for the Foundation.
We would be thrilled if more schools were to engage in school fundraising to support the work of the Foundation. Our School Fundraising Pack is full of fun, student-led ideas for every season, perfect for form groups, student councils, and charity committees. Our drug education work is only partly funded by contributions, so every pound raised helps us reach more young people with vital, lifesaving education. Your school’s support helps close the gap and keep students across the UK safer. Ready to get involved? Drop a line to grace@dsmfoundation.org.uk |
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Finally, we are BUSY, so keep track of all our activities, including launches of new resources, by following our socials. Find us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn! |
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