Care for the Family is tackling concerns over drugs and alcohol misuse by training presenters for its community based drugs education programme How to Drug proof Your Kids, which has been specially designed for parents and other carers.

This is the first time this training has been available in Rhondda Cynon Taffand. With local funding to co-ordinate this innovative programme in the area, participants can train to deliver DPYK at a fraction of the usual cost., whether they are parents, drugs workers, parent support workers or community volunteers.

Exposure to drugs and alcohol is one of the major worries faced by parents today and the term 'drugs' can be a word that gives rise to fear, confusion and denial, Care for the Family said.

How to Drug Proof Your Kids has been developed in association with drugs education charity Hope UK and aims to give parents the information they need to encourage their children to have a responsible attitude towards drugs and alcohol and make healthy lifestyle choices.

Paula Pridham, Training Manager for Care for the Family, is enthusiastic about taking How to Drug Proof Your Kids to Rhondda Cynon Taff. "The response we have had to this training course has been excellent. We are delighted to be able to extend the programme to Rhondda Cynon Taff.

"We are seeing, right across the UK, that as people take the programme out into their communities, they are beginning to make a huge difference in the lives of many parents. This is an excellent opportunity for more people to train as presenters and help parents learn How to Drug Proof Your Kids in RCT!"

The two day course accredits presenters to run their own courses in local communities where they can play a crucial role in addressing one of the top concerns of parents today.

Presenters will enable parents to learn about the extent of the drugs problem, why kids take drugs, how they can educate their children to make good choices, existing prevention tools for parents, how to intervene and where they can get help.

People who want to train as accredited presenters will have an opportunity at a two day training course to be held at University of Glamorgan Conference Centre, Treforest, Pontypridd on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 May.

For more information about How to Drug Proof Your Kids training courses, visit www.dpyk.org.uk or contact Care for the Family, Garth House, Leon Avenue, Cardiff, CF15 7RG or telephone (029) 2081 0800. Alternatively book online at www.careforthefamily.org.uk