The idea of having outside assessors look at the ways individual schools address the problem of Drugs abuse is a good one. Those involved in anti-drugs health education can sometimes be too close to the project to be able to assess its merits objectively. It can become too easy to think in theoretical terms. So an outsider's eye is often invaluable.

Since the Bradford Schools Drugs Prevention Initiative (BSDPI) was launched six years ago it has been able to present 17 schools with its Charter Awards for the way they have tackled what has become the greatest danger facing the younger generation.

Now an appeal has gone out for more schools to put themselves forward for the initiative and for more individuals to volunteer to work as assessors. The bulk of the assessors are currently drawn from the Soroptimist International Club of Bradford and the district's five Rotary Clubs.

But if the initiative is to expand, more assessors will inevitably be needed. Sergeant Chris Plowman, BSDPI secretary, says that the initiative values the personal and professional experience of the volunteers, with the most important skill being the ability to question and listen objectively.

Taking part involves only four to six hours every three months spent in actually assessing a school, according to Sgt Plowman. It is tailor-made for anyone prompted to seek some community involvement by the Prime Minister's recently-launched appeal for an "Experience Corps" of volunteers.

What more satisfying way of spending a few spare hours than by working to make sure the health of the younger generation remains at the top of the agenda?

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.