A new project aimed at warning young people of the dangers of drug and alcohol addiction is being backed by a west Cumbrian business.

The Romar Innovate Trust is putting £25,000 into The Know Project which is run by the Rising Sun Trust in Workington.

Key suppliers to the Romar nuclear supply chain financed the Innovate Trust which was set-up last September.

It was set-up with the intention of helping people better their prospects within a 12 mile radius of our Ivy Mill base in Hensingham.  The trust will generate between £30K & £35K per year.

The Know Project goes beyond the geographical boundary initially laid down by the Trust, however Romar feel the excellent drugs & alcohol awareness work done by the Ryan Smith Rising Sun Trust is excellent.

They are making young people in the whole Cumbrian area aware of the destruction drugs and alcohol addiction can cause.  There is no glamorous side to drugs which is often depicted in TV.

The Know Project was launched at Whitehaven School which was significant for the managing director of Romar Innovate John Rowlands, as it is just around the corner from the company’s Ivy Mill factory and he was a former pupil, of the then Overend school. 

John hopes that in some way the pupils will see that drugs and alcohol abuse have no place in being successful.

He says: “Dave Smith and his staff do a great job in running the Rising Sun Trust and will help anyone in a drugs or alcohol dependency related situation, running a 24 hour help line.

“The Know Project will hopefully prevent some young people falling into the trap of drugs and let’s hope Dave and his staff have fewer clients in the future.

“The aim of Romar’s Trust was always to help West Cumbria’s future workforce to have a better environment to live and work in, and in doing so help to stabilise the economy in times of uncertainty in our area. 

“We believe that by supporting The Know Project we will be helping to prevent a worrying trend toward drugs and alcohol dependency of our young people. 

“That in its self will contribute to enhancing our beautiful county of Cumbria as an excellent place to live, work and build a future.”

Financial director of the Ryan Smith Rising Sun Trust, Dave Smith said: “This is a marvellous gesture by the Romar Innovative Trust and we are tremendously grateful because it will enable us to go into youth organisations and schools without charging, reaching around 2000 youngsters every year.

“The people we have involved in our project have all been through it in some way – they have walked the walk, not just talked the talk and hopefully this will help the young people today to be aware of what’s going on and show them about the work we do.”

For more information on the Rising Sun Trust you can ring 01900 870034 or the helpline 08000838449.

Immediately above Dave Smith addresses the students at Whitehaven School while at the top of the article at the launch of the project are, left to right: Eddie Kelly - Romar Operations Director; PC Keith Hunton; Victoria Hughes - Police Service; PCSO Sam Adams; John Rowlands. managing director of Romar Inovate; Dave Smith - Founder of The Rising Sun Trust; Paul Lee - Development Manager Rising Sun Trust; Emma Pooley - Schools Co-ordinator Rising Sun Trust; Gary Hellens - from Clear Choice.

Pictures by Mike McKenzie of the Whitehaven News and courtesy of the Rising Sun Trust.

You can also hear more from Dave Smith on our audio section.

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