What is T.R.Y

TRY targets vulnerable young people aged 14 to 26 years who are in a chaotic condition of drug and alcohol misuse, mental health issues, and educational and employment deficits dealing drugs in hotspots around urban communities. TRY implements an outreach and bridging model. Workers are peer mentors who make contact with the target group in community settings, on the street, in the flat complexes, building relationships by acting as role models. This model of working is predicated by intensive outreach and informal street-based activities. Bridging young people towards appropriate mainstream support services requires the workers to mediate between the young people and services they need. Over time, workers hand-hold the young people as they cross to a more constructive life-path involving healthy positive relationships, a positive relationship with drugs and alcohol and a positive regard for and by their community. As many of the participants do not identify themselves as drug addicts, it is interesting that the workers can challenge this perception and move participants into treatment. Identifying issues and responses at this stage will reduce future treatment needs. The project team is made up of one full-time Team Leader and two part-time Outreach Workers. TRY aims to move some of its target group into peer mentor roles to continue and expand this work with hard-to-reach and marginalised young people.