A CHARITY which helps Blackburn's most deprived communities has appointed its first drugs and alcohol ambassador.

One Voice has announced that 19-year-old Adam Umarji will be the first person to take up the role.

The post is part of the Baiter Sehat project, in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, and supported by CRI Inspire and Go2, the aim of which is to deliver community education initiatives and health promotion in the black and minority ethnic community.

A number of focus groups conducted by One Voice have highlighted drug and alcohol abuse as being a serious issue within the BME communities of Blackburn and Darwen.

The research sessions also found that people were often reluctant to ask for assistance when it came to substance misuse or harm.

Inspire is a fully integrated substance misuse prevention and recovery service with a range of access points across Blackburn with Darwen, offering support to adults across the life course.

The specialist young person’s service Go2 offers support to people under 25.

One Voice plans to create another two drug ambassadors from a wide age group.

Mr Umarji, a criminology student, of Whalley Range, Blackburn, said: "I have seen many young lives being affected by drugs and alcohol. Often these young people do not want to ask for help, or do not realise where they can get help for their addictions.

“I have supported young people in the past and with the knowledge that I can get from CRI Go2 I am sure that I will be able to support others."

Zaheer Mahmud, leader of the Baiter Sehat project said: "If we can get people to Inspire or Go2 we know that they will receive the best level of support.

"Our role and the role of the ambassadors is to signpost members of our community of all ages and assure them that structured assistance from CRI could go a long way to solving their addictions."

Services manager at Inspire, Jackie McVan, said: "Training community ambassadors to deliver information about the services we offer, and to support someone by making a referral is imperative in making sure communities are able to identify, understand and discuss substance misuse, and to get support that might be needed."