A NEW voice is being given to the children of some of Burnley and Pendle’s most hardened drink and drug abusers.

An award-winning scheme, Holding Families, is being piloted to ensure the needs of youngsters from the neighbouring boroughs, whose mothers or fathers have long-standing heroin or booze problems, are not overlooked.

While parents can be guided towards detox and counselling for their problems, co-ordinator Caroline Pearson said it was crucial that their children’s needs are supp-orted.

Using a £50,000 grant from the Tudor Trust, Caroline and her organisation, the Early Break charity, have this week begun regular sessions with the families at the St Philip’s Grassroots Centre in Leeds Road, Nelson.

She said that research showed that the children of seasoned drug users were statistically more likely to develop their own habits, in later life, and struggle at school. Eight Burnley families have been referred to the centre by the town’s family intervention project and a further four from Pendle have been directed towards the initiative by drugs and social agencies.

Caroline said: “We have had our first session with 10 of the families and it was absolutely fantastic. Two of them are already moving towards detox.

“They were a lovely group of people and really supported each other. We are saying that just because you have a drug or alcohol problem, you can still be a good parent.

“This will give children a voice – we can draw up individual plans for them and their families to help them move forward.”

The funding will also be used to offer possibly outings and social activities for the young people, who range from seven and eight year olds to a 20-year-old.

Adults will be seen in fortnightly groups and each child or young adult will be allocated a case work, who they will see on a weekly basis.

First piloted in Bury in 2007, the effectiveness of the project in Burnley is being assessed by social care experts from Salford University.