A local community alcohol partnership has won an award for its work to tackle underage drinking.

Burnley Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) won the award for ‘Most Improved Locality’ at an event at Westminster on June 27.

Burnley CAP was launched in 2017 and aims to tackle underage drinking in the area and reduce anti-social behaviour (ASB).

Lynne Blackburn, director and project manager of Participation Works, who was at the event to receive the award said: “The Burnley CAP partnership are really pleased to receive this award and to be recognised for all the project work we have been delivering.

“The partnership supports hundreds of young people in the town and the CAP enables us to share best practice and have the opportunity to deliver projects together making the best use of our skills and knowledge."

The partnership introduced a series of initiatives which in 2022 saw anti-social behaviour levels fall by 63 per cent.

Burnley CAP has also set up a stall in Burnley Market. The location had been a hotspot for anti-social behaviour with young people going there after school and college.

Since the start of this year the CAP has engaged with more than 250 young people.

Young people can visit the stall in Burnley Market to receive help and guidance about alcohol and substance abuse.

As an incentive, young people who take part in activities receive a voucher to spend in the market hall.

This is building positive relationships between stall holders and young people and ensuring money is spent in the local economy.  

National CAP director, Kate Winstanley, added: “I’m delighted that in CAP areas around the country we are seeing such sustained reductions in regular drinking and anti-social behaviour among young people.

"CAPs are having a significant impact on reducing children’s alcohol consumption, improving their health and wellbeing and enhancing the communities where they live.”