pilot interventions summary and a synopsis of...

1

Pilot interventions summary and a synopsis of updates of individual plans

Name of

Partnership

Intervention 1 Intervention 2 Intervention 3 Pilot

year

2014

Brighton University

and Students’

union

[Appendix 1]

Pre-drinking in

groups in halls

Community

engagement (street

noise)

[Safe taxis/night

bus]

Focus on

1

Liverpool John

Moores University

and Students’

union

[Appendix 2.1]

Damage in halls

(end of night)

Last person standing

culture

[Student fest

(organised pub

crawl/mass

event)

Engagement/co-

production]

Focus on

1

Loughborough

University and

Students’ Union

[Appendix 3. 1

and 3.2]

Peer-pressure to

drink more than

students want

(under the

umbrella of better

decisions/binge

drinking)

Pre-drinks in town,

causing disturbance

during and in transit

to the union and

other venues.

“Unwanted”

[already

happening to

some extent]

Focus on

1 and 2

Manchester

Metropolitan

University and

Students’ Union

[Appendix 4.1 &

4.2]

House party

safety in

Fallowfield/

Withington areas

of south

Manchester

Pre-drinking in

Cambridge hall (on

Wednesdays)

Focus on

1

University of

Nottingham and

Students’ Union

[Appendix 5]

Safer taxi scheme On the door

breathalyser (pre-

drinking)

[Community

engagement/

house party

noise]

Focus on

1

Royal Holloway

University of

London and

Students’ Union

[Appendix 6]

Drink-driving

(after union

events on

Wednesday and

Friday nights)

Pre-drinking in halls Focus on

1

Swansea

University and

Students’ Union

[Appendix 7]

Quiet spaces at

mass events

(binge drinking/

excessive

consumption)

ASB student profiling

portal

Focus on

1

Attachment 3: Pilot interventions and local update summary

As part of the mandatory criteria [A1-35], each partnership needs to pilot one or more innovative interventions on responsible alcohol consumption. This paper gives

a synopsis of updates from each of the pilots from the autumn term 2014. This paper is for noting, although we will offer the opportunity to raise questions and make comments.

2

Appendix 1 - Intervention 1: Brighton University and Students’ Union.

What precisely is the behaviour you are aiming to change?

Pre-drinking in groups in halls on Falmer campus.

Who is your target audience?

The target was originally 30-40 students per week, who live in halls of residence on Falmer

campus (primarily first year students). Targets have been exceeded for this with around 130 –

200 students attending each week.

Method of intervention

1. Providing a space and attractive offers on Wednesday evenings, 8-10pm for students

to “pre-meet” before heading to town for the weekly student night. Advertised from week

one of new term, as the official “Pre-West Street” venue. This is now being held in a university

building on a halls of residence site, rather than in the students’ union café-bar on Falmer

Campus, enabling more students to access it.

2. The method of intervention has evolved from the original plan, mainly as a result of

developing a partnership with Red Frog (a voluntary organisation who specialise in supporting

universities to deliver alcohol free events, hydration stations and services which reduce the

harm associated with student alcohol use, and is mainly run by students). The aim of handing

delivery of the sessions over ensures longevity of the intervention.

3. Activities which focus on socialising and getting into the party mood will be the main

draw, with responsible offers being promoted alongside this, for example ‘2 for 1 on burgers’,

‘2 for 1 on soft drinks’, ‘buy an alcoholic drink and get a non-alcoholic drink free’. So far the

main attraction on Wednesday nights has been free pancakes and board games, which has

proved very popular and also means that no alcohol is being served. This offers students a

chance to congregate, socialise, and travel to town together, without the need and

impetus to drink heavily.

What plans do you have to evaluate the intervention?

Primary Research methodologies

Focus group with students.

Anecdotal feedback collection at events.

Formal feedback collection at Wednesday night sessions.

Interviews with accommodation staff.

Number of students attending the space where the event is taking place.

Collection of anecdotal evidence from police liaison officer based on campus.

Secondary Data

Tracking number of instances where ambulances are called to campus.

Anecdotal evidence

Feedback from students

The Brighton Red Frog group have 295 likes on Facebook.

Students love the free food and games.

http://uk.redfrogs.com/

3

Students from different sites/campuses have been asking about when they’ll be visiting

other halls.

Feedback from staff/volunteers

Students who arrive before 8:30pm will only stay for around 20 minutes however

students who arrive after 8:30pm usually stay for at least 1-2 hours.

Games like perudo have been incredibly successful.

Some students have arrived dressed ready for a night out, but have so much fun

playing the games they don’t ever make it out into town.

Some students arrive having already started to pre-drink, but eating pancakes and

having a break from drinking alcohol slows down their drinking and gives them a chance

to sober up.

Some of the same students are returning week after week.

In addition, the university police liaison officer reported fewer alcohol related incidents

during this year’s freshers’ week than last year’s.

It was noted by staff during freshers’ week that second and third year students seemed

to be finding themselves in more trouble with alcohol than first year students.

Autumn term 2014 synopsis of updates

As part of welcome week activities, short term funding was provided by the local authority

for a safer transport minibus for freshers’ who may have had too much to drink or who

may be in a vulnerable position due to the effects of alcohol. Low numbers of students

needed to use this service. It is likely this service will continue on a smaller scale, next

academic year by partnering with The University of Sussex.

Ongoing work is taking place with an external events company to address promotions and

communications to its students. This has enabled the students’ union to have more control

and input when promotions are irresponsible or not in line with messages they wish to

promote.

Liaison work with community members is ongoing. Good Neighborhood guides have been

produced by community organisers for each campus, aimed at helping to strengthen local

communities Brighton, Eastbourne, and Hastings.

Plans for Spring term 2015

Plans will continue as above, and Red Frog are hoping to extend the delivery of their

alcohol free events to other sites.

http://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/nusdigital/document/documents/11337/b1c556ff04231d9709735de2eb30ac73/Good%20Neighbour%20Guide%20Sept%202014%20Brighton%20V3.pdf

http://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/nusdigital/document/documents/11338/09ca58a7bd2e3f655ce3125b6d1360fd/Good%20Neighbour%20Guide%20Sept%202014%20Eastbourne%20V3.pdf

http://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/nusdigital/document/documents/11339/71fc092deb1a634f6a85ac0b755f778b/Good%20Neighbour%20Guide%20Sept%202014%20Hastings%20V3.pdf

http://uk.redfrogs.com/

4

Appendix 2.1 – Intervention 1: Liverpool John Moores University and

Students’ Union What precisely is the behaviour you are aiming to change?

Damage to communal spaces in halls of residence after nights out.


Approximately 3,700 first year students who live in privately owned halls of residence, alongside

any other students who may be attending these halls.


1. A two minute motion graphics clip to show the implications of causing damage

in halls of residence, including current university regulations and legality issues.

This was shown on the first moving in weekend at the students’ union induction talk, and

continues to be promoted through the use of social media. It has received great feedback

and has been shared by the university, local police department and Liverpool Student

Homes.

2. Highlighting previous damage and costs in halls through use of online and

poster marketing items. Photos have been used from previous damaged items or

communal areas. The costs of the damage are compared to rent or the costs of a night

out. Posters have been promoted in halls and through hall related social media. There will

be a focus on promoting this again when new students move in next academic year.

3. Student planned parties via social media; awareness raising with halls teams.

Many halls parties are published via social media. The aim of this intervention is to

educate halls staff on how to monitor social media, this would be through briefing sessions

specifically for halls and security staff. This will be an ongoing intervention process with

increased monitoring around key periods such as freshers’ week, Wednesday nights or

key drinking events.



Focus group with residents of halls. The focus group has been conducted by an

undergraduate student as part of her coursework looking at students’ expectations and

experience of alcohol on entrance to university.

A funded PHD opportunity has recently become available full-time for 3 years at

Liverpool John Moores Centre for Public Health, to look at student drinking behaviours

and will feed directly in with the Alcohol Impact programme. Recruitment has recently

taken place and Liverpool John Moores Students’ Union have been directly involved in

the recruitment process.

Anonymous feedback forms.

Secondary Data

Number of instances of damage to communal areas of halls over the autumn term 2014.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e1E4tMkxfw

5


The students’ union are working with programme leaders and second year media and

cultural communications students. As part of the students’ coursework they will plan

a campaign that could be delivered to address the issues the Alcohol Impact

programme is seeking to target locally.

A safer taxi scheme has been introduced and promoted which has included producing

and giving out small information cards to students.

A local FE college are interested in setting up a similar safe taxi scheme, initial

discussions around this have happened.

Communications and halls reps have held pumpkin carving sessions as part of a

series of alcohol free events run by the students’ union.

Free water has been given out to students on nights out and advertising of this is

ongoing.

Specific spaces are being set up across campus which are ‘alcohol free’. The Alcohol

Impact logo will be displayed to distinguish them.

Bar training is being offered by the city council, nine Liverpool John Moores University

and Students’ Union staff have signed up so far.

Ongoing discussions with local Liverpool club promoter, who has now joined the

steering group.

Ongoing liaison work is happening with bouncers in the city centre specifically

focusing on student safety.

Plans for spring term 2015

Damage to halls video and poster will be re-launched next academic year to new

freshers’.

Work will continue with media and cultural communication course students.

There will also be a focus on the academic calendar of postgrads and nursing

students who have welcome weeks in March 2015 and are not usually catered for

specifically. The students’ union will be focusing on introducing a range of non-

alcoholic events for them.

6

Appendix 3.1 – Intervention 1: Loughborough University and Students’ Union


Peer-pressure to drink more than students actually want to.


Hall committees

Fresher helpers

New students: party people, experienced drinkers, conscientious carers and academic

individualists


1. Produce and rerun the better decisions video: This aims to show the relationship

between the consequence of drinking too much and associated loss of dignity and respect

from peers vs the idea of drinking less and asserting your own personal limits and gain of

respect. The video has been presented in individual halls by hall committees; this uses a

consistent approach and makes it difficult for individuals to contradict this information

informally.

2. Work with hall committees to promote successful welcome week and autumn

term events. This includes engagement in specially designed alternative events. This

year’s freshers’ events included ‘Raveminton’ and a ‘Rolladisco’.

3. Support and engage fresher helpers: this is a long term plan as they help to plan future

fresher events. This intervention has arisen for two main reasons: 1. Anecdotal comments

from second year students that they felt they will be seen as boring if they do not drink in

their first year. 2. Fresher helpers have not previously been seen as additional influencers.

Usually this group has been used to conduct more mundane halls related tasks. Each hall

of 250 students would usually have a committee of around 15 volunteers. Volunteers are

second year students, who will then help to induct new students. The aim of this

intervention is to support fresher helpers to think about future idea generation in planning

events so that the cycle of escalating drink driven events is broken.

4. Looking at developing a code of practice/pledge that fresher helpers sign. This will

either be a commitment made by each individual fresher helper to change their own

behaviour or to change the behaviour of the freshers’ they aim to help. For example ‘I will

not drink more than two drinks a night’ or ‘I will not make freshers drink more than two

drinks a night.’

5. Idea to communicate message of university disciplinary policy to fresher helpers

who can pass on to students through events and future campaign planning.



Focus groups with first year students.

Tracking of awareness /exposure to Better Decisions campaign.

Focus groups with fresher helpers.

http://www.lsu.co.uk/betterdecisions/

http://loughboroughsport.com/my-lifestyle/profile/alternative-freshers/

7

Secondary Data

Welfare “casualties” numbers comparison year on year.

Complaints of anti-social behaviour.

Consumption of alcohol per head on students’ union premises as biggest local night

club.

Appendix 3.2 – Intervention 2: Loughborough University and Students’ Union


Excessive pre-drinks particularly in town, causing disturbance during and in transit to the union

and other venues.


‘Party people’ and ‘leading lights’ in town.


1. Video will be produced; focusing on pacing drinks rather than pre-loading.

2. Stronger early evening socials in the students’ union with better focused drinks and

entry offers.

3. Promoting Better Decisions at FND (Friday night disco) to raise the profile of the

campaign with second and third year students. This features posing with the Better

Decision logo on social media. Currently there are messages already on all in house

screens, information flyers and face to face interventions are delivered by the student

executive at the end of the night out.

4. Stricter controls on admission for those who are drunk, by working in conjunction

with the police.

5. Use of breathalysers and a co-operative approach with other local clubs brokered

by the police. Further information can be found in the national press. In practice, there

are 2,000 – 3,000 students that attend the students’ union venue each Wednesday and

Friday evening. At the moment around 15-20 students may be turned away for being

too drunk. Police have suggested turning students away if they are twice the drink drive

limit. Number of breathalysers provided by police was limited (300), this has meant

testing has only been offered to a limited number of students by using a random

sample.

6. Specific interventions delivered by town wardens with repeat offenders (ongoing).


Primary research methodologies

Quantitative data in terms of numbers of students engaging with early evening events.

Reduction in complaints about pre-drink parties.

Change in proportion of on door rejections for drunkenness over the course of the

autumn term as the intervention takes place.

http://www.itv.com/news/central/update/2014-09-22/breathalyser-pilot-scheme-launches-in-loughborough/

8


Briefing sessions have been held for fresher helpers and hall committees focused on

peer pressure drinking.

There has been a successful range of low and no drinking events at welcome week but

it was decided to not promote them as such. Over 1000 students participated in these

events.

Student welfare officer has been promoting the Better Decisions campaign to students

and getting them to pose with the banner on Facebook and twitter on nights out. To

help with noise complaints, gobstoppers were also handed out. On these nights, no

complaints were received from residents.

Since freshers' week, about 10-12% reduction in spend per head in bars and a dramatic

reduction in security and welfare incidents (50%). For example students incapacitated

due to alcohol consumption.

Currently there are negotiations taking place as to whether the university will cover loss

of bar funds.

Non-drink led events have doubled during autumn term (from 50 to 100).


Better Decisions campaign will continue to run next term. At the moment there has

been a focus on achieving outcomes such as a ‘lower causality rate’. It has been noted

that there has been a 30% reduction in students being ‘rejected’ from venues on

campus due to irresponsible drinking.

Ongoing work with local council and residents is taking place. There will be a group of

street marshals to support student welfare on the main student routes walking from

accommodation onto campus.

Breathalyser idea didn’t take off, and is not going to continue next term.

There will be a focus on ‘empathy campaigning’ by looking at developing 30 second

video clips and posters to support students on topics such as ‘noise and impacts’ on

community members.

9

Appendix 4.1 – Intervention 1: Manchester Metropolitan University and

Students' Union


Second Year UK Undergraduates, living in HMO (houses of multiple occupancy) properties on

Clifton Avenue, Egerton Road and Amherst Road in Fallowfield, South Manchester. 172 students

lived in properties in these streets associated with large scale parties during 2013/14.


1. Ongoing campaign with a view to specifically targeting communication during key

times in the academic year. The end of the 2013/14 has seen a number of very large scale

house parties (100-300+ attendants). These areas have a high density of students living in

the community, alongside the style of housing, which means properties can have up to 13

bedrooms on several floors, with many having a large cellar space, sometimes specifically

marketed as having ideal conditions for parties.

2. A communications campaign involving the students’ union, university teams, Greater

Manchester Police, fire Services, Manchester City Council and landlords to encourage

students to consider personal safety and household security.

3. The clip was produced on location in a house in Fallowfield in November. The script was

written by Manchester Metropolitan’s student welfare officer. The property has been

provided by developing an ongoing relationship with a local landlord. It uses case studies of

students (using student actors from the drama department), a police officer and local

residents.

4. The vision of Behind Closed Doors will build awareness of the community in which

students live in their short term residencies, and encourage relationship building between

both parties.



Focus groups with students exposed to campaign materials and intervention activities.

Focus groups with community residents.

Feedback from landlords about the number of large scale parties held at properties.

Community impact statements.

Feedback from Greater Manchester Police.

Secondary Data

Number of recorded complaints from neighbourhood hotline, the city council and the

Greater Manchester Police in relation to large scale parties.

Media reports about large scale parties.

Greater Manchester Police crime reports.


House party safety in Fallowfield and Withington areas of South Manchester.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2IYtqR9d0o#t=74

10


House party safety clip has been shown to steering group and externals, who have praised

it. It will continue to be promoted during the spring term, through students’ union

channels but also with Salford and Manchester Universities.

Full communication plan developed for wider distribution.

A second video clip will be produced, plans are currently being developed. Initial ideas

to focus on the topic of student vulnerability.


Ongoing issues with house parties in identified areas, especially around this Halloween

2014, some local negative press coverage. 40% of victims of crime in South Manchester

are students.

Local Sainsbury’s supermarket reported that alcohol sales figures were significantly higher

in Fallowfield area compared to national average. Sales were up by 800 units compared

to 5-60 units increase across the UK during the identified period. It was noted that the

spike, was mid-way through welcome week (anecdotal evidence noted there seemed to

be a change once shopping was conducted by students themselves rather than parents).

Community tension initially around freshers’ week. Through ongoing liaison work,

community members are now keen to be involved in Alcohol Impact.

11

Appendix 5 – Intervention 1: Nottingham University and Students Union


Students putting themselves at risk on or after a night out: walking home alone and using

unlicensed taxis.

How many students do you hope to reach?

Around 7000 new Nottingham based undergraduates, and 4000 new Nottingham based post-

graduate students, many of which will be international students who do not know the area well.


The safer taxi scheme has been reworked and promoted.

1. A fixed price list whereby if students sign up to this part of the scheme, they will be

guaranteed to get home with the company after 12pm for a fixed price (the hope is that

this will alleviate the problem of a) students getting into illegal taxis because they haven’t

booked them, b) students having enough money left at the end of the night to get home.

2. Emergency taxi scheme if students run out of money or lose their purse/wallet, they

can simply ring up the taxi company who will send a driver to get them home. They will

then take down their student number, and this will be passed on to the students’ union

who will recoup the money from the student on their behalf. This has been promoted

through social and digital media.

3. Promotional credit cards have been produced and given out at health registration to

raise awareness of the taxi scheme. 2000 credit cards with information about the

emergency taxi scheme have been designed.

4. Welfare halls reps receive specific information on the safer taxi and emergency taxi

scheme as part of their training. They have distributed information packs within their halls.

Several promotional events took place in halls where free food was provided and the

scheme was promoted. Three halls (at least 150 students live in each one), that are

specifically in areas which are nearer to the city centre have been targeted, as it is

known students are more likely to walk home alone who live there.

5. Ongoing work with D&G taxis (local firm) to use their publicity to raise

awareness of the scheme. The taxi company have offered students the opportunity to

win I-pads by signing up to the scheme. D&G have also agreed they won’t take students

if they have not booked through the scheme. Information about the scheme can be

found here.

http://www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/safer-taxi-scheme

http://www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/safer-taxi-scheme

12


Good ongoing relationship with D&G Taxis who send weekly updates on how many

students are using the emergency taxi service.

Ongoing discussions are happening with managers of the students’ union bar in regard

to responsible alcohol consumption staff training.

Ongoing liaison with external bar crawl organisers, who have also been working with

the police and have employed staff to ensure support for students is in place when bar

crawls are taking place.

Policy autonomously passed in students’ union on responsible alcohol consumption.

Ongoing discussions with city council and Nottingham Trent University around issue of

students jumping into un-booked taxis.


The intervention will continue, as identified above.

How has the intervention been evaluated?


Monitor numbers of students that join the safer taxi scheme.

Monitor numbers of fixed price taxi cards that are given out.

Interview with member of D&G Taxi Company.

Qualitative gathering of anectodol views from students at promotional events in

including awareness of scheme, what appeals and what the barriers would be in this

type of approach.

Focus group with students to measure impact and effectiveness of scheme.

Secondary Data

Monitor change in levels of students being victims of crime; through use of university

data. A central survey is conducted twice a year. Questions specifically related to the

Alcohol Impact intervention have been incorporated this year.

13

Appendix 6 - Intervention 1: Royal Holloway University of London and

Students’ Union


To remove the risk of death, injury or damage caused by students drink driving after students’

union events on Wednesday and Friday club nights on campus.


All new and returning students have been targeted through communication of intervention

activity during the start of term one.


1. Communication and promotion of intervention activity has taken place during

welcome week and subsequent weeks of new academic year, leading up to the delivery of

the intervention in week 6 (week beginning 27th October). Delivery of the intervention was

extended and ran on Wednesday and Friday evenings for the rest of the term.

2. Students will be asked as they leave the student club night to place a sticker on a

card indicating the level of intoxication they believe they are. Following a breath test, a

sticker will be added by staff indicating where they actually are. A scale of 0-10 of

intoxication will be used and students will get information on the effects of that level of

intoxication.

3. This is a voluntary scheme and all students (driving or not) have been welcome to take

part. A business card copy of this was given to the student for their own reference (both on

the night and for the next morning) and results were logged on the students’ union database

for monitoring purposes. This was seen as an educational tool to raise awareness of actual

levels vs perceived levels. Doughnuts and teas/coffees were given out to encourage buy-in

from students.



Focus group conducted by a graduate trainee with those who have taken part in the

intervention (e.g. received a sticker or business card / been breathalysed).

Short feedback on the night from students’ leaving events.

Feedback from students, through the use of questionnaires post intervention.

Secondary Data

Incident statistics, college and students’ union statistics.


A graduate trainee is developing alcohol awareness training for clubs and societies and

guidance around initiation ceremonies.

A local police officer has now been secured to sit on the steering group.

Motion passed on responsible alcohol consumption.

If students are asked to leave students’ union, this is followed up the next day by

someone from student services to check if they are okay and then if necessary more in

depth support is offered.

14

Breathalyser scheme has been working really well: anecdotal evidence noted by staff

that students who are drunk or not drunk at all, seem to know this before using

breathalyser. Students that are ‘in the middle’ have rated themselves as more sober

than they actually are.


Breathalyser activity has now finished following an extension of initial dates.

Breathalyser activity will continue on occasion, but staff feel it will lose its momentum if

continued as intensively next term. A new event will be launched on Mondays, a prize

will be given out if students stay in venue until a certain time and need to be below 0 on

the breathalyser.

There will be a focus on recruiting community members to join the local steering group

meeting.

A similar scheme using drug testers is under development at the moment.

There will be a focus on the second intervention on pre-drinking, plans are also being

developed at the moment.

15

Appendix 7: Intervention 1 – Swansea University and Students' Union


Binge drinking (excessive consumption) at mass events throughout the student calendar year.


This intervention is aimed at two groups of students:

Students who are binge drinking because there is no alternative activity for them to engage

in.

Students who are isolated from students’ union events because they do not drink alcohol.


1. A ‘chill out/quiet zone' will be provided where no alcohol will be sold. This will be a

seated area away from the main entertainment. The intervention was first used in the

summer ball in June 2014. It was used at freshers’ fortnight and will continue to be

used at events throughout the year (freshers’ events cater to around 3500

students).

2. A series of non - alcoholic events took place in addition to the normal events plan and

included a trip to Gower, a sports day, a trip to Ikea and a fireworks night.

3. Other non-alcoholic events such as the ’12 days of Christmas’ were run in conjunction with

ResNet who are run by student volunteers.


Additional members have joined the steering group including colleagues from public

health and the complaints officer from the university.

The quiet zone space at welcome week, was enclosed in a marquee with a member of

security at the door. The area was furnished with giant bean bags and interior lighting,

free water was provided and there was a seating area for students to eat their food.

Ongoing development of information sharing system between different services which

focus around issues that impact on students in accommodation. The main focus is

around pastoral care and guidance, but sanctions may also be used if relevant. It has

been identified that good progress has been made on this. This is something which the



Numbers attending the quiet zone.

Short feedback on the night both from students’ at events who are attending the quiet

zone and students that are not attending.

Additional qualitative surveys, post event to see if students indicate a change in their

behaviour.

Focus groups with those who have taken part in the intervention or attended events

where the intervention is being delivered.

http://www.swansea.ac.uk/accommodation/preparingforarrival/residentsnetwork/

16

students’ union had hoped would happen for a number of years. As a result of Alcohol Impact, progress has accelerated on this.


Work will continue on the sharing database, with the hope of having this confirmed

within the next month. University colleagues and others have already agreed the idea in

principle. Plans to incorporate quiet zone spaces at the summer ball are under way. There are also a range of non-alcoholic events being planned for the spring term.

pilot interventions summary and a synopsis of...

Documents