DRUGS awareness work in Birkenhead can continue for another three years thanks to a National Lottery grant.

The lottery Charities Board has made a grant of £132,000 to the Central Birkenhead Drugs, Information & Community Education (DICE).

The DICE project is run from Charing Cross Methodist Neighbourhood Centre and aims to support community groups and to encourage people to work together to become more effective in the prevention of the spread of substance abuse.

Manager of the Centre, the Rev Pat Billsborrow, said: "The grant is tremendous news for the the centre that has placed drug prevention firmly on the local agenda.

"We see prevention of drug misuse as equally important as the more commonly known treatment programmes for those who have become addicted. The work already undertaken by Giuseppe Roberto, our drugs education worker, is highly regarded. This future funding gives him the opportunity to widen and develop his work in the community of central Birkenhead."

MARKING National Women's Health Day this month a new therapy group just for women is being planned in Wirral.

A small group of women with relationship problems will be getting together at the newly established Wirral Women's Private Counselling Centre in Hamilton Square, Birkenhead.

The centre has been set up by Jann Cousins to meet a need for local women. She said it was the first of its kind which allows women to self-refer themselves and seek support and help as they need to.

She is delighted with the response so far and she feels one of the reasons is the fact that it is specifically designed to help and support women in a women-only environment.

The centre offers an individual counselling service, group therapy and group evening workshops on relaxation and visualisation, assertiveness and stress management. Jann also provides reflexology, aromatherapy and children's counselling

Plans for the future include an information service and drop-in advice.

Anyone interested in the group therapy sessions contact Jann on 650-2455.

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