The University of the West of England (UWE) and the Students’ Union at The University of the West of England achieve their second Drug and Alcohol Impact accreditation.

We’re pleased to announce that the University of the West of England and the Students’ Union at The University of the West of England have successfully obtained SOS-UK Drug and Alcohol accreditation for the second time following a two-day audit.  

This illustrates the commitment and diligence of both the university and the students’ union to embed a social norm of responsible alcohol consumption and changing the conversation on drugs away from zero tolerance and towards reducing harm.

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Highlights of their work include:

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• The partnership has demonstrated they have regularly and successfully shared good practice across the sector. This shows they are leaders in this area of work and have positively helped other universities and students’ unions. By sharing their successful practices, the partnership not only enhances their own reputation but also contributes to the overall advancement of this work across the higher education sector.

• The existence of a full-time Drug and Alcohol Practitioner within the Drugs and Alcohol Service. The Drug and Alcohol Practitioner is available to support students 1-1 and offers harm reduction intervention, goal setting and relapse prevention.  

• The partnership has engaged well with sports clubs and societies and was commended for delivering training to 450 students.

• The partnership had an extremely comprehensive sign-off process for the new drug and alcohol policy. The auditors commended the inclusion of student feedback and the involvement of heads of schools in this process. This is important because it ensures that the policy is well-rounded, addresses the real needs and concerns of the student body, and has the support of key academic leaders, thereby enhancing its effectiveness and acceptance across the institution.

• The partnership has demonstrated that multiple staff, including senior leadership, are involved in this work. The breadth of staff participation indicates that the program is embedded within the university and the students’ union. Additionally, the partnership has effectively implemented a top-down, middle, and bottom-up approach, which was evident during the interviews. This comprehensive involvement underscores the program's deep integration and commitment at all levels.

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SOS-UK trained University of the West of England student volunteers to audit their institution.

One student auditor said: “Participating in the audit has deepened my appreciation for the partnership's impactful work on drug and alcohol issues. The innovative strategies, harm reduction approach, and comprehensive support provided to empower students to make safe and balanced choices are truly commendable.”

“The university and students union are delighted to have retained the Drug & Alcohol Impact accreditation, exceeding our previous score from 2022.
Working with SOS-UK has given us a framework and the support needed to build on our journey embedding a harm reduction approach to drugs including alcohol across the university. To be recognised as leaders in this area of work and have our efforts validated and endorsed motivates us to keep building on the work that we have already achieved and continue to strive toward a health and inclusive campus for all” (Becky Risley, Drug and Alcohol Practitioner, University of the West of England).

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Congratulations to all those involved in the Drug and Alcohol Impact Programme, a great achievement!

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