University of East Anglia and UEA(SU) achieve Drug and Alcohol Impact accreditation

We’re proud to share that the University of East Anglia and UEA(SU) have been officially awarded the SOS-UK Drug and Alcohol Impact Accreditation, following a rigorous two-day audit.

This accreditation recognises the university and students’ union’s ongoing commitment to a harm reduction approach to alcohol and drug use, an approach centred on minimising harm, providing stigma-free support, and ensuring student safety.

The announcement comes in the wake of guidance from Universities UK, which advocates for a sector-wide adoption of harm reduction strategies. The University of East Anglia has not only embraced this approach, but also demonstrated meaningful progress inputting it into action.

The recent audit highlighted several standout successes across the partnership:

·      Support in accommodation: Work on drugs and alcohol in accommodation has varied from the provision of alcohol-free/quiet halls of residence, training student staff to provide peer-to-peer support, and developing work on extending the harm reduction approach into private providers that support UEA students. This work shows that the team understand that students need advice and support both on and off campus, and are focused on continually developing this.

·      Embedding the local context: The team has successfully worked alongside Norfolk County Councils public health team in the delivery of this work, and has created both shared goals and a shared approach to work on student drug and alcohol use. By embedding their work in this way, UEA have ensured that student populations are considered in future local authority work, expanding the impact on students long term.

·      Collaborative partnerships: UEA has worked to create and grow relationships, not only across the campus, but with both local and national organisations who work on issues relating to drugs and alcohol, ensuring alignment with local campus goals resulting in more support for students and the staff supporting them.

·      Understanding student need: Student concerns have been central to the development of harm reduction initiatives, and the team at UEA have worked to understand their local data to ensure this. One example of this work is the inclusion of poppers in their harm reduction campaign, which not only led to better communication on campus but also supported changes in the SOS UK National Students, Drugs and Alcohol Survey.

SOS-UK trained University of East Anglia students to audit their institution.

One student auditor said: ““As a student, and throughout my experiences as an auditor, I have realised that the work on Drug and Alcohol Impact is absolutely essential and that there is such a benefit to a harm-reduction approach.”

Those leading the project highlighted its successes and the lessons learned along the way:

“We’re pleased and proud to have achieved the SOS UK Student Drug & Alcohol Impact accreditation in partnership with UEA, which is incredibly valuable for our student community. This work demonstrates our commitment to a harm-reduction approach in creating new conversations and support opportunities around drugs and alcohol. It’s been a great opportunity to celebrate all the hard work and positive culture already embedded in the SU, leading by example to promote safety and better student experiences. A huge thank you to all staff and students who supported this project, particularly our student auditors who provided thoughtful and proactive reflections to our work. We’re keen to ensure the work doesn’t stop here and can use these student and project insights to drive our policies, events and campaigns in the future.” (Amjad Daher, Communities & Culture Officer and Turaiya Lemard, Undergraduate Education Officer)

“Achieving Drug &Alcohol Impact accreditation with SOS‑UK is a proud and significant milestone for UEA, celebrating both our commitment to student wellbeing and the power of genuine partnership working. Embedding a harm‑reduction approach across our campus ensures that students are supported with compassion and the tools they need to make informed choices.

This accreditation not only recognises the dedication of our staff and students, but has also enabled us to take a constructive and reflective look at our processes—highlighting areas of excellence across the institution. Our close collaboration with UEASU has been central to this success, allowing us to develop a holistic, student‑centred approach that strengthens our community and empowers every student to thrive academically, socially, and personally.” (Alun Minifey – Head of Student Life – Student Journey and Support Services)

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

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