************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Secretariat of the Beat Drugs Fund Association:
Organisations and individuals can apply for grants from the Beat Drugs Fund from today (February 18) until March 31 to carry out anti-drug projects.
The fund aims to promote worthwhile activities which can help reduce the problem of drug abuse and promote community-wide efforts and programmes in the anti-drug campaign in Hong Kong.
For the 2009-10 funding exercise, priority consideration will be given to preventive education and publicity projects in support of the territory-wide campaign against youth drug abuse with the theme "No Drugs, No Regrets. Not Now, Not Ever" which was launched last June. Also encouraged are new measures or approaches to tackle the problem of psychotropic substance abuse, especially in identifying and rendering assistance to "hidden youth" with drug abuse problems through channels popular among them, such as the Internet.
Other priority areas include: parental education projects; projects in support of "Path Builders"; structured training for anti-drug workers; development of programmes targeting ethnic minorities and female drug abusers; programmes to help rehabilitated drug abusers reintegrate into society and programmes promoting a multi-disciplinary approach to tackle the drug abuse problem; and projects to help curb the problem of cross-boundary drug abuse.
Competition for funding is likely to be keen and projects will be critically considered in accordance with all relevant assessment criteria.
To enhance self-evaluation by grant recipients, the Narcotics Division will organise a briefing on self-evaluation concepts and skills and a sharing session by past recipients. Selected recipients may also be required to present their final reports to panels comprising members from the Action Committee Against Narcotics or its sub-committees for adoption. Exemplary practices will be distilled for sharing and dissemination.
Starting from the 2009-10 funding exercise, eligible applicants of research projects may apply for funds to cover teaching relief.
Application forms and guides to the funding exercise are now available on the website of the Narcotics Division, Security Bureau (www.nd.gov.hk/beat.htm). They can also be collected at the Secretariat of the Beat Drugs Fund Association (30/F, High Block) and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre (Roof Floor, Low Block) at Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway; and all Public Enquiry Service Centres of the Home Affairs Department.
Enquiries are welcome by phone at 2867 2737 or 2867 2286; by fax at 2810 1790; or via email to sbeon4@sb.gov.hk.
The Beat Drugs Fund was set up by the Government in 1996 with a capital base of $350 million to support worthwhile community projects in the fight against drugs.
To date, 393 projects have been supported by the Beat Drugs Fund with a total grant of $194.7 million. Of the funds approved, $45.8 million has been granted for 72 treatment and rehabilitation projects, $117.8 million for 281 preventive education and publicity projects, $11.9 million for 14 research projects and $19.2 million for 26 mixed-type projects.
Ends/Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:51
NNNN
