The DPYK North Devon Team

The team of DPYK north devon presenters are trained volunteers from the local community with a desire to support parents. Whilst none of us are experts, many of us do have personal, sometimes painful, experience of substance misuse and its consequences and feel we have something to share that may help others.

Here are some of the team:

Roger Bartlett - Project leader/Course presenter

I am a parent with three of my very own 'Weapons of Mass Destruction.' I am also a local police officer with more than twenty years of experience in many roles that have brought me into contact with illegal drugs and people that misuse them as well as legal drugs like alcohol.

I have spoken to many parents in the cells after their child has been arrested for the first time and they have told me that they know nothing about drugs and don't understand where things went wrong. You can be sure that every child today will be exposed to the influences that could lead to drug misuse.

I became a presenter because having seen the devastating impact of addiction I just want to do something to help. I am absolutely convinced that the material in this course will equip parents to give their children the best chance in life. If it helps just one family avoid the misery of drug misuse, it will be worth it.

Paul Parsons - Course Presenter

I am a local parent with four children (two blue & two pink!) and I am also a Foster Carer. Growing up I experienced the drug culture, for a short time, first hand and quickly reaped the damaging consequences in my own life, and witnessed the devastating impact it had on others. That was many years ago, but as I have been raising my family and parenting over the last twenty years I have been constantly reminded of the pressures and dangers that drug abuse in our society presents to children as they are growing up.

I decided to become a presenter so that I could use my personal experience and what I have learnt as a parent, in conjunction with the excellent course material, to help parents reduce the risk of their children abusing drugs. The very positive feedback from each of the DPYK courses held, confirms that there are practical steps that parents can take to make a real difference.

Avril Z Parker - Course Presenter

Having been a youth worker for about 12 years; I then trained as a counsellor and then a psychotherapist. Through my work I have encountered many clients who have misused legal and illegal drugs. Some have died.

I was raised in an atmosphere of 'booze' where chronic drunkenness and alcohol addiction was the norm; and experienced the devastating impact of this lifestyle upon my informative childhood years. Today the choice of drugs has expanded to include the illegal (e.g. heroin & cocaine) and the medically prescribed (e.g. amphetamines). On my own for most of their young lives, I raised two sons who both vouch for the temptations concerning drugs (particularly teen-age peer pressure) they faced.

I believe the DPYK material on the course reveals to parents/grandparents the psychological, physical and emotional consequences of taking legal and illegal drugs. This informed approach will enable them to begin to make changes and a difference in their children's life.

Hilary Pierce - Course Presenter

Although married to a senior detective (now retired), a mother of two sons (both now 30+), formerly a teacher of secondary age pupils and long-term involvement in church and community youth work - my significant encounter with the drug culture came when we took a recovering heroin addict into our home.

Over a period of a few years I learned (through endeavouring to help him and then another) about the hell-hole of addiction and the surrounding issues for such a young person and their family. A result of that truly trying time is that I count it a privilege to be involved in presenting the DPYK course, helping parents steer their children away from the misuse of drugs.

Nowadays I enjoy being a granny and having the luxury of stepping back from the everyday, moment by moment, parenting arena. I recognise those still in frontline parenting need all the encouragement they can get. Other aspects of my life help keep me current and relevant - mentoring Year 11 pupils in a local high school, being aware of the concerns of my own two sons and daughters-in-law and also the issues of numerous other families with whom I am involved.