Pupils from Hillcroft Primary School in Caterham welcomed the High Sheriff of Surrey, Professor Michael Joy OBE to their Parent Assembly on Wednesday 14th March. They delivered powerful messages to him and other invited guests on the dangers of alcohol, the harm it causes to health, and the impact it has on the community in terms of anti-social behaviour.

Thanks to a grant from the Surrey High Sheriff Youth Awards (HSYA), top year pupils at Hillcroft have been learning about the dangers of early alcohol consumption leading to potential addiction. The comprehensive programme of teacher training and classroom interventions has been developed by Coram Life Education, with funding from the HSYA.

The High Sheriff, Professor Michael Joy, said: "My day job is cardiology but in spite of having been qualified for 45 years, not being a liver specialist I had no idea how bad the alcohol problem was in the UK in general – and in Surrey in particular.

I am delighted to be here at Hillcroft School in Caterham to see first hand how these young pupils have responded so positively to the classroom activities developed by Coram Life Education, and how they delivered such a strong message about alcohol abuse to their parents and other invited guests. I congratulate them on their efforts."

Headteacher, Mrs Scutter, said: "The message the children conveyed today was very powerful and, hopefully, will remain with them as they move on to secondary school and beyond."