Forward Leeds was at Leeds Pride again after two years without the event running in the city
Forward Leeds had a stall in the Market Place on Leeds Bridge offering advice on alcohol and drugs.
This included a ‘Beer Goggles Challenge’, sweet and sour sweets to show you don’t always get what you expect with drugs and information about How to Party Properly from their new micro-site. The site provides information on managing risk and what to do in the event of an emergency.
5 WAYS were also taking part in the Leeds Pride Parade celebrating ‘Pride in Recovery’.
Matt Tibbenham, who staffed the stand for Forward Leeds, said: “Leeds Pride is a great opportunity to talk with people about alcohol and drugs. Many of the people we spoke to were surprised that we were there to provide information so people could make safer choices and we weren’t there telling people don’t do this or don’t that.”
“We spoke to over 160 people on the stall, lots of them were really inquisitive and wanted to know more about the risks involved with alcohol and certain drugs. Most of them just want to be better informed and they were really interested in How to Party Properly and the risk indicators.”
In addition to the stall, 5 WAYS and Forward Leeds also took part in the parade with a walking float.
Carla Carr of 5 WAYS said: “Taking part in the parade with people we’ve supported is a wonderful feeling.
“Walking through the city centre, alongside people who have put their alcohol or drug use behind them, under a banner, that says, “Pride in Recovery” is an incredible feeling.
“It really does feel like a celebration of everything they have achieved and they really can be proud of that.”
