The Bradford School Drug Prevention Initiative (BSDPI)
The annual Charter presentation took place on Wednesday 5th July 2017 at the Hockney Conference Room Margaret McMillan Tower, Prince’s Way Bradford (Formerly the Central Library), for me it was special for two reasons; it was my first official visit at an organised event where I were representing Rotary as the District Governor, but significantly I was to address the BSDPI, an organisation that I have been part of since it started over 22 years ago.

The BSDPI is a unique organisation comprised of 5 Rotary Clubs, Soroptimist International, Police and the Schools in the Bradford Area. The aim of the Initiative is to motivate, reward and award schools which positively address the issues of drug, tobacco and alcohol misuse. The BSDPI Charter Award is extended to schools able to demonstrate an effective commitment to educating their pupils to a high level in drug prevention.

This year awards were presented by myself, Chief Superintendent Scott Bisset, Commander, Bradford District, West Yorkshire Police. Chris Clark. President Elect Yorkshire, Soroptimist International and Councillor Doreen Lee, Deputy Lord Mayor of Bradford.

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The schools who received their awards include; Horton Grange Primary School, Hollingwood Primary School, Low Moor Primary School, St. Williams Catholic Primary School. Certificates of achievement in Peer Education were presented to Mr Jonathan Dean, a teacher at Dixons City Academy who received them on behalf of over 30 students at the Academy.

Well done to everyone involved and an especially proud day for BSDPI committee member and newly installed District Governor Robert.

http://bsdpi.org/
http://bsdpi.org/bsdpi-brochure/

Personal ethos and insight I have been proud to be associated with Rotary since Oct. 1986, the old saying goes ‘that you don’t know what you are missing until it’s gone’ was certainly true of my experience during the five years I was unable to be a part it. I have many interests and hobbies but none so deep as my involvement with Rotary. Rotarians are often critical of the fact that ‘Rotary doesn’t mean anything’ to outsiders and that ‘it’s difficult to get our message across’ because we are such a diverse organisation. For me personally, it is that diversity that continues to make it interesting and simulating. Even after all this time there are aspects of Rotary that I never knew and I am constantly learning. Rotary, the organisation, is so diverse it attracts members of equal diversity, who have no other common interest. I am constantly surprised even in my club with the people who manage to get together, laugh and share a common goal, who would never normally meet or speak. Throughout my Rotary life I have been content to work at the ‘grass roots’, whether it was taking up office in my own club, stood in a supermarket with collection box or organising event for local people; making a difference in my own small way. In 2005/2006 I was proud to President of my own club and for the first and I got an insight into District activities as well as those of other clubs. I am the only member currently in our club to go through a full second full term in 2014/2015 and again I got involved with Rotary outside my own club. Everything that Rotary is, what Rotary stands for and what Rotary achieves is as a result of individual members making a difference and giving ‘Service above Self’. Recruiting new members both to replace existing ones and ultimately to increase our numbers, is in my opinion the most important objective we should have.

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