A SUBSTANCE misuse programme that has helped hundreds of families turn their lives around in Bury has been praised by an MP who grew up in the area.

Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth MP, who attended Philips High School in Whitefield and grew up in Radcliffe, paid a visit to Holding Families, which concentrates on the impact that parental substance misuse has on children.

The programme is run by young people’s drug and alcohol service Early Break, which has one its two centres in Bury Road in Radcliffe.

After the recent launch of a political manifesto supporting children of people with alcohol problems, Mr Ashworth said that he was proud to see such important work happening in his hometown.

He said: “I was delighted to visit the Holding Families programme in Bury, which focusses on the hidden harm of parental substance misuse and the impact that it has on children.

“I have recently spoken out about my own personal experiences of my own late father’s problems with alcohol and as shadow Health Secretary supporting children of alcoholics is a personal priority.

He added that he was working closely with MPs to persuade the government to publish a strategy.

“Let’s send a message to the two million plus children of alcoholics that they need not suffer in silence,” he said.

Early Break, which covers Bury, Rochdale and East Lancashire, has won national awards for the Holding Families initiative that has helped hundreds of parents to combat drug or alcohol problems.

Training and marketing development worker for the service, Rhyse Cathcart, said: “Jonathan’s story represents the hidden harms that many of the children we work with face on a daily basis.

“Our Holding Families programme is now in its tenth year of delivery and has won a number of awards nationally.

“The programme helps parents to look at the impact their drug and alcohol use has on their children and family members.”

The Radcliffe East councillor added that whilst the service is changing the lives of children and parents, it is merely scratching the service.

“There is so much more that we would like to do but as a charitable organisation we are limited by funding constraints.

“The new manifesto is a fantastic starting point and we are happy to offer our support to make this a part of wider national government strategy.

If you are a parent, child or young person and you need help or would just like to chat, contact Early Break on 0161 723 3880.