Your readers may well have seen recent reports highlighting the issue of young people misusing alcohol.

I would like to let everyone in Worcestershire know about our new national awards scheme, which recognises the vital work being done to prevent alcohol misuse in children.

Mentor UK, the drug-misuse prevention charity, has launched the scheme with drinks company Diageo Great Britain.

We are calling on the public, professionals and children themselves to submit projects and activities they feel are having a positive impact in this area. Three winners will each receive awards of £20,000.

Examples might include a website put together by young people on a home computer, classroom work in primary schools or mentoring projects in the community - in fact, any initiative that aims to prevent alcohol misuse before it starts. An application form can be downloaded from www.mentorfoundation.org/uk/awards; the closing date is Friday, April 14, 2006.

Eric Carlin,

Chief executive,

Mentor UK.