Local alcohol and drug worker takes prevention message around the county

It’s Alcohol Awareness Week 2026 (6-12th July). Meet a Kettering-based alcohol and drug worker who’s taking the prevention message around the county.

Subrina Jacobs-Peters is becoming a familiar face around Northamptonshire.

Hope UK’s Local Project Worker for Northamptonshire, Subrina, is based in Kettering, the head office of the national drug education charity. Subrina has been busy over the past year reaching out to young people and professionals who support them and has become a regular contributor to mini talks at job centres in Kettering, Daventry and Wellingborough. Alongside advice from other agencies aiming to give them the best chance of securing employment, Subrina shares information about alcohol and drugs, focusing on life skills that will equip young people to make healthy choices.

With a background in the voluntary sector, Subrina brings her excellent people skills to her new role. Networking is a key part of her job, and something she loves doing.

“I ran a detached stand at a youth event in Thrapston and made some good connections in the village. They invited me back to run a drug awareness session for parents in Thrapston, where we tried to connect with more vulnerable young people who aren’t going to turn up at the youth group.”

As a young mum herself, Subrina has a big heart for children and young people living in rural parts of the county, where there are fewer amenities. In places where there is little to do young people are more likely to find themselves bored, isolated and therefore, potentially at risk of getting involved with drugs gangs.

Her aim is to get Hope UK’s work known in smaller towns and rural parts of the county, particularly through the Local Area Partnerships. “A conversation with someone from the council led to a meeting with the LAP, where we talked about how we can all work together to better support children and young people in these places. We need to find out what the issues are in our smaller towns and what issues young people are facing,” she says.

On 9th July she is hosting a Youth and Wellbeing networking event in Kettering at Hope UK’s head office in Gold Street. Organisations from both of these sectors will be able to come along to the day and learn more about what we do at Hope UK as well as connect with other organisations.

Looking ahead to the autumn, Subrina hopes to run another event in Kettering for young people aged 16 and over, to help them prepare for university or work. Support services and agencies from the voluntary and statutory sectors will showcase what is available to young people across Northamptonshire.   “I’d especially like to attract neurodivergent young people. We want to equip young people with life skills that will give them a great start as they move into the next stage of their lives.

“It’s all about preparing them for ‘adulting’, if you like,” she adds.

If you would like to support Subrina’ work across Northamptonshire, please consider donating to Hope UK’s GoFundMe appeal – like many charities in the county, Hope UK’s income has experienced a severe shortfall this year, partly due to the cost-of-living crisis. To continue its work in Kettering and Northamptonshire, Hope UK needs to raise £300,000. To donate or find out more visit: https://hopeuk.org/appeal