As well as the critical work we do in supporting our residents on their recovery journey, here at The Hebron Trust we believe it is important to also educate the wider public on the issues of substance misuse. So, we are enormously proud to have teamed up with Reflex Theatre in Norwich to help young people understand addiction.

The local actor-led improvisation ensemble has launched a brand-new show called “No Big Deal”, written by Reflex’s Managing Director, Megan Reilly, which is aimed at teens and will be delivered in schools in the region. The show tackles the issue of  substance misuse and aims to engage young people by its interactive approach, giving the audience the opportunity to decide what choice a fictional character makes, watch the consequences unfold  and then learn from the experience to equip them for the real world.

The Hebron Trust was approached to help the team at Reflex Theatre develop the idea around substance misuse and addiction. Led by Natalie and Clare, both former residents at Hebron House who now work for the Trust, our team delivered a workshop to share our knowledge and we provided extensive information on the theory of addiction, in order for them to develop the concept. Emma  Pawsey, our CEO, and Clare then reviewed the script, before spending time workshopping the finished piece prior to launching it for schools.

Artistic Director, Callan Durrant, explains his approach : “We know how difficult it is for young people to make the best choices for themselves, especially when there’s so much pressure to do so and  it can be difficult to bounce back from a ‘wrong choice’. We wanted to develop something that allowed young people to safely see what happens if they ‘get it wrong’, how to spot warning signs, how to  deal with difficult situations and to learn how to make the best choices possible.”

We are so proud to be part of this important work and to help develop such a stimulating and engaging way for teenagers to learn about the dangers of addiction.