FADE closes its doors

Foundation for Alcohol and Drug Education (FADE) closes its doors

After 30 years of providing drug and alcohol education services to New Zealand secondary schools, workplaces and the wider community, the Foundation for Alcohol and Drug Education (FADE) closes its doors on June 30.

Like many other charities in New Zealand, the foundation has struggled in recent years for sufficient funding. The increased availability of drug education resources online was another challenge that required significant levels of investment by the foundation to develop and maintain new technology resources.

“Consequently the FADE board has made the decision that the foundation’s services are no longer financially sustainable in the ever-increasing technological environment we live in,” says Bourke O’Connor, the chairman of FADE.

Over the years the foundation has adapted to meet the changing demands of schools and the wider communities it served. It was highly regarded by health professionals, employers, parents, students and teachers alike and almost 70% of New Zealand secondary schools subscribed annually to use the foundation’s services.

As an independent charitable trust, FADE received no government funding and had to charge schools for its services. It depended on fundraising initiatives and the support of commercial partners and gaming trusts. Finding sufficient funds to maintain the high standards set by the foundation proved increasingly difficult for the board and trustees. With schools also struggling with tight budgets and more cost effective, or in some cases free, drug education services available online, the board made the difficult decision to wind up the foundation and cease to exist as a charity.

Since it was formed in 1985, FADE has provided up-to-date education, training and resources that contributed to the health and safety of our young people. The services it offered included:

• Providing drug education services and resources for schools nationwide;

• Researching and reporting on the symptoms and dangers of alcohol and drug abuse – including nationally-recognised resources such as ‘Young People and Drugs’ and ‘Alcohol and Pregnancy’;

• Training seminars for teachers and parents on how to handle drug-related incidents;

• Using high profile role models as educators in schools;

• Developing marketing campaigns and apps to engage young people; and

• Launching workplace workshops on drug and alcohol education.

ENDS

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