Youth Innovation in Drug Prevention
Here are some frequently-asked questions about the Prize. If you cannot find the answer to your question here, then please email us.
What is the Pompidou Group European Drug Prevention Prize?
The Prize is awarded every two years to active youth drug prevention projects. Its objective is to recognize the importance of active youth participation in creating a better and healthier environment.
Can I get a grant to develop an idea that I have?
No, the Prize is an award for work done, not a grant to do something.
I’m doing a great project, but it is only me, am I eligible to apply for the Prize?
No, the project must be run by more than one person and have some formal structure, for example a management committee or steering group (documentary evidence of this will be required).
We are a group of young people doing drug prevention work, but our project is not a registered organisation, can we apply?
The project must be run by more than one person and have some structure to it, for example a management committee or steering group or some other appropriate organising mechanism (documentary evidence of this will be required – such evidence could take the form of, for example, a Facebook page with demonstrable ‘likes’ and posted comments).
Our project is involving children, are we eligible?
Young people, under the age of 25 years, must be involved in the work of the project. There is no lower age limit.
In our country, ‘young people’ can be aged up to 30 years. Our project is involving these older young people: are we eligible?
Young people, under the age of 25 years, must be involved in the work of the project.
What do you mean by ‘young people’s participation’?
We mean the active involvement of young people in the work of the project. Simply ‘consulting’ with young people or ‘taking their opinions into account’ is unlikely to be sufficient. We would also expect young people to be involved in more than the delivery of the project’s activities – we would expect them to have some say in the design. There are more details about this in the ‘Concept, Rules and Procedures’ document (under ‘Assessment and selection criteria’, criterion No. 2.), and on the application form you are asked to tell us about different aspects of participation.
Our project has applied for the Prize before, but we didn’t win a prize. Can we apply again?
Yes, projects which previously submitted their application and were not selected by the Jury can reapply. But projects that have previously won the Prize are not eligible for resubmission.
Our project was fantastic, but it finished a year ago. Is it eligible?
The project must be currently running or must have recently finished.
Our project is taking place in a country that is not on your list. Is it still eligible?
No. Projects whose work is mainly outside the listed countries are ineligible.
Our project is multi-national and some of the work is taking place in a country that is not on your country list. Is it still eligible?
Yes, if the project’s work is mainly in a country on our list.
We think that our project is effective in drug prevention, but we don’t address drugs issues directly. Are we eligible to apply?
The work of eligible projects must be wholly or mainly in the area of drug prevention. Projects that are not concerned with drug prevention will not be eligible. We accept a broad definition of drug prevention, and we encourage you to apply if your project defines itself as a drug prevention project. Projects that address risk or protective factors associated with drug use are extremely significant, even if they are not directly concentrating on drug issues.
How do you define ‘drugs’?
We include in the definition of ‘drugs’, illegal drugs; alcohol; tobacco; volatile substances (glues, gases, aerosols, etc.); new psychoactive substances (NPS, including so-called ‘legal highs’); and prescription and over-the-counter medicines when they are misused.
How do you define ‘prevention’?
The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction identifies four prevention strategies: universal, selective, indicated, and environmental prevention. Read the Prize’s Concept, Rules and Procedures document to find out more.
We are working with drug users in treatment, can we apply?
Projects that are exclusively working with people who already have developed problems with their drug use (‘indicated prevention’) are unlikely to be successful.
We have an interesting film / a great leaflet / an evaluation report. Can we send you this to support our application?
To support your application, you need to provide at least one, and a maximum of three, pieces of evidence that will assist the Jury’s decision. Your evidence could be in any suitable form.
People in our project can’t write very good English / French. Can we submit our application in our own language?
Sorry, no, we don’t have the funds to translate applications. You must submit your application in English or French.
Can we speak directly to the jurors to tell them about our project?
No. Lobbying of Jury members will automatically disqualify a project.
How will we know if our project has won?
You will be contacted after the Jury’s Selection Meeting, which, in 2018, will be at the end of September.
If our project wins, how do we accept the Prize?
Wining projects will be invited to attend the Award Ceremony (in 2018, this will probably be in November). You will have the opportunity to talk about your project in front of an eminent, pan-European audience.
Are there any conditions attached to the Prize money?
There are no special conditions attached to the use of the Prize money, provided it is used for the benefit of the project. Projects are required, within six months of payment, to report on how they have used the Prize money.
Do you publish your shortlist?
Yes, we publish a shortlist and we write to all shortlisted projects.
Can I get feedback on my application?
Yes, you will automatically be sent brief written feedback on your application.
If I don’t agree with the Jury’s decision, can I appeal?
No. The Jury’s decision is final and there is no appeal.