‘MOB rule’ and Beatlemania rocked on to the streets of South Tyneside yesterday.
A group of 40 performing arts students from Gateshead College converged on the borough to sing, dance and raise awareness of drug and alcohol services in the region.
Surprised commuters and shoppers looked on as the energetic troupe brought the streets to a virtual standstill.
The ‘flashmob’ – a spontaneous happening organised through social media sites – performed to the music of The Beatles classic single ‘Help’.
The 40 students initially surprised commuters with impromptu performances on the Tyne and Wear Metro system between Gateshead and Jarrow stations.
They then took time out to perform in Jarrow’s Viking Centre, before jumping back onto the Metro to South Shields, gathering in the Market Place and entertaining shoppers all along the town’s King Street shopping thoroughfare.
The flashmob aimed to raise awareness of the 10 local voluntary and statutory services which support families affected by someone else’s drug or alcohol problem across Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland – collectively know as The Carers’ Drug and Alcohol Network.
First Contact Clinical manages a single point of contact (SPOC) number for these services which provides a simple and confidential service for each area helping to signpost people to the most appropriate local support.
A spokesman for The Carers’ Drug Alcohol Network said: “By using a surprising and light-hearted approach, we hope to raise the profile of a serious issue that affects around three million people across the UK.
“Through greater awareness of the support available, it is hoped that families, who often feel isolated and alone, will use one of the SPOC numbers to find support in their local area.
“Evidence shows that families who access support are healthier, happier and it improves the chances of the person with a drug and/or alcohol problem in their family accessing and successfully engaging in treatment.”
Tyne and Wear Metro has been an active supportive partner in helping to co-ordinate the flashmob activity and Adfam, the national charity supporting families affected by drug and alcohol misuse, provided financial and campaign support to the The Carers’ Drug and Alcohol Network.
The single point of contact number in South Tyneside is 454 3346.
Twitter@shieldsgazpaul
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