A charity founded by a recovering alcoholic is celebrating a £17,000 boost to help educate schoolchildren on the dangers of substance abuse.


Alcohelp, based in Castle Hedingham, won three grants to recruit new volunteers and run pilot workshops about drugs and legal highs in schools across Essex.


The charity has engaged with around 100,000 young people in the last decade and will also use the cash to expand its services further into North Essex.


Founder Terry Martin, who has been sober for 14 years, said the money will be "instrumental" in continuing the charity’s work in schools.