Children born to and/or living in households where there is alcohol and drug misuse, including the misuse of over-the-counter and prescribed medication...


The Hidden Harm Action Plan

We provide support and guidance to children and young people aged 4-17 years living in a situation where a parent or family member's alcohol and/or drug misuse is causing them harm.

Main Project Objectives:

  • Provide programmes which address the emotional, physical and social needs of children / young people.

  • Equip young people, acting as carers as a result of Hidden Harm, with the necessary skills to make day to day life easier.

  • Raise awareness of the Hidden Harm concept, in the hope of embedding the agenda into the consciousness of parents, professionals and the general public.


DIVERT was first established in 1999 after the death of a young, local man. The young man died as a result of volatile Substance Abuse and his death promoted the need for action and a community response to address this issue.


Divert has since become the lead agency responding to local substance related issues in the education, prevention and early intervention field. From 2006 the project has made the transition under the New Strategic Direction (NSD) for Alcohol and Drugs 2006 - 2011 to expand its services to work with those most vulnerable as a result of their own or another's substance misuse.


During this transition Divert established it's Hidden Harm project. One of the main objectives within the NSD was to tackle the issues of children and young people facing harm due to parental substance misuse.


Divert recognised that there was a strong need for a stand-alone project to target children and young people and address the different issues they faced as a result of their current situation. It was felt that these children should be provided with a "time out" period and be given the opportunity to have their voices heard.