Jayce Lambert was a budding actor before swapping the stage for a career educating children about the dangers of drugs.

He spent many years touring England as an actor. Of all the roles he played, visiting West Yorkshire schools as the principal actor in a Bradford theatre company’s production about drug abuse proved to be the most pertinent to his future career.

Jayce spent two years in Sunrise’s production of Smack, focusing on heroin use. He also played the character Chino in Opera North’s West Side Story at Salts Mill in 1988.

Between acting jobs, he did some computer training. Volunteering as a befriender with Bradford social services broadened Jayce’s knowledge, enabling him to progress to senior roles in drugs and alcohol prevention.

Jayce initially worked as a trainee probation officer with West Yorkshire Probation Service. He progressed swiftly, studying for a BTEC National Diploma in Social Care.

He spent two years working for Bradford Council at the former Tong Park Remand and Assessment Centre. From there he became an alcohol counsellor with a dry house project in Bradford.

Working with the crime reduction charity NACRO (National Association for the Care and Re-Settlement of Offenders) resulted in Jayce working at Leeds and Newhall prisons. He initially worked as a housing manager in the prisons, but was latterly a drugs re-settlement manager ensuring relevant drug treatments were in place for prisoners on their release.

Jayce continued working with NACRO as a net navigator, driving a mobile UK online centre around areas of Bradford, giving people who wouldn’t otherwise have internet access the opportunity to go online.

Five years ago he joined Bradford Council’s Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service, where he is now senior drugs prevention officer.

Jayce is part of a 12-strong team delivering drugs awareness and education through fun, interactive and informative activities to schools around the district. Last year they worked with around 5,000 young people, helping prevent them getting involved in drugs. They also work with families, groups and individuals.

“For us, it’s intervention and prevention,” says Jayce.

This week they have been helping publicise Tackling Drugs Week, a national initiative running until Friday to raise public confidence and awareness of work done locally to tackle drugs and drugs-related crime.

He says the level of drug use among the young in Bradford is similar to that of other cities nationally. What he has noticed is that while 15 years ago the focus was on Class A drugs, more problems are now posed by cannabis, cigarettes and alcohol.

Part of the educational work Jayce and his team focus on is delivering key messages to young people, such as how to stay safe and healthy.

“This is a vital service because prevention is better than cure,” says Jayce, who relishes his rewarding job.

“I am very open and honest with people. While you never look for a reward or thanks, it is nice when you get a nice letter like the one I have on my wall thanking me for things I have done.”

Jayce says the best reward is helping people change their lives for the better.

“I see my job as planting seeds. We are giving people information, allowing them to grow and develop; that can be the one bit of information that stops them moving to a class A drug, doing something they shouldn’t be doing or hurting themselves or someone else.”

Jayce recommends those considering this type of career to gain experience through voluntary work.

To find out more about courses in social care, call Bradford College on (01274) 433333.