The Island's two main alcohol and drug prevention agencies -- CADA and PRIDE -- are planning to consolidate their efforts.

Both organisations currently fall under the umbrella of the Council Partner's Charitable Trust (CPCT).

CADA -- the Centre for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention -- operates within the National Drug Commission's strategic plan and is jointly funded by NDC and Council Partners.

It has a 25-year history and was founded by members of an Alcoholics Anonymous group in the 1970s.

Alternatively, PRIDE -- Parents Resource Institute for Drug Education -- has a 15-year history. Given the somewhat overlapping mandates of the prevention agencies, NDC would like to see the two form one, comprehensive organisation.

"The NDC would like the two agencies to consolidate for three reasons,'' CADA chairperson Nancy Coelho said at the annual general meeting.

"To increase efficiency and effectiveness in programme delivery, to eliminate duplication between programmes and to receive one `ask' for multiple programmes.'' Ms Coelho -- who also stepped down as CADA chair and was replaced by Rev.

James Francis -- said that the CADA and PRIDE boards are "in final discussions on what form this consolidation would likely take''.

The meeting also heard that the year had been a challenging one for the charity.

In addition to the work toward consolidation, CADA was forced to reduce its staff from four to three after funding cuts and lost its executive director, Dominique Smith, in June of last year.

Cathy Belvedere stepped in for Ms Smith as acting executive director and has now been confirmed into the position full time.

Ms Belvedere told the AGM that the last year had been a successful despite the hurdles.

"It was marred by lack of required funding to thrive and strive,'' she said in the charity's annual report.

"We have had a successful year but perhaps not as successful as we would have been with a full complement of staff to service the community,'' Ms Belvedere added.

The charity closed out the fiscal year nearly $4,000 under budget however. It operates on a budget of roughly $375,000 with which it runs the Prevention Resource Centre as well a number of community outreach programmes.

Last year, Ms Belvedere pointed out, CADA had direct contact with over 6,500 students -- a ten-fold increase over the previous year.

And the organisation participated in 1,055 community activities.

Among those was a pilot Youth and Sport After School Programme through which 1,610 students participated in community impact theatre.

The second group of students associated with this programme is set to perform at City Hall on June 1.

CADA's new board for 2001/02 will be chaired by Rev. Francis. Also sitting on the board will be Nicola Madeiros and Thad Hollis as co-deputy chairs, treasurer Kay Butler, immediate past chair Nancy Coelho, and members-at-large Eva Dillas and Inspector Tracy Adams of the Bermuda Police.

The AGM was held on Tuesday at Ascot's Restaurant and included a presentation by organisational health expert John Kriger.

CLUB CLB