Raising drug awareness
Ulster Carpets have helped fund theatrical performances and workshops aimed at raising drug awareness for young people.
Through The John Wilson Memorial Trust, we helped fund the DSM Foundation’s theatrical performance and workshop of the play 'I Love You Mum, I Promise I Won't Die' in Northern Ireland.
The play focuses on the story of how 16-year-old Daniel Spargo Mabbs passed away after taking drugs (MDMA) and how this was outside of the norm for who he was as a person.
The workshop also focuses on the death of Jeni Larmour - a similar story, but where the reason for death was due to a combination of alcohol and drugs (Ketamine), neither of which should have been a fatal dose on their own.
The tour started on 4 March at Campbell College and runs through to Friday 27 March with 2 schools per day. There will be 35 school performance and Belfast is hosting a community performance in Girdwood Community Hub (funded by Belfast PCSP).
Alongside the ABC PCSP, The John Wilson Memorial Trust has helped to fund performances in the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area, including:
St John the Baptist, Portadown
Royal School, Armagh
Lismore College, Craigavon
Brownlow Integrated, Craigavon
St Patrick’s Banbridge/Banbridge High School
Sandra Larmour attended the performance at the Royal School, Armagh, commented:
“I have been partnered with Daniel Spargo Mabb's Foundation, a drug education charity based in England, to bring their work and resources to Northern Ireland and this is the second tour of our province, with 36 performances planned for during March 2026.
“The play is a commissioned Mark Wheeller verbatim play, entitled ‘I Love You, Mum – I Promise I Won’t Die’ and it recalls Daniel’s story using actual words from his family and friends. This is followed by a workshop which this year focuses on Jeni's story.
“The play is powerful - it is modern, loud, lively and engaging with music that attracts the attention of young people, but believe me it is also hard hitting and thought provoking and really does get the attention of teenagers – something that is not easily done in an education setting.
“The interactive workshop afterwards is really informative and follows up with facts about the impact of drugs on the body, and what tactics teenagers can use to become comfortable with saying no, pushing back on peer pressure, along with how to react if you think a friend has taken drugs and needs medical attention.
“Our aim is preventative - to break the taboo on drugs by encouraging open and frank conversations with our young people before they enter university/work life, as well as encouraging teachers, parents, youth leaders to help with normalising the conversations on the dangers of drugs to build awareness, and encouraging children to talk to their parents and vice versa.”